Total Retail, the preeminent source for executives looking for the latest news and analysis on the retail industry, has named Barry Beck, founder and chief operating officer of Bluemercury, a luxury beauty brand, as its 2017 Retailer of the Year. Beck is the seventh recipient of this annual award.

Total Retail annually honors an individual and business with its Retailer of the Year award. The brand's editorial team considers candidates — including surveying its audience of retail executives for their recommendations — that have proven sustained excellence in their careers, including leading their companies to new heights.

Since founding Bluemercury 18 years ago with his wife, Marla, Barry Beck's leadership has helped the luxury beauty brand become one of the industry's fastest-growing retailers. Bluemercury now operates nearly 200 stores in more than 30 states (it grew its store count by more than 50 percent in 2016), and has 2,000 employees. In 2015, Macy's acquired Bluemercury.

"We've always adhered to the company's mission of being the best in the world at giving beauty advice," Beck says. "Our sustained competitive advantage has always been our expertise. It's what sets us apart from the pack. It's our secret sauce and enduring secret weapon, which has helped Bluemercury become an iconic luxury brand and household name. However, I'll never forget that it took us 18 years to become an overnight success."

To learn more about Barry Beck, and why Total Retail has chosen him as its 2017 Retailer of the Year, check out the cover story interview with him in Total Retail's Fall issue. Beck discusses a wide range of topics, including what inspired him to launch Bluemercury, the business leaders he admires, his thoughts on the current state of the retail industry, the technologies he believes are going to transform retail, his advice for young entrepreneurs, and much more.

About Total Retail/NAPCO Media

Total Retail is the go-to source for retail executives looking for the latest news and analysis on the retail industry. Featuring a quarterly print magazine, daily e-newsletter (Total Retail Report), daily-updated website, podcast channel, virtual and in-person events, and research reports, Total Retail offer retail executives the information they need to do their jobs more effectively and grow their professional careers. For more information visit: http://www.mytotalretail.com/.

NAPCO Media, Total Retail's parent company, has been a leading information source in the markets it serves since 1958. NAPCO Media continues to evolve with information distribution methods and specializes in the creation and cross-channel distribution of exceptional content. Our mission is to build community between our audience and our clients. For more information visit: http://www.napco.com/.