NEW YORK CITY-Sitting in on various sessions at the National Retail Federation's annual conference here, an attendee could get a grip on some upcoming retailer expansions. In many cases, specific numbers weren't offered, but it seems like many companies are more interested in ramping up than paring back.

"The real estate market is so bad that you might be able to get a better location," said Dave Ratner, the founder of Dave's Soda and Pet City, a local chain out of Springfield, MA. "If you're in a strip center and want to renegotiate your lease, don't be bashful."

One outfit that has gone through many changes over the last few years are Disney Stores, which had an entire presentation at the show. The company is looking to expand its base of 370 stores in North America, Europe and Japan in select markets where it doesn't have a location.

But don't expect the chain to hit the 500-store number it once had in this continent, said Stepen Finney, senior vice president of global operations. Since the chain went bankrupt in 2008 when it was owned by an affiliate of Children's Place, more recent owners Disney, which later bought back the retail concept, are expanding more cautiously.

Another chain that is looking to expand is TopShop, a British apparel chain owned by Arcadia Group, which has a New York City location and just signed a lease in Chicago. Sir Phillip Green, who heads up Arcadia, said that his firm is looking at other US markets for TopShop.

NOTES: According to an NRF customer's choice survey, the number one brand with shoppers is Zappos.com, followed by Amazon.com, L.L. Bean, Overstock.com and Land's End...The Container Store was the NRF's Gold Medal Winner in retailing, while Urban Outfitters won Retail Innovator of the Year. Arcadia won the International Retailer of the Year honors.