How Stacey Renfro Lives Her Mission to 'Be Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable'
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Senior Editor Marie Albiges interviews Stacey Renfro, CEO of mDesign, a home storage and organizational products retailer. She’s also a Women in Retail Leadership Circle member! Renfro discusses what drew her to mDesign after years at more traditional retail organizations (1:20) as well as how she’s aligned her career with her personal mission statement to be comfortable with being uncomfortable (4:53). She shares how she overcame the feeling of imposter syndrome during her career (7:55) and what her first 90 days at mDesign were like during the COVID-19 pandemic (10:20).
In addition, Renfro discusses her tips for senior leaders transitioning into an executive or CEO role (13:30) and why having an external network and mentors to lean on is essential, especially in C-suite positions where leading can be lonely (17:34). Lastly, she shares what her typical workday looks like (19:13), and why she sets time aside to host small employee roundtables to build culture and trust (21:17).
Stacey Renfro is a seasoned retail executive with more than 25 years of progressive experience in e-commerce, marketing, planning, and merchandising at companies including Pier 1 Imports, The Vitamin Shoppe, JCPenney, HSN, Old Navy, and Sears. She has led highly successful teams, implemented game-changing strategies, and managed complex growth initiatives. As the current CEO of mDesign Home Décor, a $275 million e-commerce company that carries over 11,000 SKUs and is frequently an Amazon Top Seller, Stacey continues to lead the digital-native brand through times of high growth.
Prior to joining mDesign, Stacey was the executive vice president, chief digital and customer experience officer at The Vitamin Shoppe, where she was responsible for digital, marketing, creative and the overall customer experience across all channels. Stacey has been widely recognized as a leader in the retail and e-commerce space, named to Chain Store Age’s Top 10 Women in Retail (2017) and Top 10 Women in Retail Technology (2016). She serves as the co-chair for The National Retail Federation’s Digital Council and has previously served on the advisory boards for both CNBC’s Technology Executive Council and Women in Retail Leadership Circle.
Date: March 29, 2022
Credits: Stacey Renfro
Duration: 24:36
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