We recently asked five Women in Retail Leadership Circle (WIRLC) members for a tip for productively leading a remote or hybrid team. Here’s what they shared: Nora Gomez, Chief Merchandising Officer, Nebraska Furniture Mart “Ensure there are rules of engagement for virtual meetings. Have an agenda. Virtual fatigue is a real thing! Have a heightened awareness...
Advocacy is the highest level of attention any business can get. It’s the kind of attention you get from people who are invested in your success and who redirect the attention that they’re getting toward you. There are two ways to generate advocacy: you can earn it or you can pay for it. Influencer marketing...
“I’m in the storytelling business,” says Oprah Winfrey. “I believe that the humanity that all of us share is the stories of our lives, and everybody has a story. Your story is as important as the next person’s story.” Oprah knows the power of storytelling. What’s true for media mogul Oprah Winfrey is true for any...
Marianne Thompson, a Women in Retail Leadership Circle (WIRLC) member, was named chief commercial officer of Canada-based Home Hardware Stores Limited on Sept. 7. Thompson was promoted from her previous role as chief merchandising officer at the home improvement, construction materials and furniture retailer. She was named to that position in April, and prior to...
Shh! I’ve got a secret … registration for the 2023 Women in Retail Leadership Summit, taking place April 17-19, is now OPEN, but only if you’re a member! Yep, that’s right! We’re opening up registration for our typically sold-out annual Summit, which is filled with three days of inspiration, content, and connections with fellow executive...
The physical retail environment plays a critical role in how consumers behave. Shoppers are eager to return to stores, with 78 percent of U.S. consumers willing to shop more in-store than pre-pandemic. And with 42 percent of U.S. consumers admittedly missing being able to touch and feel products, retailers that pay close attention to what...
I’ve participated in meetings and Zoom calls recently with business owners just like you who are facing enormous challenges. I have no doubt some of them won’t be in business in a year. And those who will have one thing in common: they know WHY they’re in business. I challenge you to stop for a...
As a keynote speaker on the topic of courageous leadership, every news day is full of delicious speech fodder for me. Leaders, leadership (and the lack thereof) are all over the news. The Brits have their royals; we have endless hours of suspense-filled dramas brought to us by people in leadership positions, both large and...
Did you get through your summer reading list? As we head into fall, hopefully you’ll find some time of your own to spend getting cozy with a good book. With that in mind, here are 10 books recommended by Women in Retail Leadership Circle (WIRLC) members. Gabrielle Grazi, Vice President of Retail Strategy and Partnerships,...
This weekend I found myself making an assumption that, like me, the rest of the working world was offered the opportunity to take the day off on Monday — Labor Day — and mourn (or celebrate, if you’ve already got your pumpkins and sweaters out) the symbolic end of summer. As I explored a new...
