In today’s volatile workplace, developing a robust, high-performance team is vital for success. Erin Wendte, chief commercial officer of Zumiez, highlights four keys for doing this effectively: hiring culture-aligned individuals, integrating development into daily work, transitioning from mentorship to advocacy, and personalizing employee recognition. “I think you can teach hard skillsets, but getting someone who...
Technology buying failures rarely happen because a team chose the “wrong” software. They happen earlier when retail organizations enter the RFP process without the strategy, clarity or alignment required to make a good decision. Most retail technology buyers only see a handful of stores, regional operations, or supply chains over the course of their careers...
Women in Retail Leadership Circle (WIRLC) recently released its 16th annual Top Women in Retail report. The valuable resource highlights female executives who impressed our Editorial team as well as colleagues from across the industry. One such woman was Heidi Cooley, executive vice president and chief brand and marketing officer at Lovesac. Here’s a sampling of...
Women in Retail Leadership Circle (WIRLC) is headed to one of the most influential events in retail and e-commerce: the 2026 CommerceNext Growth Show, happening June 23-24 in New York City. We’ll be at the heart of conversations around this year’s theme — the (AI)ntelligent Era — with our very own Women in Retail Pavilion,...
As artificial intelligence-powered search and discovery platforms reshape how consumers find and evaluate products, retailers and brands are being forced to rethink not just their marketing tactics but their entire digital strategy. At Shoptalk in Las Vegas last month, Lauren Price, senior vice president of marketing at COS, and Kelly Shah-McDonnell, vice president of global...
How retailers can provide a best-in-class customer experience via a unified commerce model — and what that means for the bottom line. Retail organizations are being transformed for an evolving and competitive market. Consumers expect seamless, immediate and personalized experiences across every touchpoint with retailers, whether online, in-store, app, social media, AI platforms, etc. The...
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Co-Founder Melissa Campanelli interviews Jenica Myszkowski, CEO and president of CAMP, an experience company that brings families together through immersive adventures that inspire play. This discussion was recorded at Shoptalk in Las Vegas last week. Myszkowski discusses how previous roles shaped her as a leader; overcoming challenges as CAMP scales and opens new stores; how she stays inspired and creative; and more.
Duration: 11:27
At pivotal moments in her career, Mary Beth Laughton proposed new roles tailored to her aspirations and the company’s needs. “I can remember three different points at different companies where I proposed roles that didn’t exist,” the now-CEO and president of REI recalled during an exclusive interview at the 2025 Women in Retail On the...
Women in Retail Leadership Circle (WIRLC) recently released its 16th annual Top Women in Retail report. The valuable resource highlights female executives who impressed our Editorial team as well as colleagues from across the industry. One such woman was Fanya Chandler, president, Nordstrom Stores. Here’s a sampling of Fanya’s interview featured in the report. Women in...
Performance brands didn’t just grow the apparel market, they reshaped it. But the brands taking market share didn’t win on footprint alone. They started with desirable product, built brand heat and digital demand, and then operationalized stores at scale, recognizing that cross-functional strategy to execution and strong IRL experience models are not legacy models but...
