Retail’s Mental Health Matters: Building a Culture of Trust
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Retail’s Mental Health Matters: Building a Culture of Trust

ByMary Beth Garcia

Retail has always been a people business. Every interpersonal interaction, connection, and relationship—whether externally with customers or internally among team members and with leaders—is a vital link in the chain that creates results. In today’s environment, though, where every department is being asked to do more with less and the pace of change feels relentless, this pivotal…

retail trends
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4 Trending Retail Management Themes for the Coming Year

ByMary Beth Garcia

Another year is drawing to a close, and as is usual in retail, whew, what a year! Change is always part of the retail story, but with change can come some exciting new opportunities—if you’re prepared to seize them. The evolution of brick and mortar continues, as both traditional retailers and formerly online-only retailers experiment…

retail change management
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Change Leadership Advice for Retail Multiunit and Store Support Leaders

ByMichael Patrick

Dealing with constant change has always been part of the job in retail, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Even tougher: successfully leading others through change. District, regional, and other multiunit managers know this all too well. So do the merchant and store support leaders working in HQ and DC locations. Leading change requires getting…

retail training reinforcement
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For Top Retailers, Learning Never Ends

ByMichael Patrick

We work with retail managers and leaders who often have been in the industry for a long time — sometimes ten, twenty, or even thirty years. If the group I’m training is more senior, I’ll start the session by asking that very question: “Raise your hand if you’ve been in the industry for five years,…

retail leadership hacks
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Retail Leadership Hacks: Breaking it down and boosting results

ByMichael Patrick

We’ve been talking about “retail leadership hacks” with clients lately — those bite-sized nuggets of insight that can deliver a quick hit in terms of productivity, performance, and results. Sometimes a small change or genius little shortcut can make all the difference in the impact we make as leaders and in the results our teams…

How Store Leaders Can Shape Associate Behavior in Real Time
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How Store Leaders Can Shape Associate Behavior in Real Time

ByMichael Patrick

In any retail store, there are many activities happening out on the floor at any given time. That’s why successful store managers are constantly reading cues and making quick decisions about whether to jump in tactically or let things roll. Most importantly, if coaching is needed to strengthen an associate’s interaction with customers or others,…

What Online Retailers Need to Know for a Successful Brick-and-Mortar Launch
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What Online Retailers Need to Know for a Successful Brick-and-Mortar Launch

ByLaurel Moad

The next frontier for online retailers isn’t online at all. As web-based brands recognize that they can’t continue to grow their businesses if they limit their reach to one single channel, they’re increasingly investing in brick-and-mortar storefronts as a means to expand brand exposure and increase customer acquisition. Following the lead of brands such as…

Retail Training ROI: The Key Variable You May Be Overlooking
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Retail Training ROI: The Key Variable You May Be Overlooking

ByMichael Patrick

When you send a district manager or buyer through a retail training workshop, it’s an investment of time, money, and effort — and that’s not even taking into account the fact that they’ll be away from their daily responsibilities. It’s also a down payment on the results and impact you expect to see when they return….

How Coaching in the Moment Strengthens Your Star Associates
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How Coaching in the Moment Strengthens Your Star Associates

ByMichael Patrick

Watching the Olympics on TV is a completely different experience from watching it in person. For one, when you’re watching on TV, you’re entirely focused on one specific event, and one particular heat or match. But in an Olympic track and field stadium, as an example, a number of track events might be taking place…