Leadership

J.Crew CEO Resigns After Just 16 Months
November 19, 2018 at 3:16 pm

J.Crew Group announced this weekend that CEO James Brett would step down, effective immediately. The decision was based on a mutual agreement between the board of directors and Brett. "Jim's passion and experience brought new energy to J.Crew and enhanced our ability to relate to a broad range of consumers, and we thank him for his hard work…

Curiosity and Being Current: Why it's More Important Now and Should Increase With Age and Experience
November 13, 2018 at 1:19 pm

When we asked friends and colleagues what's the most important skill for consistent and continued success in business, they gave a multiplicity of answers including leadership and management skills, brains, and creativity. However the leading response from this group was curiosity. Many defined curiosity as the impulse to seek new information and experiences, the desire…

Sears Files for Bankruptcy, Lampert Steps Down as CEO
October 15, 2018 at 9:36 am

Sears Holdings filed for bankruptcy protection early Monday after years of staying afloat through financial maneuvering and relying on billions of CEO Eddie Lampert's own money. Lampert, who has served as CEO for the past five years, will step down from that post, effective immediately, but remain chairman. As part of the bankruptcy, Sears will shutter…

What Retailers Can Learn From Our 2018 Game Changers
October 5, 2018 at 9:10 am

In this episode of Retail Right Now, Total Retail's Caitlin Sullivan and Joe Keenan discuss Total Retail's 2018 Game Changers list, which highlights the entrepreneurs and startup businesses that are disrupting the retail industry. Six digital-native brands have been named this year's Game Changers, and this resource provides exclusive insights into the company founders’ business acumen…

Game Changers: Stephen Hawthornthwaite, Co-Founder and CEO; Roth Martin, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Rothy’s
October 2, 2018 at 2:15 pm

This is an excerpt from an interview conducted with Stephen Hawthornthwaite, co-founder and CEO, and Roth Martin, co-founder and chief creative officer, both of Rothy’s, a San Francisco-based startup that turns plastic water bottles into trendy women’s shoes, which it sells via its website and a brick-and-mortar store in its hometown. Hawthornthwaite and Martin were…

The Secret Behind Lamps Plus’ Employee Loyalty
September 27, 2018 at 12:21 pm

Employees are quitting at record rates, according to a recent U.S. Labor Department report, but Lamps Plus employees are staying the longest in its product category. Employees of the designer, manufacturer and retailer of portable lighting, fixture lighting and home décor products have an average tenure of eight years, based on LinkedIn data. So how…

A Chat With Eric Tam, Head of Digital and Technology, Biossance
September 25, 2018 at 10:47 am

Eric Tam is the head of digital and technology at Biossance, a natural, squalane skincare line. He spoke with us about his career experience, from pioneering e-commerce to creating a successful workplace while planning for the future of digital branding. Holly Vander Wall: Tell us about your personal career path. What brought you to where…

Michael Kors to Buy Gianni Versace SpA for $2B
September 24, 2018 at 1:54 pm

Fashion brand Michael Kors Holdings Ltd. is close to a deal to buy Italian fashion house Gianni Versace SpA for around $2.35 billion, people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday. The move would put one of the glitziest names in high fashion in the hands of a budding U.S. conglomerate better known for affordable luxury.…

Leadership: The Art and Challenge of Getting Out of the Way, Part 2
September 19, 2018 at 5:29 pm

Effective leaders articulate a vision, create an environment in which people can succeed, hire the best talent for the tasks at hand, give them support and tools, instill their importance as part of the organization, and simply GET OUT OF THE WAY.

Game Changers: Jeanne Foley and Diana Ganz, Co-Founders, The Groomsman Suit
September 18, 2018 at 1:13 pm

This is an excerpt from an interview conducted with best friends Jeanne Foley and Diana Ganz, co-founders of The Groomsman Suit, an online retailer that sells affordable groomsmen suits that cost less than a rental tuxedo. Foley and Ganz were recognized by Total Retail as entrepreneurs that are disrupting the traditional retail industry. For the…