Leadership

How Jane Elfers Turned Around The Children's Place
May 16, 2018 at 1:41 pm

Jane Elfers has delivered several years of industry-leading shareholder returns since joining The Children’s Place as president and CEO in 2010. But how did she do it, especially since the company had been on a downward trajectory for several years when she joined? According to a discussion Elfers had with Robin Lewis, CEO, The Robin Report during a Retail Marketing Society breakfast event in New York City on May 2, the key was a strategic plan she created with with four specific pillars: superior product, business transformation through technology, alternate channels of distribution, and fleet optimization. During the discussion, Elfers detailed each of the pillars.

Godiva's Managing Director Talks Growth Strategy
May 14, 2018 at 12:46 pm

In episode 145 of Total Retail Talks, Total Retail's Editor-in-Chief Melissa Campanelli interviews Sharon Leite, managing director, North America, Godiva Chocolatier. LIsten in as Leite discusses her career path, leadership style and what's next for Godiva, all recorded live at this year's Total Retail Roundtable in New York City.

Rocksbox Founder and CEO Shares Her Top Leadership Tip
May 9, 2018 at 11:32 am

This video was originally published by Women in Retail Leadership Circle, sister brand of Total Retail.  In this video, filmed last month at the fifth annual Women in Retail Leadership Summit in Miami, Meaghan Rose, founder and CEO of Rocksbox, shares her inspiration for launching the jewelry subscription service, her thoughts on the top retail trends…

GREATS President, COO Talks Retail Industry Disruption
May 7, 2018 at 1:05 pm

In episode 143 of Total Retail Talks, Total Retail's Editor-in-Chief Melissa Campanelli interviews Rachel Ulman, president and COO of GREATS, a premium sneaker brand. Listen in as they discuss disruption in retail, hiring best practices and more, all recorded live at this year's Total Retail Talks roundtable in New York City.

A Chat With Martin Gilliard, CIO and Senior Executive Vice President, Barneys New York
April 27, 2018 at 11:33 am

While in New York City recently, I had the opportunity to interview Martin Gilliard, chief information officer, senior executive vice president at Barneys New York. I'm excited to share his fresh perspective on retail and the ever-evolving role of CIOs, which is informed by his expertise in technology and other diverse studies. Holly Vander Wall:…

Jessica Herrin Shares the Story Behind Stella & Dot
April 25, 2018 at 2:49 pm

In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Co-Founder Jennifer DiPasquale interviews Jessica Herrin, founder and CEO of Stella & Dot, the jewelry company and lifestyle brand. Listen in as they discuss women entrepreneurship, the story of Stella & Dot's founding, and Herrin's top piece of advice for women trying to start their own business. This episode was recorded live at this month's Women in Retail Leadership Summit in Miami.

Confidence Drives Build-A-Bear Workshop's CEO's Success
April 18, 2018 at 12:12 pm

In a keynote presentation yesterday at the Women in Retail Leadership Summit in Miami, sponsored by Synchrony, Sharon Price John, CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop, gave an inspiring speech that ended with attendees giving her a standing ovation. John described her unlikely path to success in the world of advertising and retail, and offered insights from her experiences to help other women reach the full potential of their careers.

Learning and Teaching Defines Paula Bennett’s Career
April 17, 2018 at 5:07 pm

In a keynote presentation yesterday at the Women in Retail Leadership Summit in Miami, Paula Bennett, the recently retired (as of this week) CEO of J.Jill, discussed her career journey and the principles that shaped it along the way. (Synchrony, a consumer financial services company delivering customized financing programs across retail and other industries, is…

Q&A: Annie Selke, Founder and CEO, The Annie Selke Companies
March 28, 2018 at 12:56 pm

This week’s Q&A is with WIRLC member Annie Selke, founder and CEO of The Annie Selke Companies. For more than 20 years, Annie and her team have applied a spirited, design-driven approach to creating bedding, rugs, home furnishings and accessories for everyone to love. Her brand features stylish pieces that stand out and offer lasting value. Annie distills her ideas into a variety of fabulous and functional products for the home, available through the eponymous Annie Selke brand featuring her acclaimed companies Pine Cone Hill, Dash & Albert, and Annie Selke Outlet. The Annie Selke Companies aim to inspire people to create and enjoy happy homes.

Lowe's CEO Robert Niblock to Retire
March 27, 2018 at 12:51 pm

Lowe's announced Monday that CEO Robert Niblock will retire from the home improvement retailer as soon as the company finds a successor. "After a 25-year career at Lowe's, including 13 years as chairman and CEO, I am confident that it's the right time to transition the company to its next generation of leadership," the 54-year-old…