Moonpig’s Post

Paul Smith People: Meet Joe In this monthly series, we celebrate the fantastic individuals that make Paul Smith special. Each feature provides a glimpse into the lives, journeys, and experiences of our talented team. Joe has an interesting story to share about his time at Paul Smith. He joined us in Retail a while back and has since transitioned to new roles within the company, developing his skills along the way! Read below in his own words ⬇ #PaulSmith #ProjectManagement

Proctor & Gamble may be one of the most successful partnerships of all time. They were both solo business owners with modest success, but when they combined forces, they made history. They attributed their successful partnership to shared values. We'd like to make history with a few strategic partners across the US who share our values. If you are a sales leader, let's talk about your path to ownership with a top business services franchise.

Dame Sharon White is a smart person. She is also, from all accounts, a nice individual. However, she was, sadly, the wrong person to chair the John Lewis Partnership – especially as her tenure coincided with a period of massive change that required retail skills which she does not possess. Dame Sharon did not cause all of the Partnership’s problems. However, neither was her diagnosis of them correct. She made two very big mistakes. The first was to set targets for generating profit outside of retail. This showed a lack of confidence in the core business and diverted too much attention from the problems in day-to-day operations. There is nothing wrong with trying new things, but not to the detriment of retail, which should be at the heart of everything the Partnership does. The second was to float the possibility of getting outside investment. Aside from being against the company’s founding principles, this severely undermined her standing with Partners and led to an enormous backlash from which Dame Sharon never really recovered. It is hard for anyone to lead an organization during troubled times if they don’t have the confidence of those below them. There have been many other stumbles too. The view on the role of physical stores has been too negative leading to some unnecessary closures, there has been a lack of innovation at both Waitrose and John Lewis, Waitrose was too slow to react to the cost-of-living crisis, and so forth. This has allowed rivals, especially Marks & Spencer, to steal share. The departure of Dame Sharon is, on balance, the right thing. Her lack of retail experience and her civil service background have, quite bluntly, not served the company well. But to move forward, the next chairman of JLP needs to have both the qualities she lacked. #retail #retailnews #JohnLewis #Waitrose

AS A NEW YORK TRANSPLANT, SUPPORTING THE DETROIT LIONS HAS TAUGHT ME A THING OR TWO ABOUT DETERMINATION. Having never won a Super Bowl- or even getting close to winning one- they are are a force to be reckoned with as they want this win like no other team-despite difficult odds. Two years ago, the quarterback, Jared Goff, was "dumped" by the LA Rams and Detroit Lions Coach Dan Campbell-an underdog in the coaching arena- both came to town to build a team from scratch and take it to the Super Bowl. When asked to what he attributes his success, his answer is "the team has GRIT." I translate this lesson into my area of business development where the deals seem to be getting tougher, the costs of running a business are higher, and overall "work ethic" seems to be lacking. It's a tough world out there- and it seems to be getting tougher. But like the Lions, one learns the lesson of maintaining their goals and objectives and keeping their "eye on the prize"- and the prize is success no matter the challenges we face in today's world. I look forward to the Lions game on Sunday and the eyes of America are on this team. And whether they win or not, they have taught us a valuable life lesson. #CRE #commercialleasing #commercialbroker #realestate #realestatebroker #realestateexpert #retail #retailstores #retailbusiness #icsc #retailleasing #retailrealestate

A feel-good story of succession   Before you begin to think I’ve forgotten to capitalise succession, I’m not referring to the fictional and fabulously wealthy Roy family that kept many guessing at whom they were based on in real life.   Instead, this is a very short note about leadership and the example being set at that retail shopper nirvana place where one can get a corpulent, juicy hot dog and a bottomless assortment of Pepsi Cola brands at the soda fountain for a dollar fifty: COSTCO.   It is a story of humble beginnings and learning the building blocks to success that make one’s career at a company viable.   Too many of us get our expectations set very high in childhood and college and believe our success is merited based on Woody Allen’s famous bon mot of just showing up. One which may have affected more than one of us in our early or mid career.   When joining McCann-Erickson as a trainee fresh out of uni in 1975, I thought I was the bee's knees and my confidence could have floated a Zeppelin. Until my boss, thoroughly unimpressed at my first-day eagerness, growled at me to go away and organize the files as he had to go to the weekly Monday morning management meeting. Smiling outwardly while seething inwardly at his umbrage at dismissing his newly assigned boy genius so peremptorily, I did so. And learned a lot about what he and the company were doing. While I perhaps foolishly left McCann’s after he retired, the lesson in imparting humility he gave me never left, or at least served as a reminder whenever cockiness struck, which admittedly still happened every so often when one begins to think we know everything, that painful arrogance born of shallow youthful confidence.   That’s why the news about Costco’s CEO announcing his departure and successor is refreshing. No surprise, no drama, no fishing around outside the company for a whiz kid to straighten out what is essentially an extremely well-run business. A succession lesson to chew over while wolfing down one of their hot dog specials, or carting off one of their fabulous rotissary chickens after being served by people who, as the article points out, seem genuinely happy to work there. #leadership #strategyconsulting #marketing #advertising #management #retail https://lnkd.in/eR7BMm-s

Celebrating a Decade of Growth and Achievements!   What an incredible journey it has been! A decade at Southeastern Grocers has brought forth a tapestry of personal growth, adventures, new challenges, and unforgettable experiences.   Looking back on the past 10 years, I am profoundly grateful for the opportunities to shape and develop both the business and myself, alongside remarkable leaders. Having held eight diverse positions, each chapter brought unique learnings, cherished memories, and significant accomplishments.   Here are just a few personal highlights: 1. Kosher Partnership with Chef Jamie Geller: We built a Kosher partnership program, intertwining my Jewish background and childhood memories with Chef Jamie Geller, creating a meaningful connection. 2. Alcohol Marketing Reinvention: Leading the transformation of our alcohol marketing strategy across liquor, beer, and wine, leveraging my background in the adult beverage industry to Southeastern Grocers. 3. Magazine Manager for 'Flavor' Magazine: From content creation to on-set shoots in New York, leading the development of 'Flavor' magazine was a journey of creativity and collaboration. 4.Leadership in New Store and Renewals Marketing Programs: Overseeing teams to deliver impactful marketing programs for new stores and remodels. 5. Business Lead for Transformational Initiatives: Steering the transformation of the rewards program in 2018, personalization and customer engagement in 2020, and the redesign of our retail media network, SEG Connects, in 2021. 6. Co-Chair of the Women's Development Network: A 2.5-year journey dedicated to empowering and engaging women and allies in their professional and personal lives through impact, inspiration, and leadership.   I owe a debt of gratitude to my mentors, coaches, and sponsors – selfless individuals who played a pivotal role in my journey. And a heartfelt shout-out to all my bosses, team members, cross-functional collaborators and supplier partners who have made this journey so much fun!   As a token of appreciation, over the next 10 days, I'll be sharing my Top 10 Tips learned along the way. I invite you to follow along and share your insights as well. Let's continue this journey of growth and success together!   #DecadeOfGrowth #CareerJourney #Top10Tips #SEGproud #GPTW #PeopleFirstCulture Special thanks to: Anthony T. Hucker, Elizabeth Thompson, Adam Kirk, Raymond Rhee, Gayle Shields, Dewayne Rabon, Zack Bingham, Brian Carney, Jennifer Barnes, Lynn Rushing, Andrea Rodriguez, Kimberly Willette, Brett Mauser, Mario Mijares, Dorlisa, Sharry Cramond, Mary Kellmanson, Sharyla Robinson, Rich Romano, Belinda Mahon, Diane Shelton, Jennifer McEwen, Andrew Nadin

This time in our series, “Learning from industry leaders,” we talked to Richard Wardwell, President of Superior Grocers and this is what he had to say.

Well done, Lowe’s!🛠️ SO PROUD to have Boost Oxygen IN-STORE at nationwide locations…especially since football players at every level, high school to the NFL, blast up with sports oxygen to support #performancerecoveryresults 🏈 Lowe's Companies, Inc. Lowe's Pro Supply #loweshomeimprovement #loweslife #lowesproud #sportsoxygen Robert Mike Alberto Sean #boostoxygen #pinstripesmedia #advertising #marketing #publicrelations #makingthingshappengettingthingsdonesince2004 Pinstripes Media

My absolute favorite day of the year by a country mile was November 9th. Not because it was our annual investor meeting, but because we had the opportunity to announce three BIG and extremely well deserved promotions. Thankfully no one saw me tear up on stage but yes, that happened. Andrew B. -- not to brag, but we knew you were special in 2017 when we hired you as our inaugural summer intern. Thank you for making us look super smart, thank you for not scratching your biotech investing itch and thank you David Selverian for the best intro I have ever received. Andrew - you have been the blueprint for much of what makes our talent programs and culture so special. We truly wouldn't be where we are today without you. On a personal note, I aspire to be more like you every day, more than you can ever know! Can't wait for your partner promotion one day. Let's keep climbing. Chase Goree -- thank you for sliding into my LinkedIn DMs 😘. Building off of the above, sitting 30 feet away from you every day keeps me incredibly honest. It's a privilege to work with someone who pushes you to be the best you can be. Your tenacity, focus, curiosity and thoughtfulness are going to (and already have) made you an unstoppable investor. I have seen you amp it up ever further in the short 6 days since your promotion and that both inspires and fires me up. You push myself and PeakSpan to be better investors. Truly a significant impact has already been made by your presence these past two years and we're just getting started. Can't wait for your partner promotion one day. Let's keep climbing. Justin Kelly -- I guess we have Mr. Goree to thank for how we met you (thanks again CG for another seismic impact). Hard to put into words the impact you have made on PeakSpan this past year. On the investment side, I continue to believe that you are amongst the most talented investors in market today, period. Your being on this team and emerging as a leader will no doubt positively alter the trajectory of the firm and that is exciting as hell. Putting aside anything having to do with investing, as any leader will attest, to find a brand new employee who shows up on day 1 already embodying all of the firm's core values is incredibly incredibly rare. Frankly, it's shocking how rapidly you have adapted to our culture and it has now gotten to the point where you are a top role model, leader, teacher and mentor. The work you do with our team does not go unnoticed and is making an outsized impact on our organization. Can't wait for your partner promotion one day. Let's keep climbing. We talk a lot about impact with our entrepreneurs. That is the perfect word to describe why these promotions are occurring and why we are so excited about the future. Andrew B., Chase Goree and Justin Kelly -- you continue to drive SO MUCH IMPACT. Let's keep climbing 💪