The Guitar Center Company’s Post

Y’all. You know how much joy I get from recognizing the hard work of others. 🤗 Yesterday I had the privilege of recognizing MA Specialist Tyler from Store 3104. When we spoke about LPP and how much it benefits our customers, he stated: “I wouldn’t buy an appliance without it”. 🥹 That simple phrase makes a world of difference to our customers. Every consumer wants to know that you trust your product enough to not only recommend it, but use it as well! Tyler thank you for connecting transparently with your customers and ensuring they have the peace of mind they deserve when purchasing appliances. There hasn’t been a goal you haven’t exceeded. You are a great representation of Lowe’s and a true winner all around. 🏆 …and you know what winners get? Sprinkles (well, in this case cookies and an LPP Recognition Bag). 🙃🍪✨ Tyler, keep up the outstanding work! Onward and Upward! 📈 #lowes #loweslife #lpp #region5 #levelup #partnership #progress #passion #success #successmindset #service #servantleadership #HungrytoWIN #HungrytoWIN2024 #support #learning #development #coaching #growing #teaching #movetheneedle #recognition #recognitionmatters #dreamteam #onwardandupward Chad Alberda Jesse Krug Andrew Bradt Jennifer Clark Brian Deal Danny Gates Chris Grimley Jessica Chalk

🛍️ 💄 💅🏽 It’s no secret that I love all things retail, but it’s not just shoes, clothes and bags- I’m obsessed with skincare and make up too. I’m also Pakistani (if you didn’t already know that, here’s a cheeky plug to check out my last dissertation of a post here 😜). So it was a total treat when Nicola Conway and Sana Malik invited me to talk on their podcast about diversity within the cosmetics and beauty industry. 🎙️🤎 Check out the link below and listen on your morning run, during a quiet solo lunch break, or on your commute home from the office. We name drop some really cool brands who are nailing it on the DE&I front, talk about how things have changed over the years, and share a list of top tips on how companies can ensure that diversity runs through the DNA of their brand.

Why Is Dick’s Sporting Goods Gaining Share? Dick’s Sporting Goods is gaining market share due to strategic pillars: omnichannel experience, trendy product assortment, exceptional employee experience, and brand engagement. CEO Lauren Hobart highlights investments in digital capabilities and new store concepts driving growth. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/g-D8PAdN Georganne Bender: "You can buy what Dick’s sells in any number of places, but you won’t get the same service. Store associates at Dick’s know what they sell, and that’s key to retail success."

As your brand greets target customers in their increasingly non linear purchase journeys at different touch points make sure those touch points positively disrupt, delight and keep those target shoppers going in the right direction of travel. Lovely touch point example here. Levis’Store #retailtouchpoints #TopRetailExpert

Very creative and clever.

"I experience a warm glow when I hear about Marks & Spencer doing well. It’s like hearing that my favourite auntie won a prize for something. It is so pluckily undefeated, permanently cheerful and optimistic, even when we are mean and call Per Una hideous and embarrassing. You want jeans? It’ll give you jeans. You like the underwear? Here, have six more knickers lines in technical fabrics that won’t show or shrink or crawl up your bum. You want calorie-counted, plant-based ready meals? They’re over there. Yesterday’s performance results from M&S showed that its can-do, no-offence-taken attitude has resulted in soaring success in most departments, with a record-breaking 38.2% market share in bras, and knickers sales up by 3%. Laugh if you want but this is a big deal" | ✍️ Esther Walker Here's why M&S is booming again ⬇️

Happy Monday Friends! I haven’t posted in a while because honestly, I have been quietly plotting my next move. Like too many of us out there, I was impacted by a layoff in my last role. After countless coffees, meetings, interviews, consulting projects and networking with lovely people who totally dug what I brought to the table yet role/timing/values/etc. didn’t align, I got real with myself. I decided the next chapter MUST do 3 things (otherwise: keep on walkin’): Work stuff: leverage my strategic and creative expertise, expand my network and offer exposure to broader sectors of industry. People stuff: enable connections with dynamic, sharp, kind and genuine people from varied backgrounds whom I can learn from and have FUN with. Life stuff: offer a culture that embodies the values and boundaries I have around family and personal well being. (Probably the toughest ask of the three.) Enter Pinnacle Performance Group, where I recently joined as Director, Consulting + Client Services (check us out below!). Will it be uncomfortable to learn new significant areas of practice beyond retail / product design and development? Yes! (Still consulting there, too). Do I stand to massively stretch and grow? Hell yes! Does Pinnacle pass all my criteria and gut check? ✅ Here’s to everyone navigating change. The landscape looks very different than it did just a few short years ago and can leave you feeling vulnerable - despite how supported, successful or secure you may have felt in the past. I’ve learned that by staying true to YOU, leaning into your network and - most importantly- being open to walking through new doors, you may find really cool things on the other side. Thanks to my peeps for the supportive messages below from Pinnacle’s post 🥰

Congratulations Direct 60 List honoree Mimi Ruiz, VP, eCommerce, Columbia Sportswear Company! The Direct 60 List honors top executives mastering the business of brands. Leveraging technology, innovation, and next-generation strategies, these leaders drive growth and position their brands for success in a consumer-centric, data-driven world. You can see the full Direct 60 List here:  https://lnkd.in/gyJxNYFa Mimi told us, "Personalization has become disingenuous in our industry. Consumers are well aware that digital connections are limited to the information you provide or the transaction you’ve made, but we can change that. It should be about establishing a genuine relationship through dynamic and predictive experiences. This is what excites me about the future - the prospect of unlocking a new path to connect us beyond the transaction." Meet The Direct 60 List Honorees in person at The Direct 60 Forum on October 10th in New York City! More than a gala and less than a conference, this one-of-a-kind event features thoughtful peer discussions, elegant tasting experiences, inspiring acceptance speeches, red carpet moments, incredible giveaways (five star hotels!), curated receptions and VIP dinners - there are few evenings that can match The Direct 60 Forum. Learn more:  https://lnkd.in/gNXz8vUQ #Direct60 #TheLead #Brands

When is a price promise not a price promise? I saw the other day John Lewis has brough back their iconic ‘Never Knowingly Undersold’ promise. It seemed odd to ditch it back in 2022, so I can’t say I’m hugely surprised. (They wouldn’t be the first to change a long-standing line only to go back to it after a year or two of remorse – Gillette?). I get the argument that the price promise (they would match any physical retailer on price if you found it cheaper elsewhere) didn’t speak to modern shopping habits where digital players have such a big role. And that it had become a nightmare to deliver against (employees physically going round to competitors to capture current prices). On the surface, moving to the new pledge of ‘quality at great value prices’ made perfect sense. It was accurate and updated. And solved what had become an operational headache. But this missed the point and the baby ended up with the bathwater. Undoubtedly, ‘Never Knowingly Undersold’ was a bold statement of value. But it was also so much more. It was a promise that spoke to the heart of the John Lewis brand. Something that was never put into words but could probably be summed up as “trust us you will never be disappointed, and if you ever felt things were not up to the high standards you expect from us, you can rest assured that we’ll sort it out to your complete satisfaction.”  All wrapped up a slightly old-world tonality that somehow managed to convey pride, quality and earnestness without a hint of stuffiness. It was also possibly the most distinctive of John Lewis’ assets. With the memorability of a tagline and the envy of most by being richly imbued with meaning. Looking at the recent comms it’s clear the new management understood all this. They understood the true value it brough to the brand and business. They also understood how tricky it is to communicate value in the upmarket space. And how essential it is to elevate your promise beyond one focused on price (however you phrase it). It’s great to see a strong return to form. Hoping this is the beginning of a new chapter for such a great brand. #branding #johnlewis #marketing

🏆LET’S WRAP UP Q1 2024 🏆 ** ADIDAS AMSTERDAM BC STORE KALVERSTRAAT ** As we bring Q1 to a close we wanted to take moment of reflection on the performance of the store, my incredible leadership team, and the store team. Firstly, thank you to you all for your relentless efforts, continuously pushing boundaries and getting behind the growth mindset. Last week was a record-breaking week for AMS BC sitting at an impressive +210.8% NS vs LY, we saw 97% more FF so that’s +113% spread. It was a crazy week but one to remember! Ending Q1 in the best possible position sitting at +107% NS vs LY, CR +2.66pp, +87% vs IPB. This means currently we are sitting at the 3rd best performing store against the full north cluster, UK, Nordics, and Benelux! Growth has been the mindset to bring this level of success to our second full year of trade. Setting up a brand-new team, brand new store takes time to really start showing the desired results and build credibility within the local community and store fleet. How? We continually pushed our commercial readiness, service windows to raise CR, training, leadership meetings and consistency all round! We look forward to bringing the full team together to share insights of Q1 in the coming weeks and set the tone for Q2. Most importantly to continue to build on the foundation we set for ourselves last year. The foundation was laid … now we’re building the house 😉! ** WE GOT THIS ** #amsterdamretail #amsterdamstore #breakingrecords #growthmindset #wegothis Scott Croll Nick De jong Fransje de Vlugt Sebastian Tenbergen Adrian Jesionek Velazquez Collin Williams Fabio Bueno Tanaka Ieva Uzkurataite Alice Veltri Ciaran Daffan