Ulta Beauty’s Post

As I reflect on my journey, one of the most transformative phases of my career was stepping into retail management. My experience as a Store Manager at Biba Apparels gave me a new perspective on the retail industry. It wasn’t just about selling clothes; it was about understanding what makes customers tick, what drives them to choose one brand over another, and how to create an inviting atmosphere that makes them want to return. In my role, I was responsible for everything from managing store operations to mentoring a team of talented individuals. Every day came with its own challenges, whether it was balancing inventory, managing peak season transitions, or ensuring that our visual merchandising was on point. But the most rewarding part was seeing how a well-coordinated effort could result in a seamless customer experience and, of course, meeting our sales goals. What makes this industry truly special is the human connection. The relationships you build with your team, your customers, and even your suppliers have a huge impact on the success of the store. Through the highs and lows, I’ve always kept my focus on delivering quality service and creating memorable experiences. I’m incredibly proud of the work I’ve done, but the journey doesn’t stop here. I believe there’s always something new to learn and room to grow. I’m looking forward to what the future holds and eager to connect with professionals who share the same passion for retail excellence. #RetailLeadership #TeamManagement #FashionRetail #SalesGrowth #RetailExperience #CustomerSatisfaction #StoreOperations #VisualMerchandising #CareerJourney #RetailInsights

"Jim, I'm giving you the freedom to fail." Those words from one of my great bosses, John Hardy, Atlanta Division Deli Merchandising Director. I'm the yellow chicken in the back. We were kicking off the summer 1986 season with a fried chicken promotion. For the record it took six rides on the Six Flags Over Georgia roller coaster to get the photo shot just right. I think everyone thought John was nuts when he said we were going to sell "cold fried chicken" in the deli cases at Kroger. That's right. Marinate overnight, fry the chicken, put it in the cooler overnight, display it in the case the next day. "A lot of people in the South like cold fried chicken the next day," John said. He was right. The chicken tonnage doubled in the Atlanta Division from this smart marketing move. This is one example of how he led me to experiment and be unafraid to try new ideas. One way I did that was to take our fresh-made pizzas and tilt them on display in upright refrigerated cases to catch the attention of shoppers on their way to the check-out lanes. That was a success too. By late August I was invited to fly with John to Louisville KY to the #1 deli in the Kroger company to see how to merchandise in the new European curved glass cases. We were met by the Cincinnati corporate head of Deli Merchandising. That kind of exposure never hurts. Looking back, I realize this was my first "sales" job. It wasn't line management like it was when I was a store manager. It was a role where you had to "sell your ideas" to other store managers and deli managers in order for them to improve sales and profits. We did over 15 grand openings of many new Kroger stores during my two-year merchandising role, from Rome to Newnan, Alpharetta to City Center. I realize it shaped how I would approach job roles over the years. I became the person my bosses would pick to pioneer new initiatives. And I succeeded. It's amazing what giving yourself the freedom to take calculated risks, the freedom to fail, can do for your mindset and your career. What initiatives have you taken while being unafraid to fail? Please share in the comments. #risktaking #merchandising #salestips #jimkerlinconsulting

I've learned so much in just 3 weeks in a new role! I've learned that I have a love for more than just food retail, and although this role is completely new and can be challenging - I've broken a few things down. 1) Guests are guests regardless if you oversee Food & Bev, GM, Style or the entire sales floor. If you put guests as the guiding light you'll always be right. 2) Put your team members first. In my opinion, as a lead you are there to support your direct reports, and for myself that is team members. If I show up every day to make their respective jobs easier, I've done something right for the day. We think this can be a hard task, and ultimately it is not - a simple hello, how was the weekend, offer to help with freight or workload. The small everyday things will ad up to a big difference. 3) Fill the floor! Tell a story. When aisles and displays are full, guests are excited to shop, and that excitement breeds life into stores and makes the shopping experience enjoyable! Lastly - less share some news on GREEN metrics! We've dropped the INF% for GM 2% or better across the board. A few outliers that we're getting worked out, but soon I'm looking to post sub 1% in all areas. The GM team's hard work has led to drastic improvement in sales, going from a negative comp to a 3% comp over the last three weeks. The store is also on a giant upswing with a 5% store comp over 3 weeks, more to come! #worksomewhereyoulove #target #growtime #growth

#Weekend #Strategy: Driving Success and #Overcoming #Backlogs. 1-#Punctuality is key. The entire team should be on time to ensure efficient stock refilling and smooth operations. 2-#Empower and motivate. It’s the manager’s role to inspire and energize the team—positive reinforcement leads to better results. 3-#Zero #tolerance for negativity. Avoid scolding and instead, encourage open communication and support. 4-#Hands-on #leadership. Store Managers should be present on the floor, leading by example and guiding the team toward achieving business goals. 5-#Clear #goals for all. Share the sales target (TGT) with the entire team and ensure everyone understands their role in reaching it. 6-#Regular progress #tracking. Monitor UPT (Units per Transaction) targets and review every two hours to stay on track. 7-#Effective #time #management. Ensure tea and lunch breaks are completed before peak hours, keeping the store fully functional during critical times. 8-#Marketing done right. Complete all digital marketing campaigns and ensure promotional material is #visible. 9-#Attention to detail. Managers must check each fixture and wall to ensure stock is refilled appropriately. 10-#Visual #merchandising matters. Ensure the window displays and entrance areas are updated and appealing, attracting customer attention. A #happy #team #delivers #exceptional #results! When you invest in your team's well-being, motivation, and growth, they will return that investment tenfold by exceeding targets, delighting customers, and boosting the overall success of the store. #Leadership #Teamwork #RetailSuccess #StoreManagement #MotivationMatters #WeekendGoals #RetailLeadership #EmployeeEngagement #CustomerExperience #TargetAchievement #VisualMerchandising #PositiveWorkplace #TeamSuccess #RetailLife #HappyTeams

Two women – 50 years of ALDI experience! Some encounters are simply unforgettable. For example, my recent reunion with Christiane Augst, an employee at our ALDI SÜD store in Ratingen Lintorf, who celebrated her 33rd anniversary with the company in April. 🎉 Congratulations on this great achievement, dear Christiane! 👏    When I joined International IT over 17 years ago, it was primarily Christiane who trained me in our #StoreOperations with great patience and kindness. Reuniting after so many years was a real thrill – we laughed a lot, reminisced and shared anecdotes like this one: after I had (finally) gotten used to handling the electric pallet stacker, I was incredibly proud of the mountain of empty pallets I had stacked in the store’s warehouse. When the store manager saw how high I had stacked them, he said with a grin: “Mrs Rückle, what kind of truck do you think this stack will fit on?” Another lesson learned!    I always look back on my time at the store with gratitude and humility. I consider myself very fortunate that, despite my lack of experience, Christiane and the other colleagues accepted me as one of their own and let me perform all store operations tasks, including cashiering. My reunion with her reminded me of the following:    💡 For Christiane, it was especially important to not only explain the “what” and the “how” to me, but also the “why”. She intuitively applies what Simon Sinek describes in his book “Start with why”. Not only did this principle make my in-store training so special and memorable, but #PurposefulLeadership is also a key enabler for #selfempowered teams to achieve ambitious goals and remarkable results.    💡 Christine shared some examples of how #IT has changed many processes over time. She reminded me how much responsibility we have when designing IT solutions due to their impact on #CustomerExperience and our employees’ workplace. Actively gathering and evaluating feedback from customers and users should therefore always be an integral part of our work.    This goes out to Christiane and all store employees: Thank you! 🙏 I appreciate your commitment and am grateful that you, and many other colleagues, have been serving our customers for so many years. Our roles at ALDI SOUTH are quite different, but we all have one thing in common: we exist for our customers!    What are you doing to foster closer ties with the business?

Store manager life! Up at 4.20am, pulling in the delivery in -8 degrees looking fabulous with scraped back hair, zero makeup, a beautiful scabby lip, rocking my high vis jacket and steel toe caps with a skirt suit underneath, natch 💁♀️ This look is not for the faint hearted 🤦🏻♀️🤣 I’ll never say my job isn’t varied! It’s everything: from cleaning the floors to wages, from first aid to ordering & replenishment, from Human Resources to sorting shelf edge ticket sizes. From the tiny tweaks to the vast big picture that working as part of an industry leader brings. It’s every bit of detail that our customers probably never think about, and then some. It’s a job that never gets boring because no two days are EVER the same. I’d never ask my team to do anything that I wouldn’t do. And I’m never happier than when I can get away from that computer screen and get busy on the shopfloor. That’s where the magic happens. Whether it’s filling a shelf, mopping a spillage, serving on the tills, just being present for the colleagues and the customers. The magic happens here. When you mingle with the customers, spend time with the staff, coach and listen… your brain kicks in and you can see opportunities to make everything simply BETTER! My advice: if you’re a manager, irrespective of your trade, get out there and see what happens at the grass roots. You’ll be a far better leader for it!!! (Plus it’s far more exciting that sitting bored looking at screens all day… albeit a little chillier 🥶💫 😉) #leadership #tesco #tescoexpress #tescoexpresscambuslang #oneteam #supermarket #ownyourbusiness #bethebest #idontusuallylooklikethis

In the retail business, travel is more than just checking off store visits; it's about creating connections, building relationships, and leaving a lasting impact. Meeting our incredible staff and store managers face-to-face allows us to appreciate their hard work and dedication in person, celebrating their successes and understanding their challenges. These interactions provide invaluable insights and inspire our teams to continue striving for excellence. Every visit is an opportunity to listen, learn, and lead by example. It's a chance to motivate and empower our teams, showing them that their efforts are recognized and valued. When we travel with purpose, we leave behind more than just a presence; we leave behind inspiration, encouragement, and a shared vision for success. Let's make each journey count and continue to build a thriving, connected, and motivated team. #RetailLeadership #TeamAppreciation #Inspiration #LeadershipInAction #NykaaRetail #RetailExcellence #BeautyRetail #CustomerFirst #NykaaTeam #RetailInnovation #StoreExperience #RetailSuccess #TeamNykaa #CustomerSatisfaction #RetailJourney #InstoreExperience #RetailLeadership #NykaaCulture #BeautyShopping #CustomerDelight #RetailStrategy #StoreOperations #RetailCommunity #NykaaFamily #RetailGrowth #StoreManagers #RetailTraining #CustomerEngagement #NykaaExperience #RetailGoals #BeautyIndustry #NykaaLife #RetailTrends #CustomerCare

Working as a #retail #manager shouldn't be considered as a desk position. Retail itself comprehend multiple variables and different roles. Even further, every #manager or #leader position must never forget the #field #work and how to do the basics. How can you ensure a proper #operation of your #team if you don't know about what they do or how it must be done? Be sure to know the #core of your operation, what should your #department bring and support to your #company. #Talk to your team, let them #teach you and generate a #synergy together. #better #faster #stronger By the way, this is me today installing a watch tray display in a store 😋 #huawei #Falabella #Gt4 #smartwatch

Are store teams not being accountable, or are the requirements from HQ ambiguous and ineffectively communicated? In my experience, it's very rare to find a store team member who won't execute a standard. That's what working in stores is: daily execution. However, it's quite common to see HQ stakeholders who don't write well, use ambiguous language, or unnecessarily complicate things. As Thomas Friedman said, "Complexity is free." And as a retailer if you don't have a standard- nor communicate that standard effectively, expect things to get complicated... #retail #retailtraining #retailtech

How an experienced Retail Manager would make for a great Retail Senior Vice President. A retail manager with over 25 years of experience in the retail industry would make a great senior level VP due to having extensive hands-on knowledge and deep understanding of store-level operations, which provides a solid foundation for strategic decision-making and leadership at the executive level. A proven track record of managing significant revenue streams and leading large, high-performing teams demonstrates the capability to drive business growth and operational excellence. With firsthand experience navigating the evolving retail landscape, particularly post-COVID, one possess unique insights into market trends, customer behavior, and industry shifts. Being an expertise in inventory management, visual merchandising, KPI-driven performance, and new store openings speicalist equips one with the skills necessary to innovate and implement effective strategies across multiple stores, ensuring the organization remains competitive and successful. This combination of ground-level experience and strategic vision makes one exceptionally well-suited to excel as a Retail Senior Vice President. #careergoals #VPlevelretailexperience #25years #newstoreopeningspecialist #retailseniorvicepresidentcandidate