Leadership

Total Retail and sister brand Women in Retail Leadership Circle (WIRLC) are proud to present our eighth annual list of the Top Women in Retail. This year's list features a who's who of top female executives in the retail industry. Take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about some of the brightest minds and leaders retail has to offer.

After hearing Andrew Berg speak at Luxury Interactive, we had to learn more. Andrew is president at Robert Graham, a self-described “American eclectic” purveyor of luxury menswear. Andrew’s vision for a brand that encapsulates the feel of luxury while maintaining a vibrant personality was contagious, and we loved hearing his strategy for brand cohesiveness. Holly…

Though the job of a corporate board member has never been easy, show special sympathy for anyone serving as a retailing director over the past few years. The traditional board concerns of retail and measures of success — profit margins, inventory turnover, sales per square foot, traffic, conversions — are under attack by e-commerce. Doing all the traditional things well can leave you in the same position as Kmart, Sears or The Limited.

Cultures can “drive” organizations in any number of ways with any number of outcomes. American Apparel was built on a culture undergirded by poor management and unhappy employees who, after a promising start and a "60 Minutes" profile, had little, if any, commitment to the health and strength of the organization. The brand grew quickly and, for a time, was admired for providing low cost, “cool” made-in-America apparel. It hit a cultural nerve.

Patrick Byrne, Overstock.com’s CEO and founder, last week announced a joint venture to launch a global property registry system, based on blockchain technology, and added that he will either privatize or sell his e-commerce business within the next 90 days. "My goal is [within] 60 to 90 days we walk away from this," Byrne told…

We're living in an interesting age where “assaulting” ones sensibilities in the political and public realm is somehow being normalized as the role of social media evolves and as behavioral and communication standards seem to erode daily. The impact this change has had on all aspects of personal and corporate behavior and standards is still…

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is taking the "Stores" out of its name. MarketWatch reports the big-box retailer will shorten its legal name to Walmart Inc. The move highlights Wal-Mart's message that it is more than just large storefronts, while also showing a commitment to its digital business. “While our legal name is used in a limited…

According to a study presented at a recent American Marketing Association conference, 25 percent of CEOs in the U.S. come from a sales and marketing background. The same study also revealed that marketing CEOs tend to gravitate to consumer product goods (CPG) organizations, specifically food, wholesale trade and retail. So, why do marketing CEOs make…

The leadership tips listed below appeared in Total Retail's annual 50 Best Tips feature, part of the Fall print issue. Download the full list of 50 tips here. "I lead by inspiring, empowering and stimulating others to push themselves to a place that may not have seemed possible. I’m passionate about maximizing individual strengths, coaching and mentoring."…

Skechers USA said Wednesday it has hired John Vandemore to be its chief financial officer, effective within the next few weeks. Vandemore, who recently served as CFO of Mattel Inc., will assume the role from David Weinberg, who assumed the CFO role in 2009 in addition to being chief operating officer since 2006. Vandemore will…