Stories of Resilience from the Front Lines of Retail

In the July edition of HomeStyle Magazine, I was honored to contribute an article titled ‘It’s Time for you to SHIFT’ alongside articles from houseware retailers from across the nation who share their stories of perseverance and resilience in a period of disruption unlike any they have encountered.

When Covid 19 came along, I realized I had a lot in common with retailers. They too thrive on interacting with their customers live and in person. And as we know, for many that mode of interacting went out the window last March. As such, I had to quickly reinvent my speaking business and adapt to the demands of a virtual world.

Similarly houseware retailers are facing major change. As HomeStyle publisher Laurie O’Halloran observes in her July editorial:

This pandemic has prompted a retail reinvention like nothing we’ve ever seen. Will these drastic short term changes stick around for the long term? Will we ever return to our old social ways, our feeling of a tight knit community? I hope so. Human communication is complex and dynamic…It requires the harmonious integration of both verbal and non-verbal components. A simple smile can speak volumes, but it sure is hard to see behind a face mask.

Well said Laurie!

The pandemic has offered all of us a choice. We can be fearful, stand back, and just hope that our world returns to the way it was. Or we can choose to SHIFT according to the new realities and grow personally and professionally just like just like the resilient and action oriented business owners profiled in the July edition of HomeStyle Magazine.

Happy reading and Bon Appetit!