SHOW NOTES
It’s no secret that retail employees who feel a sense of belonging and community in their store team are more likely to be engaged in their work. (Gallup)
Also no secret: This is a daunting task for frontline leaders. One often hindered by high turnover rates, diverse and part-time workforces, competitive environments, and limited resources for engagement.
But Paula Angelucci, District Director at lingerie retailer Adore Me, is cracking the code to build tight-knit store team communities that care about their work and each other.
In this episode of Frontline Fridays, Ron Thurston sits down with Paula to discuss what it takes to build a true sense of community among your store teams.
They dig into:
- Leader’s mindset for inspiring a fantastic, inclusive store team community
- How to encourage and model open and honest communication
- Culture initiatives that can keep your frontline employees motivated
Whether you’re a seasoned frontline leader or an aspiring manager, this episode promises valuable insights into building more inclusive and engaged store team communities.
GUEST BIO
Paula Angelucci, District Director, Adore Me
Five years ago, intimate apparel brand Adore Me tapped Paula Angelucci as their first ever District Director. In her first year, she helped open four Adore Me stores in Providence RI, Willowbrook NJ, Natick, MA, and Chattanooga, TN.
She created the retail cadence for these new stores from the ground up, guiding recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and training content development.
Prior to Adore Me, Paula was with Victoria’s Secret as a Platinum Flagship Store Manager and went on to run multiple high volume districts.
But her retail career began at Macy’s with an Executive Training Program in New York, taking her on a 20+ year tenure with the organization in various customer facing and operational roles, and rising to become Vice President Store Manager.
Paula’s passion lies with the customer experience. Most retail skills are transferable as long as you keep the customer as king or queen. That’s been a constant throughout her time in the retail brick and mortar space — having wonderful products and an unforgettable customer experience led by highly engaging teammates.
HOST BIO
Ron Thurston is the host of FRONTLINE FRIDAYS.
Ron is the co-founder of OSSY, a full-service agency platform that connects retailers, candidates, and solution providers to create thriving retail careers and businesses.
With 30+ years leading retail stores and operations for America’s most prominent brands, like Gap, Saint Laurent, Apple, Bonobos, and INTERMIX, Ron has developed a deep expertise in retail strategy, management, and innovation.
Ron is the author of RETAIL PRIDE, an Amazon bestseller that inspires retail professionals to take pride in their accidental careers. He hosts the RETAIL IN AMERICA podcast and tour, sharing the untold retail success stories and the incredible people behind them.
Ron’s work has set him up as one of the most influential voices in retail and retail tech, and he serves on the Advisory Board of YOOBIC and several emerging retail technology platforms, including Ometria, Reflex, and Vendoor.
ABOUT FRONTLINE FRIDAYS
FRONTLINE FRIDAYS WITH RON THURSTON is a live podcast for frontline leaders and advocates in retail and hospitality.
Ron Thurston has a question for leaders out there who are inspiring excellence in their frontline teams: “What do you do differently?” In this candid discussion series, he’ll sit down with them to find out.
Each episode of FRONTLINE FRIDAYS offers real-world strategy from retail and hospitality change makers on frontline leadership and personal career growth.
