By Eliana Barriga Publisher and Managing Editor for The Retail Observer ![]() It’s August, and I am back in the United States, refreshed after my doctor–prescribed time off. I took a healing, regenerative journey to Europe, spending time in England and the south of Spain to allow myself time to rest and reduce my stress level. Speaking Spanish, immersing myself in a new culture, exchanging Euros, and traveling by various methods, were the mild stimulations I needed to slowly increase brain function, necessary after head trauma. An excerpt from The Brain World’s publisher’s letter states, “As we grow, we will continue to adjust to change; exercising and reshaping our brains to endure the challenges that come with it... Even a simple journey on a subway can bring about these changes, using the brain’s reward circuitry as we plan our daily commute. It’s how we’ve always been as a species; migrating to new territory, out of a desire to explore what is just beyond our horizons...” Our brains are so powerful – our desire to explore and grow needs to be fed and stimulated no matter what. In this month’s book review, The Camino Way, Victor Prince takes us on his sabbatical journey across Spain. What began as a competitive trek became an amazing adventure and a career game-changer. Likewise, my automobile accident has been a game-changer for my family, my business, and me. I realized I needed to re-evaluate some of the priorities in my personal and business life. One of the priorities that came to mind was the importance of preparing for the unexpected in our business lives. As a mom-and-pop operation, we at The Retail Observer have found it important to cross-train staff and put together a plan B. Businesses need a written protocol/delegation plan in the event that any team member isn’t available to fulfill their roles. Prepare your employees to be ready to take on greater responsibilities in the case of the loss of any member of the team. It’s easy to slip into the mindset of trying to do so much yourself and believing that you are the only one who can do a job right. In addition, many people are afraid of being replaced if anyone else knows how to do their job. However, this is a fairly outdated mindset that needs to be changed to allow for effective emergency planning. I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone on our team at The Retail Observer who all pitched in to take over my responsibilities during my extended time away. Great job. To Teamwork- Eliana Barriga [email protected]
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By Eliana Barriga Publisher and Managing Editor for The Retail Observer ![]() Wow, 10 years of growing with The Retail Observer! How quickly they’ve passed, and how many changes have occurred in the industry during that time. Those in the industry have weathered the storms of a recession and are learning to market themselves and their products to a new client base, and are seeing results for their efforts. On a personal note, when Moe and I first entered this venture and spoke with Chuck Edmonds — founder of The Retail Observer — about continuing his dream, we had no idea that it would grow into the publication it is today. With Moe’s experience in the appliance industry/sales and my design/build background, we forged ahead, and with the expertise of others in the industry, The Retail Observer has grown from a 32-page regional “news rag” into an internationally-read magazine. We couldn’t be happier with the outcome. I have really enjoyed the connection with the independent retailers: the mom and pops, the interactions with their families, and the ability to watch their businesses grow. It feels good to know we have been part of their experience in growing and managing their businesses, and we will continuously strive to source new and pertinent information for our retailers and the industry. Ithasbeenanamazingexperiencetotravelaroundthenationand abroad, visiting manufacturing facilities and gaining exposure to different corporate cultures. These diverse ways of doing business have helped shape our field and bring a broader sense of how our industry is being run. As always, the driving force of The Retail Observer is to supply education and opportunities to retailers and designers so that not only will their businesses thrive, but that they will be able to help their clients make the best choices for themselves and their families. We have enjoyed our journey over the past 10 years and thank all of those who have helped us grow — our manufacturers, associations, buying groups and our employees. We especially thank you, our readers. You are the heart of The Retail Observer. With gratitude, Eliana Barriga [email protected] |
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December 2021
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