District Manager Archives • Running Great Stores

S05E08: Store Traffic is a Gift

Today we’re diving into one of the most overlooked opportunities in brick-and-mortar retail — your foot traffic. Based on insights from Mark Ryski’s powerful book Traffic is a Gift, we’re going to unpack why every person who walks through your door is more than just a potential sale — they’re a brand touchpoint, a loyalty moment, and a chance to grow.
If you’ve ever said “we’re not getting enough traffic,” this episode is for you — because what you do with the traffic you do get might be the real problem.
Let’s talk about what it means to turn traffic into results — and how to lead your store team to stop wasting the gift.

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July 23, 2025

Stop Reporting, Start Storytelling

How to Shine During Executive Visits If you’ve ever felt nervous before a visit from your district manager, regional manager, or someone from the executive team—take a breath. You’re not

July 8, 2025

S05E07: Always Be Blooming” From Corporate Retail to Rose Bredl Flower & Garden Shop Owner

Today, I am joined by someone special, Mary Ernst McColgan, designer and curator, owner of Rose Bredl Flower & Garden shop in downtown Columbus, Ohio. Mary has a background in retail and design marketing working for Estee Lauder and Abercrombie & Fitch. Her retail studio is an extension of Mary’s life, a curated floral based lifestyle reflecting the East Coast, American roots and sophistication. The shop is a reflection of her experiences and travels, allowing her to accentuate her personal style – preppy, natural and classic.
Mary’s journey from corporate retail as a district manager to entrepreneur is one you are going to want to hear. We are talking about chasing dreams, building teams, and blooming – literally and figuratively – right where you are planted. Let’s dig in!

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May 16, 2025

Deliver Results in Your Store This Holiday

Are you ready to become the top-performing store or district manager, achieving exceptional results this holiday and establishing habits that will make you #1 year after year? Drawing on my

November 5, 2024

Role Clarity & Goal Clarity.

I have spent the past 20 years beating the role clarity drum and recently heard goal clarity added to it and was mesmerized. The purpose of this blog is to

May 24, 2023

LinkedIn Profile Magic

Ready for a little LinkedIn profile magic? Did you know that LinkedIn is the #1 way that recruiters are looking for talent? How would you describe your LinkedIn profile? Would

September 24, 2020

Job Elimination in 2020

Dealing with the reality of job elimination? It can be hard to imagine a company no longer sees the value in your role, especially after dedicating so much of yourself to the organization. There is a light at the end of this tunnel. This post shares the story of one retail executive who found joy in her circumstances.

June 23, 2020

Diversity

The events of the past few days give us an amazing opportunity to evaluate our organizations and measure ourselves against our strategy and commitment to diversity. Today’s post speaks to both corporate and stores retail partners as both play an immense role! This is a marathon not a sprint and will take commitment and partnership! Let’s do this!
#diversityandinclusion #retail #retailstrategies #retailconsultant #runninggreatstores #blm

June 9, 2020

Improve Job Performance: Teach, Test, Trust (2020)

Do you notice job performance improve once you teach a new skill? Does the associate apply their new skill set flawlessly or change their behavior? I bet you both were

May 29, 2020

Business Acumen – Key to Driving Results

What is Business Acumen? The definition of business acumen is being able to combine your experience, knowledge, perspective, and awareness of what is happening in your business and then take

May 6, 2020

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