Welcome back to the 3rd Quarter Behind-the-Scenes Series from Stories from the River. In today's episode, Charlie welcomes back Tim Sayles, Broad River's Director of Construction & Facilities, or Goose Wrangler. Tim shares exciting construction updates and renovations taking place in various Broad River stores. Charlie and Tim discuss the importance of investing in upgrading the remaining existing stores to the Ashley 7.0 (or latest) design elements, explaining that these improvements help maintain vibrant, high-performing retail environments. The conversation highlights the ongoing projects, including store remodels in Fayetteville, Raleigh, and Pineville, with future upgrades planned for locations such as Augusta, Columbia, Mooresville, and Hickory.

Charlie and Tim also discuss the phased approach to store renovations, ensuring minimal disruption while enhancing the store's appearance and functionality. They touch on the positive feedback from Memory Makers who work in the renovated stores and experience these upgrades first hand, noting the excitement and energy it brings. Tim shares insights into the logistical aspects of construction, such as working overnight to avoid daytime disruptions and the benefits of modern updates like LED lighting.

Tim and Charlie point out the company's forward-thinking strategy, emphasizing that these continual enhancements keep both their stores and Memory Makers motivated and aligned with Broad River Retail's offensive-minded growth strategy. Tim also unpacks the importance of sharing these renovation updates during companywide Town Halls and the positive feedback he receives from these announcements.

This episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/YeT5njvQPCA

Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes.

Broad River Retail brought this show to you. Visit https://BroadRiverRetail.com

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Welcome back to Stories from the River and our behind-the-scenes series of interviews following our 3rd Quarter Companywide Town Hall held on Friday, September 27, 2024. In today's episode, Charlie's back with return guests Heather Greenwood, Director of Memory Maker Experience (MMx) and Krissy Whitley, Senior Director of Human Capital, to discuss the Engagement Survey results and announcements that Heather and Krissy unveiled at this last Town Hall.

The Engagement Survey results were the star of the show of this latest Town Hall, and they discuss key takeaways from the Engagement Survey results and subsequent actions from the annual engagement survey conducted last Fall. Heather and Krissy explain the survey's significance in collecting feedback from Memory Makers on various aspects such as engagement, wellness, and diversity. They discussed the process of synthesizing all of the immense amounts of objective and subjective data, providing it to the executive team and then separating it by two specific groups (one data set for Retail Performance Memory Makers and one data set for all other Memory Makers).

They then invited volunteers to serve on one of the two Engagement Survey Task Force Action Councils to review the results and ultimately offer suggestions and recommendations for the Company to adopt in response to the feedback.

Several major initiatives were announced based on the survey results, most of which are set to roll out in 2025. These include Personal Wellness Days, enhanced Tenure Rewards, increased Mileage Reimbursement, expanded Parental Leave, and Retail-Specific Split Shift Saturdays.

These initiatives were well requested, and the announcements were very well received by everyone listening in or watching the Town Hall. These initiatives are expected to lead to greater job satisfaction amongst Memory Makers, greater retention, and lower turnover. Heather and Krissy emphesize the importance of acting on survey results, reflecting on Broad River's commitment and dedication for all of its Memory Makers.

This episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/vlHpbtaNlbI

Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes.

Broad River Retail brought this show to you. Visit https://BroadRiverRetail.com

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broad-river-retail

In this episode of Stories from the River, host Charlie Malouf introduces a new behind-the-scenes series focused on the company-wide quarterly town halls at Broad River Retail. Charlie is joined by return guest Kim Harkness, recently promoted to Vice President, who shares insights into the origins and evolution of these town halls. They recount how the town halls were initiated in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic as a critical measure for communication when traditional channels were disrupted. Initially held weekly, the frequency was gradually reduced to monthly and then quarterly as the crisis abated. The primary goal remains to communicate directly with Memory Makers, ensuring transparency and clarity by delivering information directly from the leadership.

The episode delves into the extensive preparation required for these town halls, from finalizing the agenda about a month in advance to conducting walkthroughs and rehearsals. Kim and Charlie discuss the contributions of Tyler Trill (a/k/a the "Captain Kirk" of the show according to Kim), the River's Senior Communications Manager, in crafting presentations and managing the technical aspects of the meetings. The town halls cover essential updates like business performance, new store openings, and key performance indicators, while also spotlighting achievements and milestones of Memory Makers to foster a sense of community and recognition.

The episode discusses the platform of choice (Zoom) for Broad River's Town Halls as well as the pros and cons of Webinar Mode vs Meeting Mode. Broad River has also invited friends and partners from other companies to attend their Town Halls as a special VIP guest attending with a "backstage pass" as a way to help other companies learn from some of their well established best practices.

Despite occasional technical and logistical challenges, the duo emphasizes the importance of authenticity and continuous improvement, encouraging other companies to adopt similar practices to enhance their internal communication and connect more deeply with their own people.

This episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RtAWpgUPPWs

Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes.

Broad River Retail brought this show to you. Visit https://BroadRiverRetail.com

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broad-river-retail

In this episode of Stories from the River, host Charlie Malouf wraps up the Ron Carucci series by welcoming special guests Marcus Benjamin and Davin Salvagno. Both guests provide insights into Ron Carucci's impactful talk delivered at Broad River Retail on Friday, September 20, 2024. Marcus Benjamin, CEO at Benjamin Strategy, and Davin Salvagno, founder of PurposePoint and the Purpose Summit, share their admiration for Carucci and his ability to inspire and educate his audience. Having collaborated with Carucci on numerous occasions, Davin describes Ron's talk as one of the best he has ever given, highlighting the impactful message of understanding not just who people are but "whose they are you." Marcus adds that Ron's stories and data-driven insights resonated well with Broad River's culture, emphasizing the importance of having robust "seams" within organizational structures to facilitate growth.

Both guests reflect on the key takeaways from Carucci's talk, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, vulnerability, and trust in fostering a healthy work environment. Davin mentions the visual analogy of an ill-fitting sport coat to describe organizational growth and the need to adapt to new sizes and challenges. He stresses that genuine trust can only be built through honesty and vulnerability. Marcus discusses how leadership can inadvertently break trust by not aligning actions with communicated expectations. He shares a personal example of leading by action to reinforce company objectives, emphasizing that Memory Makers should see their leaders model the behavior expected of them.

Davin also unpacks the benefits of looking at feedback as "Feed Forward." And, he descibes the concept and story of "balcony people" from the book of Hebrews as people cheering you on during a race in describing how Memory Makers welcome you when you come to the River and cheer you on. The episode closes with praise for Broad River Retail’s culture of purpose leadership, encouraging other organizations to follow suit in fighting for a purpose greater than profit and using business as a force for good.

Additional Resources:

Ron Carucci:

Connect with Ron - https://www.linkedin.com/in/roncarucci/

Navalent - https://www.navalent.com

"To Be Honest" by Ron Carucci - https://tobehonest.net

Ron Carucci from The Purpose Summit - episode of Stories from the River - https://youtu.be/hrLdtLE6ztI

Davin Salvagno:

Connect with Davin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvagno/

PurposePoint - https://www.purposepoint.com

The Purpose Summit 2025 | Charlotte, NC - https://www.thepurposesummit.com

HeartCount - https://heartcount.com

"Thieves of Purpose: Overcoming the 12 Mindsets Robbing You of Your Potential" by Davin Salvagno - https://www.amazon.com/Thieves-Purpose-Overcoming-Mindsets-Potential/dp/1684816785

Marcus Benjamin:

Connect with Marcus - https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcusdbenjamin/

Benjamin Strategy Group - Bullish About Tomorrow - https://www.advantagetmrw.com

This episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_DvAr2WWhmY

Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes.

Broad River Retail brought this show to you. Visit https://BroadRiverRetail.com

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broad-river-retail

Welcome back to the behind the scenes series at Stories from the River. Host Charlie Malouf welcomes Memory Makers Sara Callahan, Joanna Innocenti, Jeff Willis, Stacie Pittman, and Nathan Jeter to reflect on Ron Carrucci's impactful talk given at The River on September 20th. The central theme of Carrucci's talk, and the series of discussions following it, revolve around the importance of connection, which is also central to Broad River Retail's 2024 word of the year - Connect. The episode underscores the significance of in-person events to foster genuine connections amongst Memory Makers, especially in a work culture increasingly dominated by virtual meetings. They discuss how these events make them feel valued and invested in by Broad River, creating opportunities to eliminate distractions, feel the energy of their fellow Memory Makers, and engage in meaningful conversations.

The Memory Makers share various ways they aim to maintain connections, both with coworkers and customers. They emphasize the value of in-person interactions and regular team events, like the Sleep Summits at the Charlotte Motor Speedway and The Purpose Summit held earlier this year in Charlotte, in strengthening team bonds. Techniques like virtual coffee breaks and quarterly lunches are highlighted as effective ways to stay connected in a remote work setting. On a personal note, some Memory Makers also discuss how staying connected helps them be more mindful and balanced, enabling them to slow down and approach work with renewed energy and clarity. They express gratitude for Broad River Retail's investment in their development and well-being, culminating in endorsements of the company's leadership and community culture.

Favorite Stories from the RIver episodes from the Memory Makers:

Nathan's favorites - https://youtu.be/4db0fnBUXTU & https://youtu.be/aMmd-p7FV1Q
Jeff's favorites - https://youtu.be/WWzZB7lOD2k
Sarah's favorite - https://youtu.be/eIA_tya2bt8
Joanna's favorites - https://youtu.be/C2qsfxLnxkk & https://youtu.be/QWpakgwwV-o
Stacie's favorite - https://youtu.be/asVT_zJIMrM

Additional Links and Resources:

Connect with Ron Carucci - https://www.linkedin.com/in/roncarucci/

Navalent - https://www.navalent.com

"To Be Honest" by Ron Carucci - https://tobehonest.net

Ron Carucci - From the Purpose Summit - Stories from the River - https://youtu.be/hrLdtLE6ztI

Surgeon General's Warning on the Epidemic of Loneliness - https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/03/new-surgeon-general-advisory-raises-alarm-about-devastating-impact-epidemic-loneliness-isolation-united-states.html

Our Epidemic of Isolation and Loneliness - https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf

This episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9PSvv1GvBcE

Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes.

Broad River Retail brought this show to you. Visit https://BroadRiverRetail.com

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broad-river-retail

In this behind-the-scenes episode of Stories from the River, hosted by Charlie Malouf, the focus revolves around the essential topic of building and maintaining trust within an organization. The discussion follows a recent talk by Ron Carrucci on the same subject and features additional insights from Memory Makers Sara Callahan, Joanna Innocenti, Jeff Willis, Stacie Pittman, and Nathan Jeter. They emphasize the importance of transparency, integrity, and consistency in actions and communication to foster trust. They discuss various strategies such as open town halls, regular communication channels, and supportive leadership roles that have been effective within Broad River Retail. They also reflect on personal experiences during challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic when the company's commitment to its Memory Makers was notably evident.

Further, the participants dive into the consequences of broken trust within organizations, attributing it to lack of transparency, unfulfilled promises, and poor communication. They share how trust is cultivated in their daily roles through actions matching words, upholding commitments, offering support, and being approachable leaders. Both Nathan and Jeff underline the significance of dialogue and vulnerability in building genuine relationships, while Stacie and Sara highlight leading by example and offering unconditional support to their teams. Ultimately, this behind-the-scenes episode encapsulates the multi-faceted approach to nurturing trust at Broad River Retail and its pivotal role in organizational success.

This episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/CkMzUdfb7xM

Additional Links and Resources:

Connect with Ron Carucci - https://www.linkedin.com/in/roncarucci/

Navalent - https://www.navalent.com

"To Be Honest" by Ron Carucci - https://tobehonest.net

Ron Carucci - From the Purpose Summit - Stories from the River - https://youtu.be/hrLdtLE6ztI

"Speed of Trust" by Stephen Covey - https://speedoftrust.com
&
https://www.amazon.com/SPEED-Trust-Thing-Changes-Everything/dp/074329730X/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes.

Broad River Retail brought this show to you. Visit https://BroadRiverRetail.com

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broad-river-retail

Welcome back to Stories from the River. Continuing the Ron Carucci Series, host Charlie Malouf welcomes a group of Memory Makers from Broad River Retail who attended Ron's presentation in Fort Mill, South Carolina, on Friday, September 20th to discuss the valuable takeaways from his talk. This episode features insights from Sarah Callahan, Jeff Willis, Joanna Innocenti, Nathan Jeter, and Stacie Pittman, who come from different departments within the company, such as Finance, Customer Experience, Operations, and Retail Performance. Each Memory Maker shares his or her personal reflections and the impact that Ron's talk had on him or her, emphasizing the importance of internal communication, trust, and collaborative problem-solving within the organization.

Throughout the discussion, the participants highlight several key points from Ron's presentation that resonated with each of them, such as the concepts of "stitching the seams" of an organization, addressing biases, and the sustainable use of trust as a currency. The Memory Makers express how these insights will influence their work practices, from improving interdepartmental communication to fostering team collaboration and self-reflection on their personal roles and biases. The episode wraps up with participants sharing their favorite quotes from Ron's talk and how these lessons will be implemented in their daily work lives to contribute to a more cohesive, trusting, and collaborative organization.

Additional Links and Resources:

Connect with Ron Carucci - https://www.linkedin.com/in/roncarucci/

Navalent - https://www.navalent.com

"To Be Honest" by Ron Carucci - https://tobehonest.net

Ron Carucci - From the Purpose Summit - Stories from the River - https://youtu.be/hrLdtLE6ztI

This episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Kggf5nXksRA

Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes.

Broad River Retail brought this show to you. Visit https://BroadRiverRetail.com

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broad-river-retail

Welcome to Stories from the River and this new mini-series from Ron Carucci's visit to Broad River Retail. Host Charlie Malouf welcomes guest speaker Ron Carucci, a bestselling author, and the co-founder and managing partner of Navalent. Carucci is known for his expertise in building trust within organizations and has spoken multiple times at the Purpose Summit, including the recent Purpose Summit this spring in Charlotte, North Carolina. This episode features a Q&A session with Carucci, who engaged with Broad River Retail's Memory Makers at their Fort Mill, South Carolina, campus following his talk and presentation to Broad River's Memory Makers on Friday, September 20th. The discussion focuses on insights into organizational trust, collaboration, and effective communication across different departments, or ways to 'stitch the seams' and keep the seams better connected.

Carucci delves into ways to handle and improve tension in relationships within the workplace, emphasizing the importance of consistent and honest communication. He suggests practical steps like having regular, informal conversations to build trust slowly and advocates for the use of 3rd party facilitators when necessary. Carucci also addresses the need for scalable operating models and warns against relying on "heroics"—short-term, unsustainable efforts to fix problems. Instead, he encourages organizations to create standardized processes that can support long-term growth and innovation.

Come back on Thursday for more behind the scenes footage and reactions following Ron's talk!

Additional Links and Resources:

Connect with Ron Carucci - https://www.linkedin.com/in/roncarucci/

Navalent - https://www.navalent.com

"To Be Honest" by Ron Carucci - https://tobehonest.net

Ron Carucci - From the Purpose Summit - Stories from the River - https://youtu.be/hrLdtLE6ztI

This episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/vLOUco3Pe8c

Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes.

Broad River Retail brought this show to you. Visit https://BroadRiverRetail.com

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broad-river-retail