Soleman
my journey
in the footwear industry
About me, Mike...
This is my journey on how I got here…from the beginning. I’m writing twice a week sharing my story and tips along the way for those who want to get in into the shoe and apparel industry, already in the industry looking for insights, or for those who just want to see my comic strips from a shoe dog who’s been around the block. Enjoy!
My Latest Blogs Below.
Building a Great Team #254
August 12, 2022
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In blog #253 I talked about Embrace and drive change. In this blog I want to talk about building a great team. From my early management days, I always tried
Embrace and Drive Change #253
July 31, 2022
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In blog #252 I talked about how the Journey continues. In this blog I want to talk about Embrace and drive change. I’ve written 252 blogs so far about my
The Journey continues #252
March 27, 2022
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In blog #251 I talked about the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. In this blog I want to talk about how the Journey continues. After almost 19 years I am
The Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square #251
February 14, 2022
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Blog #250 I talked about the Great Wall experience in Beijing. In this blog I want to talk about the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. The Great Wall experience was
The Great Wall experience in Beijing #250
February 8, 2022
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Blog #249 I talked about when we meet up with Bing before we take some R&R. In this blog I want to talk about the Great Wall experience in Beijing.
Meet up with Bing before we take some R&R #249
February 1, 2022
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Blog #248 I talked about the Shanghai Factories with Rob and Michael. In this blog I want to talk about when we meet up with Bing before we take some R&R.
Previous 200 Blogs Below (see blog tab to go back further).
Building a Great Team #254
August 12, 2022
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Embrace and Drive Change #253
July 31, 2022
2 Comments
The Journey continues #252
March 27, 2022
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The Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square #251
February 14, 2022
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The Great Wall experience in Beijing #250
February 8, 2022
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Meet up with Bing before we take some R&R #249
February 1, 2022
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Shanghai Factories with Rob and Michael #248
January 26, 2022
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FACE golf tournament for charity #247
January 19, 2022
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China trip starts off at the China office #246
January 9, 2022
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Reflections of our year 2021 #245
December 29, 2021
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My son James turns 21 So I take him out #244
December 24, 2021
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Personal Life gets better meeting Linda #243
December 12, 2021
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Private label team visits Ha Long Bay #242
December 6, 2021
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Private label team heads out to Vietnam #241
November 27, 2021
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Steve gets promoted to VP of Merchandising #240
November 23, 2021
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Zappos marathon a new puppy and a 60th birthday party #239
November 16, 2021
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Zappos acquires 6PM and Nike goes live #238
November 7, 2021
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The Couture site gets a facelift #237
October 31, 2021
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2007 starts off with many new changes #236
October 23, 2021
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2006 comes to a close at Zappos #235
October 17, 2021
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Private label team heads to Shanghai #234
October 11, 2021
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Zappos reaches over 804 brands on the site #233
October 6, 2021
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Another tour group for China departs in April #232
October 3, 2021
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Our founder Nick leaves Zappos #231
September 29, 2021
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2005 comes to an end and another China trip #230
September 25, 2021
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Meanwhile back in Las Vegas then off again #229
September 23, 2021
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Zappos factory tour group day two #228
September 19, 2021
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First Zappos tour group arrives #227
September 15, 2021
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My strength slowly comes back #226
September 11, 2021
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My night in a Chinese Hospital #225
September 8, 2021
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Zappos creates the offer during NHT #224
September 5, 2021
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Back in Vegas for a hot minute #223
August 29, 2021
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Our first Quality Control tour #222
August 25, 2021
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The Amazing Pegasus factory tour #221
August 23, 2021
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Anna starts and back to China #220
August 17, 2021
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Back to Milan and the Micam Show #219
August 14, 2021
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John starts designing the boxes for us #218
August 11, 2021
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Boxes and gel pads get figured out #217
August 8, 2021
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Back to China with two goals #216
August 3, 2021
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First Million dollar day celebration #215
August 2, 2021
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INC 500 and some new faces #214
July 28, 2021
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Rule number one don’t ask what you’re eating #213
July 26, 2021
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Gel for Fitzwell idea is born #212
July 21, 2021
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Next the shoe line tour #211
July 17, 2021
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Today we tour several shoe factories #210
July 14, 2021
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Next up we tour a last factory #209
July 4, 2021
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Day one we visit a tannery #208
July 1, 2021
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First trip to tour China factories #207
June 29, 2021
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Factory tours in Tuscany Italy #206
June 29, 2021
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Florence Italy and Factory tours #205
June 23, 2021
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My first Micam shoe show trip #204
June 22, 2021
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My Private Label journey begins #203
June 19, 2021
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Zappos 5th Anniversary party turns into the Vendor party #202
June 15, 2021
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Customer service and Culture become the focus #201
June 12, 2021
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Starbucks pitch and Private Label position #200
June 8, 2021
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Merchandising progression plan begins July 2004 #199
June 5, 2021
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Zappos moves Headquarters to Las Vegas in 2004 #198
June 1, 2021
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Pam gets interviewed in San Francisco #197
May 29, 2021
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First WSA show with Zappos #196
May 26, 2021
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Zappos 4th Anniversary Party #195
May 22, 2021
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Merchandising breaks out the buying by categories #194
May 18, 2021
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The time Tony and Fred Pranked me #193
May 15, 2021
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My first big Pitch as a Zappos Buyer #192
May 12, 2021
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Embrace and Drive Change #191
May 8, 2021
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Weekly Lunch at Zappos was fun #190
May 4, 2021
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Zappos Buying Team 2003 #189
May 1, 2021
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Size and width brands is my focus #188
April 28, 2021
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Zappos moves away from dropship model in 2003 #187
April 28, 2021
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Zappos moves warehouse to Kentucky 2002 #186
April 27, 2021
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Zappos provides its own selection #185
April 27, 2021
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Zappos moves to 1000 Van Ness #184
April 12, 2021
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Zappos is born July 15 1999 #183
April 7, 2021
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First a little Zappos history #182
April 3, 2021
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Why you should never burn your Bridges #181
March 31, 2021
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My Zappos journey begins and my 5 tenents #180
March 27, 2021
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My first meeting and interview with Tony Hsieh #179
March 26, 2021
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The proverbial Straw and a meltdown #178
March 24, 2021
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Aaron sets up the Zappos interview #177
March 20, 2021
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Transfered to the Target Hayward store opening #176
March 20, 2021
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Target corporate visit went well #175
March 19, 2021
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The Good The Bad and the Sad #174
March 18, 2021
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The daily routine at Target #173
March 13, 2021
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Learning from George and Charles #172
March 10, 2021
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Zappos calls again in 2002 #171
March 6, 2021
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My Target journey begins in Milpitas #170
March 2, 2021
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Three Reps who Stayed in Touch #169
February 27, 2021
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These Mountains you Are Carrying #168
February 24, 2021
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My Time with Nordstrom is done #167
February 20, 2021
2 Comments
Best to have options to make decisions #166
February 16, 2021
4 Comments
Nordstrom Consolidations sealed the deal #165
February 13, 2021
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The Tipping Point for me #164
February 10, 2021
2 Comments
Sales continue to Plummet and Pressure increases #163
February 6, 2021
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Joe comes back to Nordstrom #162
February 1, 2021
2 Comments
Our Valley Fair Support Team #161
January 30, 2021
1 Comment
A welcomed break from stressful days #160
January 27, 2021
1 Comment
The Beginning of the End- Blog #159
January 23, 2021
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Remodels are the Ultimate sales prevention- Blog #158
January 20, 2021
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Bill and Mikes Cluck U adventure – Blog #157
January 17, 2021
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More Nordstrom changes and a trip to Vegas – Blog #156
January 15, 2021
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More changes in Valley Fair – Blog #155
January 12, 2021
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No Problem was the Nordstrom way – Blog #154
January 9, 2021
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Fred Leaves Nordstrom for Zappos.com – Blog #153
January 6, 2021
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Why the most important asset is people – Blog #152
January 5, 2021
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Coaching from two Toms made the difference – Blog #151
January 4, 2021
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Salon Reps that helped in Valley Fair – Blog #150
January 3, 2021
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New Merchandiser and Store Manager – Blog #149
January 1, 2021
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Valley Fair and 5 Corporate Pacesetters – Blog #148
December 31, 2020
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Our Dog Willie the Collie – Blog #147
December 30, 2020
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My Friend and Nordstrom Buddy Daryl Curley – Blog #146
December 30, 2020
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Palo Alto Womens floor recap Blog #145
December 28, 2020
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Great Business Cures All Woes Blog #144
December 27, 2020
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Valley Fair Opening for a Combined floor Blog #143
December 26, 2020
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Bob and Blake knew how to Motivate Blog #142
December 23, 2020
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People who made a Difference plus Fun Stuff #141
December 22, 2020
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Key Brands we made Huge – Blog #140
December 21, 2020
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Reps who helped turn it around – Blog #139
December 20, 2020
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My Northern California Peers- Blog #138
December 19, 2020
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The Easy Spirit National Sales Event- Blog #137
December 19, 2020
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The Ugg Slippers bet Paid Off – Blog #136
December 17, 2020
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The Ugg Slippers bet I took in Palo Alto – Blog #135
December 16, 2020
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You are Only as Good as Your Last Flash – Blog #134
December 14, 2020
1 Comment
Our First Family Dog was Muttley #133
December 12, 2020
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How we worked Inventory down Successfully #132
December 8, 2020
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It’s Better to ask for Forgiveness than Permission – Blog #131
December 5, 2020
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How Change in our lives are Lessons – Blog #130
December 1, 2020
1 Comment
The Turning Point for Palo Alto – Blog #129
November 29, 2020
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Team Bonding is Good for Morale -Blog #128
November 24, 2020
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Nordstrom Buyers were based in each store #127
November 22, 2020
2 Comments
Treat People like you Would want to be Treated – Blog #126
November 18, 2020
1 Comment
Having a great Right Arm person – Blog #125
November 15, 2020
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Building a Great Team – Blog #124
November 10, 2020
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The Defining Moment in my Career – Blog #123
November 8, 2020
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Being Present and Meeting Bruce Munro – Blog #122
November 4, 2020
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What is the Gameplan – Blog #121
November 1, 2020
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Settling in to a New Position – Blog #120
October 27, 2020
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Transfer to Bay Area Checklist – Blog #119
October 25, 2020
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Goodbyes are tough -Blog #118
October 20, 2020
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Better to be Humble – Blog #117
October 18, 2020
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If You Fail to Plan you Plan to Fail Blog #116
October 13, 2020
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Having a Strong Vision – Blog #115
October 11, 2020
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More change in the East Bay – Blog #114
October 7, 2020
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Just say no to revenge – Blog #113
October 3, 2020
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Different Styles to learn from – Blog #112
September 29, 2020
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Communication Breakdown – Blog #111
September 27, 2020
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No Guts No Glory – Blog #110
September 24, 2020
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Change is constant in Retail – Blog #109
September 20, 2020
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The Eastbay team plus one – Blog #108
September 16, 2020
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How My Influencers got me there – Blog #107
September 13, 2020
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Year End Re Cap 1993 – Blog #106
September 9, 2020
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My Favorite NYC Ffany Trip – Blog #105
September 5, 2020
1 Comment
How to Execute Events properly – Blog #104
September 2, 2020
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Anniversary Sale Re-cap – Blog #103
August 29, 2020
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The Mayor of Zappos – Blog #102
August 24, 2020
2 Comments
Planning is Most Important – Blog #101
August 23, 2020
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9 Pacesetters on the BP floor – Blog #100
August 19, 2020
1 Comment
The Team rescued me – Blog #99
August 17, 2020
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Politically Speaking at Nordstrom – Blog #98
August 12, 2020
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Honest Feedback is key – Blog #97
August 9, 2020
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My Mentor Rob and more Change – Blog #96
August 5, 2020
1 Comment
Under size 5 and Over size 10 event – Blog #95
August 2, 2020
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Good people in Key Positions – Blog #94
July 30, 2020
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Our Team Building Movie – Blog #93
July 26, 2020
1 Comment
Building the Team in Brass Plum Shoes – Blog #92
July 22, 2020
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Change is Constant in Retail – Blog #91
July 19, 2020
2 Comments
Building a Team for Success – Blog #90
July 14, 2020
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Quality Value and Selection – Blog #89
July 11, 2020
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The Next Big brand – Blog #88
July 8, 2020
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Fatherhood again with the Birth of Jennifer – Blog #87
July 4, 2020
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Focus on the Solutions – Blog #86
July 1, 2020
2 Comments
Buyer of the Month Recognition – Blog #85
June 28, 2020
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Hot items make the difference – Blog #84
June 24, 2020
1 Comment
Why Knowledge is Power – Blog #83
June 21, 2020
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My Mentor Rob’s Influence – Blog #82
June 18, 2020
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Vendor Relations are Important – Blog #81
June 15, 2020
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Maximizing The Hot Items – Blog #80
June 11, 2020
1 Comment
Follow the Golden Rule – Blog #79
June 7, 2020
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Getting Organized in the Stockroom – Blog #78
June 3, 2020
2 Comments
Hardest part of the job – Blog #77
May 31, 2020
2 Comments
Hard work pays off – Blog #76
May 27, 2020
2 Comments
Be the change driver – Blog #75
May 24, 2020
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Corporate Business Trip to Seattle – Blog #74
May 20, 2020
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Power of Mentors and Friendships – Blog #73
May 17, 2020
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Don’t Lose Your Focus – Blog #72
May 13, 2020
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Problems are a gift – Blog #71
May 10, 2020
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The only constant in retail is change – Blog #70
May 6, 2020
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Doing your Best work – Blog #69
May 3, 2020
1 Comment
Leadership Direction and People Placement – Blog #68
April 29, 2020
1 Comment
Honesty is the best policy – Blog #67
April 26, 2020
1 Comment
People make the Difference – Blog #66
April 22, 2020
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Helping Security deal with Criminals – Blog #65
April 20, 2020
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Nordstrom All Stars and Pacesetters – Blog #64
April 15, 2020
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Language you may hear in the Stockroom – Blog #63
April 13, 2020
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Sale Customers you meet at Nordstrom – Blog #62
April 5, 2020
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Duties of a Nordstrom Womens shoe Floor Watcher – Blog #61
April 1, 2020
4 Comments
The day before Half Yearly sale prep – Blog #60
March 29, 2020
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First Half Yearly of Nordstrom Arden Fair – Blog #59
March 25, 2020
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Escaping the Loma Prieta Earthquake – Blog #58
March 22, 2020
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People of the Opening of Nordstrom Arden Fair – Blog #57
March 18, 2020
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What it Means to be a Shoe Dog – Blog #56
March 15, 2020
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Opening of Nordstrom Arden Fair – Blog #55
March 11, 2020
1 Comment
SIZES... SIZES... SIZES... SIZES...
…just sharing my story and tips from my footwear career.
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