Katherine Ewald’s Post

Today marks three weeks since my layoff from Staples Business Advantage. The emotions brought on by losing such a long-time anchor in my life have given me a new perspective on what "work-life balance" means. While employed, I thought it was the need to remember that the weekends aren't just for catching up on work, and that when my daughter comes home from college, it's okay to take a day off to be with her. But now, reflecting on all that I have done in my career and all that I would bring to a new position, I also realize that I am always balancing what I have learned professionally with who I am personally. The guilt and worry I feel from leaving work undone and projects not finished is the same part of me that always works hard to do my best and never wants to let someone down. Although I realize this isn't a new concept, it has been eye-opening for me. I am finding this time of self-reflection interesting. I don't know exactly where my path will lead me, but looking back I guess I never really knew for sure where it was going. And that's okay, because wherever I go, I know I bring a balanced package of skills, traits, experiences, passions, and knowledge with me.

These last two weeks have been an emotional journey. I started my position as Store Manager with Rue21 only 5 1/2 months ago. When I came on I thought I had found a home. I had a strong Management Team and a great crew that helped drive a positive culture and an amazing experience for the guests. We had to overcome so many obstacles in that short time and we’re making our mark on the District. I had also taken on results for the District and was about to start bi-weekly CC’s around Credit Cards. I was settling in to make Rue21 my home. I had passed over opportunities because I was happy. I was being told there was nothing to worry about as far as store closings because that’s what my DM was being told. This is just another example of how, as a Store Manager in retail, we have to adapt quickly and make the most of truly unbelievable and dreadful situations, while leading with a positive attitude and mindset. We do this not only for us to move forward but for our team to be able to move forward. They rely on us to be the example and will follow our leadership as how they are to lead and serve guests. Myself and my team have been scrambling trying to find another place to call home while still giving 100% even though we will soon be out of jobs. This is not easy, especially considering the circumstances, but this is what we do. We adapt! I am worried for my team, myself, and my peers. It’s exhausting…. Emotionally, physically, and mentally, but this is what we do! Move forward! I trust in my faith that I will be ok. I have to. We will overcome and persevere! Please keep us all that have been devastated by the mishandling of Rue21 employees in your thoughts and prayers! We need it! ❤️🩹 #leadership #retail #management #adapt #openforwork #overcome #teamwork #mentor

This is powerful.

I’m going to take a break in this career journey story telling kick I’ve been on to give you a glimpse into the life of a business owner… Is the freedom great? Yes. Does it stretch you beyond anything you’ve ever experienced? Also yes. Is it worth it? Depends on the day 😂 But I, at least, think it is. Here’s what happened 3 days ago. When we took over Mrs Powell’s we acquired 3 store locations. One is in Idaho Falls, a decent sized city and definitely big enough to a support a store. One in a college town with a population of about 40k with an additional 20k students. Not bad. But our THIRD store was in a town in between those two with a population of about 5k. Not a great market. Fortunately, or maybe unfortunately, it actually did pretty well the first few months after we took over. But when January came around it struggled. It hasn’t done well all year. So we decided it was time to close it. I’d been pretty open with the manager for months about what needed to happen to keep it open and what we’d need to do if it wasn’t performing and the lease was coming up for renewal so we decided to close it down. I drove down to talk to the manager to let her know what the plan was. We’d give it a few weeks then close it. She said she understood and knew we had to do what was best for the business. I left thinking we were on good terms. I got a text a few hours later letting me know that her and the assistant manager cleaned out the store and would not be returning and had been telling customers that the business was officially closed and that today was our last day open. So that’s fun. We still had rent to pay. We still had other employees. We still had product to sell. But they just walked out and left the store looking vacant. So mad dash to figure out how’s to fix this. Can the rest of the staff members cover the remaining shifts until we actually close so we’re not just losing money day after day? Did they steal anything on their way out? Did they leave us with enough to keep operating? Could we communicate to the customers that we’re still open? So my wife and I spend the rest of the day ironing out all of the details to make sure we can stay open through the end of the month. Luckily the other staff members are awesome and stepped up. The store operated as usual and we’ll be able to keep serving our customers in that town for a few more weeks. NOT how I thought the day would go, but sometimes you just have to wing it. Buying and owning this business is by far the best and also the hardest thing I’ve done so far. There is no end to problems to solve and obstacles to overcome. BUT, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

17 years ago, I started working at Staples as a second job. I was barely making my rent and my car bill was always late, sometimes 2 months behind. I picked up the second job only to make another $7.45 and hour. I remember being so hungry for lunch, but my account was in overdraft 80% of the time so “meeting friends for lunch” wasn’t even something that ever crossed my mind. I was more than broke – I couldn’t even afford to ride the struggle bus. I can remember walking down to Kroger on lunch, scraping up a few dimes and nickels to buy their $0.50 cornbread. This was my reality. I didn’t have extra money for anything more than the rent and carnote I was already late on, diapers, baby formula, gas, and minimal groceries. As a man, I felt like a failure. I did this for 2 years before getting my first break that launched my career. Listen, if you are struggling, dirt poor, and feel like giving up – remember that you are not alone. There is purpose in your struggle. There are lessons to be learned. There is strength gained in the valley. I’ll never forget that cornbread. I think about it all the time and it has been a remeinder to that keeps me humble. Everyone should have a cornbread moment – so they are more appreciative for the steak. #FailForward

Trust is absolutely critical in the workplace. It not only fosters a positive and collaborative environment, but it also empowers team members to take ownership of their work and make decisions that drive success. When team members feel trusted, they are more likely to go above and beyond, think creatively, and take risks that can lead to innovation. In my experience, I have found that building trust starts with effective communication and transparency. Regularly sharing information about the company's goals, challenges, and successes helps create a sense of unity and purpose among team members. It's also important to provide opportunities for professional growth and development, allowing individuals to showcase their talents and contribute in meaningful ways. Additionally, empowering your team means giving them the autonomy to make decisions and take ownership of their work. By trusting employees to do their jobs well, leaders can foster a culture of responsibility and accountability. This not only improves job satisfaction but also leads to better outcomes for the organization as a whole.

I just moved recently and I’m still unpacking. I came across this email I printed (excuse the cat bites 😭. Jace does not like me to NOT pay attention to him unless he’s sleeping). After leaving Forever, I joined Rue21 as a transition job. I had just gained custody of my daughter and did not know what it looked like to be a dad. It was HARD going from like 60hrs/wk average to working less than that among other things that I was used to in my previous position(s). Now to have a 10yo in my space, my schedule was already so hectic! My biggest thing is communication in the workspace. As hard as it was to transition to a management role that didn’t carry the level of responsibilities that I was used to, I still kept how I communicate consistent when it came to driving goals, developing talent and assessing behaviors. “…1. Because you are taking the time to email me asking for feedback! It’s very rare that I see this, and I love it! It shows me you care and passion! 2. You take the time every single day you’re in to recap the district around credit and you hold them accountable for their SMART action plans and their results. You praise them and keep it positive!!!” This meant a lot. My goal was to be a District Manager, Regional Director, HRBP and even an COO. Hell, it still is and I believe that constantly inquiring when it comes to job performance AND building those relationships are the way to go. I will get there. This is what has driven me in my retail career, and now, as a Founder of my own company. I will get there.

Usually, my Friday post would be upbeat, but not today.   This week, we heard another layoff story. This one is at Dollar Tree, which announced the closing of nearly 1,000 Family Dollar and Dollar Tree stores; 600 of these closures will occur in 2024.   As a former retail manager, I survived the closures at K-Mart, Service Merchandise, and McWhorter's Stationers early in my career, transitioning to new jobs and eventually new careers.   Anticipating potential layoffs can be a stressful and uncertain time. Here are 7 things someone should do when they sense layoffs are on the horizon:   1⃣ Stay Informed: Pay attention to any rumors, news articles, or internal communications that may indicate layoffs are imminent. Delays in annual performance reviews, planned programs, and hiring for open positions are common.   2⃣ Review Your Financial House: Review your financial situation and create a budget to prepare for any potential loss of income. Consider building an emergency fund if you haven't already.   3⃣ Assess Your Skills and Goals: Take a moment to reflect on your strengths, skills, and career aspirations. Understanding what you bring to the table will help you tailor your job search and identify suitable opportunities.   4⃣ Get Your Marketing Documents Ready: Ensure your resume and LinkedIn profile are up-to-date and tailored to highlight your most relevant experiences and achievements. Remember, the thing you are marketing is YOU!   5⃣ Network, Network, Network: Reach out to former colleagues, mentors, and industry connections for support and potential job leads. Networking remains one of the most effective ways to uncover hidden opportunities in the job market. In all but one case, I landed my next role through networking, saving myself from lengthy job searches.   6⃣ Explore Training and Skill Development: Consider investing in additional training or skill development programs to enhance your qualifications and make yourself more marketable in a competitive job market.   7⃣ Stay Positive and Persistent: Job searching can be challenging, especially during uncertain times. Stay positive, maintain a proactive mindset, and persevere through setbacks. Remember, every rejection brings you one step closer to your next opportunity.   A successful career transitioner myself, I advanced to District Manager and eventually Director before leaving retail altogether. Now I leverage my broad business acumen and deep career industry training to help people clarify their career path, become more self-aware, and market themselves for their career targets.   You can do it too!   #CareerTransition #JobSearch #Resumes #LinkedIn #DISC #Support #EZResumeServices https://lnkd.in/eXSfeHwt

I am still looking for my next long term career but in the mean time I’m currently in the process of earning my Red Vest at Lowe’s as a Part Time Indoor Lawn and Garden Associate! TL;DR - A True People’s Leader. My husband celebrates his one year anniversary at Lowe’s tomorrow 🎉 and when I resigned from my role that came with some financial stressors. When that happened he spoke about it to his boss and before you know it I had an interview! During the interview Leo asked me what I wanted to do, not just at Lowe’s but in general. He spoke on his experience and gave me some great advice, and found me a part time role to get my foot into the door. We spoke about my interest in growth within the company and also outside of the company but for the first time in a very long time it felt genuine and I felt heard, not just as an employee but as a person. It has helped me get over the embarrassment of being unemployed. A few things Leo said that have stuck with me are that he believes in giving someone a second chance and giving them an opportunity to get them on the right path, he puts pressure on his people to see what they can and can’t handle to help direct them in their careers and to learn how to communicate, and “I want to get rid of my people” and not in the bad way, he wants to see growth. Leo could’ve said I was over qualified for an hourly position, but he never did. He could’ve said I couldn’t work there because my husband does, we didn’t even speak about anyone else but he and I. He took time to speak with me and is giving me my “second chance” that he spoke about. It’s giving me a glimpse of the leader I want to continue to grow to be. Now I get to be apart of the Lowe’s team, and it’s the coolest thing. It was tough saying yes going back to the hourly workforce, however I am learning big box retail for the first time and although a lot of my experience is transferable - there’s so many peices within these four walls. Being able to learn the ins and outs is intriguing, and honestly it’s been a very humbling experience thus far. I still have no idea what I want to do, where I’ll end up, but for now I’m soaking it all in and enjoying being customer facing again! 🎉