Bluemercury’s Post

An excellent reminder from Martin Newman about the things that matter in building and growing a healthy business. Whilst many of us quote Peter Drucker’s remark that culture eats strategy for breakfast … it’s not to imply that building a winning business culture is an easy choice for a leader … it’s actually much harder than crafting a ‘perfect’ strategy. But if you are prepared to invest the leadership courage, energy and long term commitment (and are able to take your owners with you…) there’s no doubt that you can create a more resilient and creative business, and gain real advantage over your competitors.

We are in a people intensive work sector - both from customer's and our own team's perspectives. It becomes imperative, that everyone across all stores and locations, till the last level understands, is aligned to the approach and knows what to execute and how to execute.... Hence these meets are strategically very important... #peopleconnect #recognition #teamspirit #unifiedgoals

Grateful to Grow Together Today was nothing short of inspiring! I had the privilege of attending The Paragon Event, where we reflected on the past year and got charged up for 2025. It’s a team I will always choose; a community of love, growth, and connection. The atmosphere was full of knowledge to help us improve not just our businesses but also ourselves. But what stood out the most was the power of community. It’s incredible to be surrounded by people who share the same values and are genuinely invested in each other’s success. I was deeply humbled to be recognized for achievements in 2024. Moments like these remind me of the importance of consistency, dedication, and being part of something bigger than myself. This community has taught me that growth isn’t a solo journey. It means learning from each other, celebrating wins together, and showing up as our best selves every day. If there’s one thing I’ve taken from today, it’s that being part of a supportive community is one of the greatest assets anyone can have. I’m grateful to be part of this journey, and I can’t wait to see where we all go from here. Shoutout to some of the amazing team members who made this experience even more special! Mary Matuluko , Plus Peter ( The_socialmediapro), Ophrote Paul, Tolulope Agbede, Patricia Ade-Ajibade. And a huge thank you to The leader of the team; or better still The Paragon himself and a visionary leader, Martin 🌟 Otinga. What’s one lesson or takeaway you’ve gained from being part of a community? #communityovercompetition #2025goals #paragonevents #businessgrowth #recognition #lifelessons #buildingconnections #growthjourney

Scott Khwaja is the latest athlete on the winning Fusion Retail Group line up. Now lets abuse that sports analogy a little. Every channel has its own hurdles to winning. 🏉 eComm is a daily grind to blocking and tackling. Any holes in your lines will lead to sacks and fumbles. Amazon Temu Instacart eBay Shopify ⚾️ Mass gives you only a few short at-bats a year. But if you can hit their speedball, you are breaking windshields in the parking lot. Walmart Target 🏟️ Club is essentially the playoffs. Where you get after a long successful season, only to be rewarded with even tougher games. But winning it is so so sweet. Costco Wholesale Sam's Club BJ's Wholesale Club 🏀 Grocery is like the regular season. You have to win the regular seasons to be able to do the things that build a dynasty. Winning the long season requires organization, rigor, connections, coordination, networks, and grit. Scott Khwaja brings a massive amount of all those things. Kroger Safeway Publix Super Markets Ahold Delhaize H-E-B Meijer Whole Foods Market We can have fun with the dollar, drug, naturals, and specialty channel analogies another day. If you have suggestions on what they could be just comment. All our athletes at fusion can ball-out in just about anything. But we are playing in the big leagues now, so they each bring their specialty to one super team. we are happy to prove it in any pickup game 😉 With our strategic client partners, 2025 will turn their old "maybe next year" into talks of how we three-peat. (full disclosure, I'm a University of Tennessee, Knoxville Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee fan so its pure guessing on what actual sports championships look like 😆) Brent A. Dennison, MBA nick stagge 💭 James Clawson 💭 Jeff Jenkins

🤓 Did you know? Recognition in Retail is free 💵. Recognition goes a long way. It can be as simple as: 👍 Liking someones shoes. 👍🏻 Asking how they are feeling. 👍🏼 Acknowledging their work ethic. 👍🏾 Asking how their family is by name. ... and most importantly saying Thank-You. But... Please don't forget to celebrate. 🎉 The wins. 🎉 The effort. 🎉 And even the losses. Trying is half the battle 🤗. Remember that, 🎯 Recognition for everyone is different. Please make sure that you are recognizing them the way they would like to be recognized. For me, I like to be recognized with a simple high five and a thank you. Nothing else and nothing more. 😃 And finally, please document this fantastic event in their file so you can re-celebrate it during their reviews. Question. 👉 How do you like to be recognized? And as always and most importantly, Have a PHENOMENAL 🤩 Day. ============================== 📢 Do you want to know more about what I do? Then please head on over to: www.CaryBrandes.com 🤓 For my complete portfolio, please hop on over to: https://lnkd.in/gNVA5Jqi

Get ready for a whirlwind adventure - Walmart Associates / Shareholder Week in NWA! A time when success and struggle stories from the retail front lines echo through every corridor. It's not just a grand gala for Walmart associates, but a chance for local professionals and the community to reflect on the driving force that fuels our locality. Walmart isn't just a company; it's the heartbeat of our community. With NWA recently weathering tornadoes and severe storms, and the influx of visitors this week, expect a hustle and bustle at every turn. But in the midst of the chaos, let's take a moment to appreciate the resilience. Let's acknowledge the power of Walmart, a company that stands tall in our part of the world. As you navigate through the busy streets this week, I challenge you to not just rush by, but to pause, observe, and appreciate the remarkable influence of Walmart in our lives. Walmart Associates / Shareholder Week – it's more than just a corporate event, it's a testament to our community's tenacity and spirit.

Here’s a great video that describes what we do best for Albertans!

Mort Fleischer, a former Board Chairman of STORE Capital, was the first to introduce capital, by way of sale-leaseback transactions, to the rapidly growing but fragmented chain restaurant industry in 1981 and has been a leading light for the company. Recently, Mort shared his professional insights with our Acquisition Team Members during an on-site sales training. Applying emotional intelligence, acting with integrity and being a “Master Communicator” were just a few takeaways from the training. Learn more about STORE Capital’s History: https://bit.ly/3AxynJz