Welcome to the second episode of the Knights of the Ledger Summit series from Stories from the River!

Hope Stocker, Manager, Retail Accounting, guest hosts this episode and sits down with Broad River Retail's CEO, Charlie Malouf, for a Q&A about the company's growth and future opportunities with questions from the summit attendees. Charlie talks about the company's pioneering spirit in their northwest expansion, particularly with the introduction of Project Cascade and its entry into the Spokane market. This ambitious project is all about cascading Broad River's award-winning culture to a new territory which will introduce new and unique challenges to overcome, such as operating a single-store market with limited resources. Hope and Charlie also delve into the importance of retail leadership, explaining how having top-tier general managers is crucial for maintaining consistency and excellence across their stores.

The episode highlights Broad River's dedication to innovation and staying ahead of the competition, as demonstrated in their bold initiatives like launching Riverstone Logistics and introducing an elevated home delivery service branded as Ashley DASH. Charlie emphasizes the company's commitment to reinvesting in their Memory Makers and communities through ventures such as an upcoming Crisis Assistance Fund and potential mission trips to further enrich their award-winning culture. Looking ahead, Charlie outlines the exciting opportunities for Broad River, targeting ambitious growth goals, maintaining excellent retail performance, and potentially exploring new regional markets beyond 2025, all while nurturing their unique company culture.

Additional Resources:

"The Explorer's Gene: Why We Seek Big Challenges, New Flavors, and the Blank Spots on the Map" by Alex Hutchinson - https://www.amazon.com/Explorers-Gene-Challenges-Flavors-Blank/dp/0063269767

This episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/CzHJ8RkD9UM

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 a the new Knights of the Ledger Summit series from Stories from the River! This episode captures a presentation that podcast host and Broad River CEO Charlie Malouf gave at the 2nd Annual Knights Summit on March 26, 2025, in Fort Mill, South Carolina. Charlie begins by sharing insights into Broad River's growth journey over the last 20-plus years, focusing on past milestones and plans for the next year including Project Cascade, which aims to expand the company's geographical reach into the Inland Northwest in Spokane, Washington. Charlie discusses the four key areas of focus for 2025: driving revenue, continued innovation, operational efficiencies, and ensuring fortress security. He also discusses longer term future plans like the 2030 vision to grow to $500 Million.

He emphasizes the importance of the pioneering spirit, encapsulated by the word "Pioneer," which was chosen as the company's 2025 word of the year. This encapsulates the aim to be innovative and exploratory in their endeavors.

Charlie further engages the audience with thought-provoking exercises that demonstrate the power of compounding and investing in oneself. Through interactive dialogue, he illustrates the potential of small, consistent improvements leading to significant growth. This aligns with Broad River's philosophy, which values goal-setting and strategic planning to achieve long-term growth. Charlie reiterates the importance of Memory Makers in realizing these goals, noting that the company's success hinges on their growth and development. Overall, this episode serves as both an informative and a motivational session, aiming to prepare the finance department, fondly known as "Knights of the Ledger," for future challenges and opportunities.

21:24 "Nobody ever drifted to a destination they would have chosen." -Michael Hyatt
28:05 "If someone offered you a penny that doubles every day for 30 days or a million dollars today, which would you take?"
32:09 "If you improve by 1% every day, within a year you will have improved 365%. Think about that"
33:57 "When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split into two, and I know it was not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before." - Jacom Riis The Stonecutter's Credo
34:27 "The best investment you will ever make is in yourself." Warren Buffett

This episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rX0TnFIQCmY

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 the second mini-series episode introducing People Allies on Stories from the River!

In this episode Heather Greenwood, Director, People is joined by Renee Bradley, Associate Director of Retail Onboarding and Education, and Nicole Gere, Senior Manager of Talent Acquisition, integral leaders of the People Team at Broad River Retail. Together, they discuss the transformation from a traditional Human Resources Department into the more dynamic People Team shedding light on the profound change in perspective and operations. The conversation reflects on the unveiling of the People Department and its emblematic elephant logo, which symbolizes strength, wisdom, and protection, mirroring the values and work culture that the team wants to instill and embody across the organization.

Renee and Nicole share their experiences and insights on what it means to be a "People Ally," emphasizing the team's commitment to creating exceptional experiences for all Memory Makers. Nicole discusses the pivotal role her talent acquisition team plays as the first point of contact for potential Broad River Memory Makers, while Renee reflects on her journey and the shift from Human Resources to a more partner-focused People Department. They delve into their department's vision and strategies, highlighting the "RIGHT" approach—doing the right thing, the right way, for the right reasons. The episode concludes with personal reflections on the upcoming spring and summer, underscoring the deep connection to the community and the importance of experiencing joy and growth, both professionally and personally.

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

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