Join the SWIM Team!

By Andrea Pelloquin, West Music Company Have you heard of the SWIM Team yet?  SWIM stands for Smart Women In Music, and it is a program that “supports women in the music products industry and helps them develop their leadership aspirations and broaden and deepen their leadership proficiencies” (SWIM, 2019).  The program is a part … Read more

The SWIM Fund: Supporting Strong Women in Music

By Andrea Pelloquin, West Music Company Last spring the NAMM Foundation created the SWIM Fund, which stands for Strong Women in Music.  The fund was created to support women in the music products industry in the development of their leadership skills and aspirations.  The fund will support women by providing the following: Professional development opportunities … Read more

Moral of Morale – Part Two: Appreciating Your Employees – Christie Smith, Long & McQuade

Making sure your staff feels appreciated is one of the most important ways to retain and inspire them, but equally important is making sure they are regularly challenged and empowered. Every employee wants to know that they are contributing something important to their company, that they are a genuine part of its success and that there … Read more

Moral of Morale – Part Two: Appreciating Your Employees – Christie Smith, Long & McQuade

Making sure your staff feels appreciated is one of the most important ways to retain and inspire them, but equally important is making sure they are regularly challenged and empowered. Every employee wants to know that they are contributing something important to their company, that they are a genuine part of its success and that there … Read more

Retail Truth #208 – Chip Averwater

We can’t treat them the same when they’re not. Treating everyone the same is an admirable philosophy based on the equality we all strive for. Only it doesn’t work. We can speak bluntly and directly to some employees; others require a soft touch, couching even gentle suggestions in affirmations. Some are motivated by our approval, … Read more

Retail Truth #208 – Chip Averwater

We can’t treat them the same when they’re not. Treating everyone the same is an admirable philosophy based on the equality we all strive for. Only it doesn’t work. We can speak bluntly and directly to some employees; others require a soft touch, couching even gentle suggestions in affirmations. Some are motivated by our approval, … Read more