Main RMI Number
408-554-4960
SCU - St. Joseph's Hall
Room # 108
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Retail Management Institute Newsletter - Winter 06
RMI Advisory Board Member Jim Famalette - Gottschalks
RMI Advisory Board Member James R. Famalette, President and CEO,Gottschalks .
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Gottschalks President Jim Famalette tells us about how he made the decision to enter retailing, relates his career history, and gives advice on entering his profession.
What made you choose this profession? Was there a certain aspect of this field that particularly sparked your interest?
I started working as an intern in retail in college. I really loved the interaction with people and the fact that you are always trying to anticipate what the next big rage is, which involves a lot of risk and reward.
How did you get started in retail, and where has it taken you along your career path?
I started in retail by selling men's suits in a men's department store and went from being a sales person to being the assistant store manager and soon after was recruited to manage a woman's retail store.
How would you define your role in this company?
I'm involved in all aspects of the organization. Most importantly setting time and vision of what the company is trying to do. The most significant areas I’m directly involved in are merchandising, marketing, store operations and dealing with the investment communities, though I stay involved in a lesser role in finance, human resources and operations.
What is your educational background and how has it played into your position in this company?
I was an economics major and all those years of learning supply and demand theory have definitely helped me in retail.
What does a normal day entail for you? What would you say are the highlights of your day?
I’m not sure there is such a thing as a normal day as we have to be proactive as well as active in situations. I regularly schedule meetings with team management groups as well as weekly meetings with our executive management and merchandising management team. Thank goodness for e-mail, as it allows me to reduce the number of phone calls and I couldn't work without my Blackberry, whether traveling, being in the office or at home.
The highlights of my day would be reviewing the daily levels of sales by store and by merchandise division.
What made you choose to work for this company versus the many other retailers out there?
I was intrigued by the opportunity to grow the company from its situation in 1997. I enjoy the climate and the opportunity for personal lifestyle in California. Most importantly, the company had very much of a family culture, not only working hard but enjoying the work environment.
Which qualities or characteristics do you think are important in order to hold your position?
The ability to communicate. It is critical in every aspect of my job to communicate direction, vision, information or the needs of the organization to outside entities. You must be willing to take the responsibility for what happens because the buck truly stops here. You must be willing to learn, not be afraid of making mistakes, able to trust the people around you to execute the plan you’ve all agreed to.
What are the qualities of retail you enjoy the most?
Interacting with people in everything we do. The highs and lows that come from the risk and reward of what the consumer wants tends to be a tremendous excitement factor.
What would you say to someone who was interested in a similar profession or field?
Be prepared to learn as much as you can, have an opinion, be willing to listen to others, be flexible, deal with the waves of success and failure that comes in the things you do. Being in retail, you will not be right all of the time.
Why did you join the Retail Management Institute Advisory Board?
I enjoy dealing with the young adults who are trying to determine which retail career path they would like to pursue. Since joining the company in 1997, we have developed an intern program to help those who are interested in retailing careers to be well informed about retailing and the rapidly changing retail environment. Santa Clara University is a nationally recognized university with the utmost reputation, which I am honored to be associated with.
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Back to Newsletter - Winter '06
Retail Management Institute - Santa Clara University
rmi.scu.edu
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