A Pathway to Profit
Culture Impacts Performance The Story of a Struggling Company Achieving Profitability through Cultural Transformation
by Anita Pugh, Caroline Hipple, Chris Matthies, Dixon Bartlett

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A Pathway to Profit is more than a management book; it is also a primer giving a behind-the-scenes picture of developing a culture linking people and profit. The authors’ step-by-step pathway provides a strategic overview, describes a recommended architecture on which to build an organization’s culture, and presents a plan for developing leaders to ensure associate participation in achieving results. This management philosophy guides for-profit companies and nonprofit organizations; it works with different ages and diverse backgrounds; in fact, it works for any team with a leader. Sharing actual experiences to illustrate each step, the authors take their own advice and offer wisdom that seems to come from an old friend.

www.pathwaytoprofit.net

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“Experience how the key to profitability is a proven employee-driven corporate culture where making money is fun.” Dewey Sadka, author of The Dewey Color System, More Passion, More Power “I have practiced these leadership principles for more than 25 years, as a business owner and a department manager—they work!” Margaret Terry, SPHR | chief human resources and administrative officer, Bates Group LLC “It's so exciting to have the secrets of success that I have watched in all four of these authors over the years be quantified in such a usable format for small business owners and managers!” Ashton Harrison, author of From A.D.D. to CEO “We were able to watch Caroline pull together an outstanding team of individuals at Storehouse who worked to rebuild the organization. In a very short time, with limited budget, amazing things were accomplished that could not have been pulled off without great teamwork, attitudes and passion for their work, the company, as well as their customers.” Ken Smith, principle, SmithLeonard, Analysts “A Pathway to Profit brought back a memory of two clearly differentiated furniture retailers, This End Up and Storehouse, which both creatively used display and product to meet the needs of a highly defined consumer base. Both were ahead of their times because they truly involved women on every level from the top down, empathetically understanding the ultimate purchasers of home furnishings. The authors reflect on the lessons learned from these stores and the management methods of allowing every employee to participate in improving the retail experience. Every retailer today could benefit from this style of involving and growing employees.” Jerry Epperson, partner, Mann, Armistead & Epperson, Ltd. "Caroline, you and the team have built one heck of a company with one heck of a culture. I'm tempted to say, 'You go, girl,' but I don't have to. You always have and always will." Raymond Allegrezza, editor in chief, Furniture/Today “This interesting and intriguing book seems to make a great deal of sense. A lot of A Pathway to Profit is practical as well as theoretical, and a perusal of the pathway would offer benefits to students of business at all levels.” Littleton Maxwell, business librarian, Robins School of Business, University of Richmond

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Dixon Bartlett, the visionary brand creator, is a passionate team developer and a provocative merchant, well recognized for his trend-forward aesthetic. Chris Matthies, the manager who proved our management philosophy is a viable pathway to success, is passionate about people development, a consummate sales coach, and advocate for participant-centered learning. Anita Pugh, narrator of the book and author of the manager development programs, is a trusted executive coach, and an expert at understanding the match between the person and the position. Caroline Hipple, the architect of the pathway, is a leading industry strategist, adventurous merchant, culture advocate, and fearless problem solver. Caroline, Anita, Chris and Dixon provide their consulting services through HB2 Resources in Atlanta, Richmond, and Virginia Beach.

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Contributors

Author

Anita Pugh, Caroline Hipple, Chris Matthies, Dixon Bartlett

Designed by

Steven Davenport

Photographer

Blake Burton

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