In Conversation with Dan Barr
Tell us about your background:
Southern-born, Midwestern upbringing, college at The Ohio State University before taking the leap into the retail sector in apparel, starting that route at Britches of Georgetowne in the Washington, D. C. area before heading to Polo Ralph Lauren in south Florida. There I learned that how I make people feel is the most important thing to remember about business whether you're selling insurance or suits or doing them a favor; Attitude is everything. Spent time with Bloomingdale's before moving from Florida to Connecticut, just outside of New York City, where again, I joined the Ralph Lauren Corporation again for several years before corporate changes pointed to moving in other directions, namely Giorgio Armani, L. L. Bean and The North Face--bringing into work what I did on weekends and time off--before leaving the apparel world to work with the Fiskars group building their retail presence in the US, starting in New York with, again, Bloomingdale's.
What do you wish you’d known when you started out?
That selling is really story-telling, whether it is showing someone how something may work for them, or guiding them through the steps that make the purchase truly theirs.
Best career advice you've ever received?
That helping people is at the baseline of everything I do.
What leadership qualities are important to you?
Honesty, integrity, intelligence and being open to new ideas.
What has been the biggest challenge in your career so far?
The decisions to create positions/jobs that promise to help growth, and then eliminating these positions when things get rough, rather than working through the hiccups and looking at other ways it may work.
How has networking contributed to your professional growth and success?
Networking has enabled me to be a part of new and different ideas, culture, and goals with the various positions I've held, going from the casually elegant world of Ralph Lauren to Armani's sophisticated elegance, to the casual but challenging world of Outdoor life.
What are your top networking tips for building strong connections in your industry?
When presented with the opportunity, TAKE IT!!! I've met any number of people who have turned into friends, mentors, and guides that I would never have known had it not made the effort to know them better.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-barr/
Website: danielbarrwriter.com
Instagram: @danielbarrwriter
