Leading with Respect: From the Backroom to the Boardroom: Adventures of an Off-Price Fashion Pioneer - Hardcover

Marcy Syms

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0806544813 ISBN 13: 9780806544816

Publisher: Citadel, 2025

Synopsis

For 35 years, Marcy Syms appeared in TV and radio commercials for her family's company, voicing its famous slogan, 'An educated consumer is our best customer.' Syms was the first truly off-price retailer, offering name brands at cut-rate prices. At its peak, the chain had dozens of stores in 13 states. It was more than just advertising that set it apart. For Syms, the key to success was respect - for the consumers, for the employees, and for the designer brands they sold. Working closely with her father, Sy Syms, the business's founder, Marcy helped transform Syms from a family concern to a retailing powerhouse. When Syms went public, Marcy became the youngest female president of an NYSE-listed company. Leading with Respect recounts the fascinating journey of a woman who pioneered female entrepreneurship. It's also an insider's look at a business that foreshadowed much of today's market. The Syms model spurred the growth of outlet malls and paved the way for online retail giants. Marcy explores Syms's innovative practices - training salespeople as 'educators' and including detailed, colour-coded price tags - and the pitfalls of running a business, especially a family one. Full of personal recollections and relatable insights, Leading with Respect shares a seasoned business leader's proven lessons for work and for life.

About this title

About the Author

Marcy Syms is founding trustee and president of the Sy Syms Foundation, created in 1985. She is the former chair and CEO of Syms Corp. A social entrepreneur and an activist in the field of gender equality, Marcy has helped start organizations and served on dozens of boards in the for-profit and non-profit sectors. Her book Mind Your Own Business and Keep it in the Family has been widely taught in business schools. In 2022 and 2023 she was a Fellow at Harvard's Advanced Leadership Initiative program. Marcy is actively engaged with her next startup, a podcast showcasing the importance of respect. Visit her online at marcysyms.com.

Edition details

• Publisher: Citadel
• Publication date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0806544813
• ISBN 13: 9780806544816
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 288