Members of the EN Point-of-Sale system selection committee. Top row, left to right: Pete Milovcich, Scott Grabus, Kevin Kissling, Stephen Drain, Lee Pettey. Middle row: Megan Shelley, Cathy Nagle-Ervin, Corinna Richards, Heidi White, Erin Sweeney. Bottom row: James Gilligan, Rafael Vasquez, Erin Nolan, Aimee Meadows.
Quarterly Strategic Plan Update: Spring 2019
Despite the five-week government shutdown, Eastern National maintained focus and progress on this year’s four strategic priorities: replacing our Point-of-Sale system, growing sales, developing the organization’s new philanthropic branch, and implementing the new brand strategy. Keep reading to learn about our recent advancements in the areas of partnerships, people, operations, and finances.
Partnerships
The rebranding of EN stores at NPS sites as America’s National Parks Stores has begun. Over the course of this year, locations will continue rolling out our new brand, supported primarily through training, America’s National Parks branded uniforms, and in-store signage.
People
In January, EN held an intensive three-day training event for all full-time store managers, the largest in-person gathering of staff in over a decade. The Back to Base Camp training enabled managers to develop their skills by working with content-area experts and one another on topics such as recruiting, onboarding, product assortment, budgeting, and digital office tools.
Operations
Continuing its work to select a new Point-of-Sale system, a committee of EN staff from all levels of the organization spent two weeks evaluating in-depth product demonstrations from our four top Point-of-Sale solution providers.
Finances
EN began a pilot study at 14 Eastern National stores to evaluate how key change initiatives contribute to improved sales. The Grow Sales Evaluation will help us to measure and assess the effect of investments in rebranding, product mix, stock replenishment, and store renovations.
Additionally, Outer Banks Forever, our recently formed Friends Group branch, will be having its formal launch in the local community during April’s National Park Week.