Coastal Connections Conference panel to share hiring and retention strategies
By Kristin Ely

A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to Maui wildfire relief efforts.

William Hill, retail store manager, Margaritaville Resort Orlando

Coastal retailers who are looking for ways to improve employee hiring, training and retention, can find the answers at the Coastal Connections Conference. During the event, Oct. 22-24 at the Margaritaville Resort Orlando, attendees will hear from expert panelists with a background in building a strong team within their organizations.

The session, titled, “Build an All-Star Team,” takes place Sunday, Oct. 22 from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. Attendees will learn what steps to take to create a loyal and hard-working team in their retail operation so they can worry less and rely on their employees more.

Speakers include Kathy Cruz, founder and CEO, Savvy Shopkeeper, William Hill, retail store manager, Margaritaville Resort Orlando, Scott Hamblen, chief operating officer, Sunshine Ace Hardware/Crowder’s Gifts and Gadgets, and Kim Springsteen-Abbott, owner, Lady Gryphon's Coastal Collections. Each speaker will share their experiences with building a successful team from hiring to retention and team building.

Cruz has turned her passion for independent retail into a top-rated podcast and online education platform to help brick-and-mortar store owners work smarter, profit more and grow. She also owns a home decor store.

Hill has done a complete overhaul of the 1,700-square-foot gift store at Margaritaville Resort Orlando since he began in June 2022. He brings 15 years of retail management experience to his role and is taking the store to the next level of upscale resort retail, which includes a robust onboarding program for staff.

Hamblen has been with Sunshine Ace Hardware since 2016 and is responsible for store operations, merchandising, and marketing divisions, across its 12 stores, including two Crowder's Gifts and Gadgets. In 2022, the stores received the Gulfshore Business award for Best Place to Work for its people first culture.

Springsteen-Abbot is owner of Lady Gryphon’s Coastal Collections Shop in Tarpon Springs, Florida and CEO and sole shareholder of an award- winning equipment lease and finance firm since 1997, a longstanding woman-owned business and certified diversity supplier, who understands the importance of giving equal opportunities in the marketplace.

“We’re thrilled to bring together such a diverse panel that can share ways to help coastal retailers with this important aspect of their business,” says Conference Director Kristin Ely. “Each panelist has a unique perspective and different approaches that coastal retailers will be able to identify with and adapt to their own operations.”

To learn more about the Coastal Connections Conference, including registration, full speaker line-up and agenda, visit www.coastalconnectionsconference.com. Early Bird registration rates are available until Aug. 31.

Coastal Connections Conference will also be donating a portion of the proceeds from the event to Maui wildfire relief efforts.