Owner Crawford Brock, pictured with his two daughters Leigh and Laura,talks about the retail environment, what makes a specialty store special, lessons learned, seven-fold ties and more.
On the current state of retail.
According to Brock, it's challenging. "But we've survived 18 years, and the future looks awesome." He credits much of the store's success to the talented, motivated group of employees he manages. "People," he says, "who I'm proud to put in front of every client. They're not just order-takers; they're a group who's truly passionate about the business. There are a lot of hard workers. But the question is, where's your attitude? That's what sets us apart from other retailers."
More on what sets Korshak apart.
"Extraordinary service, every day, all the time. It's part of our culture to go way beyond the norm. Our customers expect it. And we have to deliver." Brock also credits the shopping environment. "First of all, we look like Versaille. You just have to walk in and look around to feel the difference. There's something special around every corner."
Favorite part of the job.
"The people," Brock says. "I spend a lot of time in the store meeting the customers who shop here. They want to know the proprietor. There's something about talking to the guy who owns the place."
Best advice.
Looking back on his opportunity of spending eight years working with retailing icon Stanley Marcus, Brock shares some important insights.
- Retail is about change. Never stay stagnant. A store can't survive without newness.
- Take care of customers, and they'll come back. Take care of merchandise, and it won't come back. It's just that simple — and that difficult.
- Think long-term about every decision. How will it affect you down the line? If you make a decision for the short term, you'll probably have to fix it later.
Most valuable lesson.
Brock sites the concept of Hubris from Greek Mythology. As a championship soccer player, it was his coach teaching team members to believe in themselves, but also to believe they had to keep working harder. Today, it's part of his management style. "As we've had success, you can't let it go to your head. It's all about hard work and a great attitude. That's the standard I set, for myself as well as my employees."
Personal style.
Classic and conservative, but with flair. "I'll wear a striped shirt with a pink tie," he says. And Brock's favorite? Italian seven-fold ties for their luxurious feel and attention to detail. "They simply feel different in your hands."
Looking forward.
"Specialty stores like ours have a great opportunity to make a giant surge. To succeed, you're either going to have to be at the top or bottom. You can offer the best quality, service and merchandise — or you can discount it. The ones in the middle are going to have a hard time."
And finally, a bit of background.
Brock joined Stanley Korshak in 1987, serving as President and General Manager for 15 years. Purchasing the store in July 2002 from the Rosewood Corporation, he is the sole owner. A graduate of Florida State University business school, he spent 11 years at Neiman Marcus before joining the Korshak team. "I guess I've had a guardian angel all these years. I didn't have to make a lot of decisions about what to do in my career. It just sort of worked out."
