Hardlines sat in this morning on an interview with retail leader John Herbert. As general secretary of the Global DIY Network, an international umbrella organization that connects home improvement retailers around the world, Herbert has met and worked with some of the industry’s top executives throughout his 67-year career. He spoke with Ken Hughes, an international shopper and consumer behaviour expert.
Herbert’s CV includes opening the very first big box store in Britain, a hypermarket under the Sainsbury’s banner. He worked directly for Lord Sainsbury himself, and Herbert recalls that his boss embodied the best qualities of modern leader. “Lord Sainsbury was really, really good at putting his stamp on every aspect of retail.”
Those values remain critical today. “The real leader today is the one who runs from the front.” The first thing is to lead by example: don’t do anything you wouldn’t do yourself,” Herbert noted.
