Meet The Power Duo Running Gap’s Most High-Profile Store – Part 1/2: Keri Robitaille
by Amelia Hart and Tony Betti
On Thursday, October 26, we’ll open the largest, most innovative store in our entire fleet – Gap Times Square. The traffic and location alone are enough to keep on lock. Then, add on specialty product, innovation lab testing, and features never before seen in any other store, and you have a career-defining mission ahead.
The women up for this challenge are Keri Robitaille, District Manager, and Shannon Valvano, Assistant Store Director. We had to physically pull them away from the store for interviews because they’re THAT busy (we get it).
This week, meet Keri Robitaille!
How did you end up at Gap, and as the lead of our most prestigious store?
I’ve always admired Gap as a brand, not only the aesthetic, but also the importance that Gap puts on community involvement and social responsibility. I am a big believer in networking and had spoken with Gap recruiters in the past. When I heard that Gap was going to be opening their newest global flagship in Times Square, I knew it was a great opportunity for me to leverage my past experience, and be a part of something amazing with a great brand.
Where were you before Gap? Can you tell us about your career path?
Before Gap, I was at Aeropostale; I helped launch their Times Square store, and then moved into a role at their HQ office. I’d been networking with Gap for about a year, but the right role hadn’t come along, until now!
With a store of this magnitude, what are some potential challenges you foresee, and how do you plan to manage them?
There is always something new and unexpected in Times Square. As the global flagship for Gap, we will frequently be testing new ideas with product and in-store experiences. That means we will constantly be managing change. We have invested in the right training, and we have a great strategy in place to make sure that our team stays both informed and empowered to manage thorough all types of change.
What are you most excited about?
My team! It was important to me to build the best team in retail. I am truly excited about the people I get to work with every day. They are smart, innovative and they love to win!
Follow along next week when we’ll introduce you to Shannon Valvano!
Click here for more info on working at Gap Times Square.
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