Janet Hayes started her job as CEO of Crate & Barrel Holdings in August 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic. The retail industry veteran looked at it as an opportunity to connect with the company’s customers more deeply and leaned into the idea of “courage over comfort.” Host Kerry Diamond interviews Janet at her office in Crate & Barrel headquarters in Northbrook, Illinois, and the two discuss Janet’s early days as one of six kids, her career in retail, what attracted her to Crate & Barrel, and what advice she has for entrepreneurs. They also discuss Crate & Barrel’s new collaboration with Athena Calderone of Eyeswoon. 

More on Janet: LinkedIn, Crate & Barrel, the Athena Calderone collection

Check out our Cooks & Books line-up here, happening Nov. 5th & 6th at Ace Hotel Brooklyn! 

Radio Cherry Bombe is a production of Cherry Bombe Magazine. Our theme song is by the band Tra La La. Thank you to Tom Brown of Innova Digital and sound mixer Kelly Askam of Mind Exchange Music LLC for engineering this episode.

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