As an executive, Kristin Smith is always focused on finding “wide open spaces.” She believes these spaces or gaps highlight real customer needs and present new opportunities for businesses to differentiate and grow. 
 
And she found a lot of these opportunities in Fernish, which ultimately inspired her to invest in, advise and join the company as President and Chief Operating Officer. After seeing a significant spike in demand during the pandemic, Kristin and the rest of the team are focused on growth mode. This week, Alicia Esposito chats with her about:  

• How the Fernish mission has evolved during the pandemic;  
• The demographic trends driving new expansion opportunities and growth for the business;  
• Top operational challenges and investments Fernish has had to make as the business scales; and  
• How collaboration and brand partnerships can inspire innovation.  
   

RELATED LINKS 

• Learn more about Fernish 
• Register for the Retail Innovation Conference virtual experience to hear more about how Fernish collaborates with Crate & Barrel to unlock new opportunities.