s Ferrier, e-commerce manager at the Salvo’s Stores. Secondhand and charity stores are really undergoing an evolution at the moment. What’s it been like to be part of that transformation, particularly at Salvos Stores? It’s a really exciting time to be in charity retail with so much change happening. I’m fortunate to have the backing of a progressive and future-focused executive leadership team that recognises and embraces the significant digital shift we’re seeing in retail. Evolving a 130-year old organisation with significant roots in Australian communities means the stakes are high. While technology plays a massive role in our digital transformation, the most important thing is bringing our people and customers on the journey and ensuring we’re providing a valuable experience to them. We’re more focused than ever to create change for tomorrow.  What are some of the initiatives in your company that you’ve led that you’re most proud of and why? Scaling our online offering has definitely been the most rewarding. When I joined Salvos in 2018, we had a very humble online offering, selling about 2000 items per year on eBay. In 2021, we sold over 175,000. We now have more than 80 per cent of our national store network listing and selling pre-loved goods through our own online store. With every item individually listed, it really is people-powered e-commerce and I couldn’t be prouder of what our team has achieved.  I’m also really proud of some of the industry partnerships we’ve established. In 2020 we launched a partnership with The Iconic and Australia Post, making it easier than ever for Australians to donate their unwanted goods to the Salvos via post. I’m really excited to explore more ways we can partner to increase circularity in Australia.    What are some of the best skills that you’ve brought to the retail industry? I’m a bit of a people person. I enjoy working with people from diverse backgrounds towards a shared vision – whether it’s bringing together cross-functional teams internally or collaborating with industry, universities, or our agency partners. I’m also a big advocate for innovation which is something I try to instil in my teams – just because we do something a certain way today, doesn’t mean it’s the best and right way to do it tomorrow. I like the discomfort that comes with change. What do you love most about your job? Working for a charity often feels like working for a start-up – we’re a small but ambitious team trying to achieve big things! I’m fortunate to be supported by an amazing team of volunteers who generously give their time to support our mission. Taking the time to connect with them is probably the most rewarding part of my role. For some volunteers, it may be the only face-to-face interaction they have and for others, it’s the first step towards paid employment. Taking the time to listen, connect and empathise with people is one of the greatest gifts as a leader. Who is your retail hero and why?  I’ve been fortunate to work with retail veteran Peter Knock on a number of industry-based initiatives. You’d struggle to meet someone who is more across what’s happening right across the retail spectrum in Australia and he uses that breadth to bring together stakeholders from different backgrounds to “do good”.  I also love the concept of a “portfolio career” which is something I first came across in a LinkedIn post by Paul Greenberg, CEO of the National Online Retailers Association. Applying my interests, passions and skills to a variety of industries, businesses and causes is something I aspire to do in my career. Like Peter, he’s an incredibly genuine and passionate leader who is driving the collective efforts of the retail industry. If you could swap jobs with anyone in retail, who would it be and why? Anyone on the shop floor at Patagonia or Lululemon. I love the outdoors and keeping fit and these brands do an incredible job of genuinely connecting with their customers. You always know when you talk to the teams in-store or online that they share your passion. I love the idea of being able to talk about more than the product – I want to know where and why you’re using it and who you’re using it with. I always come away from interactions with these brands learning something new which Why Lucas is a rising star in retail “Lucas’s key ingredients for success are his focus and passion for innovation, continuous improvement, and above all, his care for people. Lucas successfully developed, implemented, and managed an e-commerce strategy for Salvos Stores that has worked to resolve the long-standing and unique challenges we face in offering a world-class e-commerce experience for our customers, donors, and team. We have only just commenced our journey into omnichannel retail. I look forward to seeing Lucas grow, adapt, and enhance our digital strategy into the future, increasing our ability to provide positive environmental and social change for tomorrow.” – Edwina Morgan, GM – customer and strategy, Salvos Stores