Hardware Podcasts

How I Built Resilience: Emily Powell of Powell's Books

How I Built This · 10 Dec 2020 · 24m

What this episode covers

Emily Powell, the third-generation owner and president of Powell's Books, discusses how the iconic Portland independent bookseller navigated the pandemic by pivoting to e-commerce and relying on PPP loans to survive an 80% revenue drop. She explains the strategic decision to pull the company from Amazon to protect its community-focused brand and details the operational challenges of maintaining a physical retail experience while managing a reduced workforce. Powell also reflects on the importance of local urban planning for bookstore viability and the necessity of adopting a 'duct tape' approach to cost management during financial crises.

Most relevant to

established companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Powell's Books, Amazon, U.S. Bank
Also
PPP

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