Still in the Fight
Still In The Fight is a podcast for leaders who believe the best lessons are earned on the front lines. Hosted by retail veterans Art Freedman, Mike Costello, and Rob Feiler, each episode features honest, unscripted conversations about leadership, culture, customer service, business growth, and building great teams. The show offers practical ideas, real stories, and actionable insights for anyone leading a retail store, business, or team.
Episodes
S2 E3 - Still in the Fight - Founder's Mentality
As your business grows, how do you make sure you don’t lose the core strengths that made you successful in the first place? Growth brings complexity—more layers, systems, and distance from your customers and frontline staff.In this episode of Still in the Fight, Art, Rob, and Mike dive deep into The Founder’s Mentality by Chris Zook and James Allen. They share real-world leadership lessons from Co
S2 E2 - Still in the Fight - Protecting Company Assets
What does it really mean to "protect company assets" in retail leadership? In this episode of Still in the Fight, Art, Mike, and Rob challenge the idea that asset protection is just a loss-prevention department handling cash, inventory, or equipment theft. Instead, they argue that safeguarding assets is a core leadership responsibility that touches every part of the business.The hosts dive into bo
A Store Manager’s Path to Success
A Store Manager’s Path to Success
S1 E3 (Short) The Decline of DIY Skills
S1 E3 (Short) The Decline of DIY Skills
S1 E12 (Short) Developing Talent for Pro Sales
S1 E12 (Short) Developing Talent for Pro Sales
S1 E10 (Short) Brand Promise - The Key to Success
S1 E10 (Short) Brand Promise - The Key to Success
S1 E9 (Short) Vinny's Community Focus
S1 E9 (Short) Vinny's Community Focus
S1 E8 (Short) Why Customer Feelings Matter More Than Policy
S1 E8 (Short) Why Customer Feelings Matter More Than Policy
S1 E5 (Short) Business Readiness Score - A Tool for Consistent Feedback
S1 E5 (Short) Business Readiness Score - A Tool for Consistent Feedback
S1 E4 (Short) Frictionless Shopping
S1 E4 (Short) Frictionless Shopping
S1 E3 (Short) Embrace the No - Preparing Teams for the Fight
S1 E3 (Short) Embrace the No - Preparing Teams for the Fight
S1 E2 (Short) Training New Staff Through Role Plays
S1 E2 (Short) Training New Staff Through Role Plays
S2 E1 - Still in the Fight - Employee Appreciation
Retail Leadership Secrets: Real Employee Appreciation (No Pizza Parties Required)In this episode of Still in the Fight, host Art is joined by co-hosts Mike, Rob, and special guest Erica Fox (Senior Director of HR at Costello’s) to break down what genuine employee appreciation looks like on the front lines.Forget generic plaques and pizza parties—we’re talking about the everyday habits that make em
Are You Winning?
Are You Winning?
S1 E8 (Short) No Is Not An Option
S1 E8 (Short) No Is Not An Option
S1 E10 (Short) The Burden and Blessing of Brand Representation
S1 E10 (Short) The Burden and Blessing of Brand Representation
S1 E4 (Short) Sign Your Store - Train Your Staff
S1 E4 (Short) Sign Your Store - Train Your Staff
S1 E9 (Short) The Mystery of Pro Sales
S1 E9 (Short) The Mystery of Pro Sales
S1 E8 (Short) The Power of 'Yes' in Business
S1 E8 (Short) The Power of 'Yes' in Business
S1 E11 (Short) Every Item Has a Home
S1 E11 (Short) Every Item Has a Home
S1 E2 (Short) Why You're the Key to a New Employee's Success
S1 E2 (Short) Why You're the Key to a New Employee's Success
S1 E9 (Short) The Secret to Driving Pro Sales
S1 E9 (Short) The Secret to Driving Pro Sales
S1 E8 (Short) The Power of Saying 'No' the Right Way
S1 E8 (Short) The Power of Saying 'No' the Right Way
S1 E5 (Short) Breaking Down the Building Blocks of Greatness
S1 E5 (Short) Breaking Down the Building Blocks of Greatness
S1 E2 (Short) Strong Onboarding Leadership
S1 E2 (Short) Strong Onboarding Leadership
S1 E11 (Short) The Mystery of Items and Ownership
S1 E11 (Short) The Mystery of Items and Ownership
S1 E8 (Short) The Burden of Saying 'Yes'
S1 E8 (Short) The Burden of Saying 'Yes'
S1 E5 (Short) Setting Expectations for Excellence
S1 E5 (Short) Setting Expectations for Excellence
S1 E3 (Short) Future of Retail and Pro Sales
S1 E3 (Short) Future of Retail and Pro Sales
S1 E2 (Short) Onboarding - Beyond Paperwork
S1 E2 (Short) Onboarding - Beyond Paperwork
S1 E2 (Short) First Impressions Matter
S1 E2 (Short) First Impressions Matter
S1 E1 (Short) Know Your Business History
S1 E1 (Short) Know Your Business History
S1 E13 - Still in the Fight - What Matters the Most
This wraps up Season 1 of Still in the Fight!In this finale episode, Art Freedman (Business Coach), Mike Costello (CEO), and Rob Feiler (SVP of Sales) reflect on the biggest takeaways from our first 13 episodes. Is there a single "silver bullet" to retail success? No—it’s the combination of daily execution, strong leadership, and putting your people first.Join us as we recap what matters most on t
S1 E2 (Short) First Jobs and the Pressure to Succeed
S1 E2 (Short) First Jobs and the Pressure to Succeed
S1 E1 (Short) Get Out of the Store and Into the Community
S1 E1 (Short) Get Out of the Store and Into the Community
S1 E9 (Short) B2B Sales - Easier Than DIY
S1 E9 (Short) B2B Sales - Easier Than DIY
S1 E8 (Short) Empowering Retail Employees
S1 E8 (Short) Empowering Retail Employees
S1 E2 (Short) Be the Best Leader in Onboarding
S1 E2 (Short) Be the Best Leader in Onboarding
S1 E1 (Short) Embrace Open-Mindedness for Business Growth
S1 E1 (Short) Embrace Open-Mindedness for Business Growth
S1 E10 (Short) Brand Promise - Employees & Customers
S1 E10 (Short) Brand Promise - Employees & Customers
S1 E9 (Short) Pro Sales - The Future of Retail
S1 E9 (Short) Pro Sales - The Future of Retail
S1 E8 (Short) A 90-Year-Old With a Broken Window Screen
S1 E8 (Short) A 90-Year-Old With a Broken Window Screen
S1 E8 (Short) When Customers Try to Return Broken Hammers
S1 E8 (Short) When Customers Try to Return Broken Hammers
S1 E8 (Short) Building a 'Yes' Culture
S1 E8 (Short) Building a 'Yes' Culture
S1 E9 (Short) Hardware Secrets - Building Customer Relationships
S1 E9 (Short) Hardware Secrets - Building Customer Relationships
S1 E8 (Short) Eliminate 'No' to Boost Sales
S1 E8 (Short) Eliminate 'No' to Boost Sales
S1 E12 - Still in the Fight - Build a Store Specific Plan
In this episode of Still in the Fight, Art Freedman, Mike Costello (CEO of Costello’s Ace Hardware), and Rob Feiler (SVP of Sales) discuss how to take pro sales strategy out of the boardroom and put it directly onto the sales floor.No two stores are identical—demographics, talent levels, and market opportunities vary widely from one location to the next. The team breaks down how to build a store-s
S1 E9 (Short) Pros Want to Talk to Pros
S1 E9 (Short) Pros Want to Talk to Pros
S1 E10 (Short) A Brand Is a Promise, Not a Logo
S1 E10 (Short) A Brand Is a Promise, Not a Logo
S1 E11 (Short) Who Owns This?
S1 E11 (Short) Who Owns This?
S1 E11 - Still in the Fight - The Importance of Aisle Accountability
In this episode of Still in the Fight, Art Freedman, Mike Costello, and Rob Feiler dive deep into the foundation of great retail merchandising: Aisle Accountability and Ownership.Discover why assigning real estate on the sales floor is a game-changer for employee development, how simple routines build a "ready-for-business" culture, and why the golden rule remains: Every item has a home, a price,
Empathy in Customer Service
Empathy in Customer Service
Seeing Money in Bagged Goods
Seeing Money in Bagged Goods
Understanding P&L for Business Success
Understanding P&L for Business Success
Budgeting: The Key to Success
Budgeting: The Key to Success
Setting Expectations for Excellence
Setting Expectations for Excellence
Business Readiness Walks: Asking the Right Questions
Business Readiness Walks: Asking the Right Questions
S1 E10 - Still in the Fight - The BRAND You Represent
In this episode, Art Freedman, Mike Costello, and Rob Feiler tackle a foundational yet frequently misunderstood concept in retail: The BRAND You Represent. Together, they break down why a brand is so much more than just a logo, a family name, or an ad campaign—it is a living, breathing promise made to your employees, your customers, and your community.Tune in as the team discusses how frontline co
Embrace Pro Sales or Face Decline
Embrace Pro Sales or Face Decline
S1 E9 - Still in the Fight - Define "Winning" for a Pro Sales Store
In this episode of Still in the Fight, we discuss what “winning” really looks like in a Pro-focused store. It starts with a store manager who makes Pro Sales a priority, develops a clear plan, and keeps the entire team engaged in serving professional customers.We cover the fundamentals of success: setting measurable goals, keeping score, opening new accounts, making regular customer calls, buildin
S1 E8 - Still in the Fight - The Word YES
What if one simple word could transform your customer experience?In this episode of Still In The Fight, Art, Mike, and Rob explore the power of "Yes." They discuss why great organizations look for ways to help customers rather than reasons they can't, and how empowering employees to say "yes" builds trust, loyalty, and long-term relationships.The conversation centers around one of their favorite l
S1 E7 - Still in The Fight - E.C.E.T.
What if every customer who walked into your business left feeling welcome, important, confident, and appreciated?In this episode of Still In The Fight, Art, Mike, and Rob introduce E.C.E.T.—Every Customer, Every Time—a practical approach to creating a consistent customer experience. They discuss how building intentional systems and habits ensures that every customer receives the same exceptional l
S1 E6 - Still in the Fight - See Money
In this episode of Still in the Fight, Art, Mike, and Rob introduce one of the most powerful mindset shifts in retail leadership: See Money.Every display, every fixture, every sign, every shopping cart, and every piece of inventory represents an investment. Even damaged merchandise and outdated displays have a financial impact. The leaders who consistently win are the ones who train themselves—and
S1 E5 - Still in the Fight - Business Readiness Score
The Business Readiness Score is a simple but powerful tool that measures how prepared your store is to win every day.Each of the five Ready for Business fundamentals is scored on a scale of 0–10: • In Stock • Signage • Product Displays • Housekeeping • Customer ServiceThe five scores are added together for a total possible score of 50.A score of 40 or higher generally
S1 E4 - Still in the Fight - Ready for Business
Ready for Business isn’t complicated—but it does require discipline.In this episode of Still in the Fight, we break down the five fundamentals that create a store customers want to shop and employees are proud to work in:• Be in stock.• Sign every product with a price.• Display merchandise the way customers will use it.• Keep shelves, overheads, and back rooms organized and easy to count.• Wrap it
S1 E3 - Still in the Fight - Pro Sales
What separates great retail organizations from the rest? Strong Pro Sales doesn't happen by accident—it happens through relationships, consistency, and a commitment to serving professional customers. In this episode, Art Freedman, Mike Costello, and Rob Feiler share practical strategies and real-world experiences to help leaders build a Pro Sales culture that drives growth and earns customer loyal
S1 E2 - Still in the Fight - Onboarding
Most companies think onboarding ends after the first day or first week. Great leaders know that's when it really begins.In this episode of Still In The Fight, Art Freedman, Mike Costello, and Rob Feiler discuss why onboarding is one of the most overlooked drivers of long-term success. They share real-world stories and practical ideas on how to welcome new team members, build confidence, create mea
S1 E1 - Still in the Fight - How We Got Here
Every journey has a starting point. In our first episode of Still In The Fight, we share how three people from different backgrounds—consulting, executive leadership, and sales—came together through decades of friendship, trust, and a shared passion for helping people grow. We talk about the experiences that shaped us, why we decided to start this podcast, and what you can expect from future conve
