AddShoppers was founded in 2011 by two college roommates who took their passion for eCommerce and marketing and built something great. Though many aspects have evolved over the years, including our products and the size of our team, one fundamental element has remained: a company culture deeply rooted in collaboration, communication, and innovation.
Twelve years later and we’re officially coming off the high of our first annual company retreat. We took the time and space as a remote company to come together IN-PERSON to celebrate, connect, and collaborate with this amazing team of great humans.
Before COVID-19 made remote work a buzzword, we were already embracing the future. We ditched the traditional office setup, not out of necessity, but because we saw it as a game-changer for both our business and our awesome team. Our decision to go remote wasn't just a trend. It was an investment in our team's well-being and a turbo boost for productivity. As we look to the future, we're staying ahead of the curve, making sure our team has the freedom to shine while keeping our company nimble, competitive, and awesome. However, we know there's something truly special about having our team under one roof from time to time. It's in these face-to-face moments that the magic of collaboration happens.
Not having a physical office cultivating a culture that resonates with every team member, especially within our digital environment, is of the utmost importance. Like many remote-centric/fully distributed organizations, we harness the power of tools like Slack and Zoom to ensure our collaborative spirit and transparent communication remain intact. While we love our virtual happy hours, everyone was excited for this major milestone, the inaugural AddShoppers Company Retreat. It was the first time since our transition to remote work our entire team came together in one location to connect, collaborate and celebrate.
Groundwork for Greatness
The retreat's theme was Groundwork for Greatness, representing the sentiment of coming together to celebrate our past accomplishments and set the stage for future success. In selecting this theme, we aimed to underscore the significance of solid foundations and their role in creating sustainable growth.
Expounding on the essence and significance of the event, Heather, Chief People Officer, shared, "Our company retreat was a true reflection of our culture at AddShoppers. It was a moment in time that we could reflect and learn from our past, build on our foundation, and ignite the fire for future growth."
Connect + Celebrate
Our event launched with an amazing welcome reception that allowed everyone to meet for the first time, complete with name tags, a photo booth, great food, some AddShoppers-themed cocktails selected just for this event, and a few meaningful words from our co-founder and CEO, Jon West.
We continued celebrations the next evening at our dinner and awards ceremony, where we recognized team members who epitomize our core values at AddShoppers through our Culture Carrier awards: Be Helpful, Be Curious, Be Data-Driven, Be Positive, and Be a Great Human. At AddShoppers, celebrating those who embrace these values is tantamount to practicing them daily. During the ceremony, our leadership team highlighted the unique qualities of each recipient, shedding light on why both their peers and leaders felt they were deserving of the award. Coming together to connect and celebrate our team and its success is pivotal, fostering deep bonds and recognizing the dedication and values that drive our united team forward.
Communicate + Collaborate
The essence of collaboration is essential when aiming for a productive and streamlined work setting. Why? Because teams with strong connections bolster collaboration, foster positive work interactions, and encourage the sharing of insights. The deeper our connection as colleagues results in more agility and better work accomplished as a team.
With this in mind, we had a major focus on maximizing our face time. We enjoyed a day full of team building and problem-solving at the U.S. National Whitewater Center while in Charlotte. Our teams solved both physical and mental challenges as a group by utilizing all forms of communication. These activities focused on building communication, trust and problem-solving.
On our last day together, we collaborated with our teams, focusing on ways to finish our year strong, streamline processes, and initiate mentor programs, among other valuable ideas. After we inspired one another on how we would elevate internally, we turned our efforts to being helpful to the larger community. In under 45 minutes, the AddShoppers team assembled more than 500 kits comprising homework materials, art supplies, and pencil cases for Classroom Central, a cornerstone in Charlotte's educational landscape dedicated to equipping students and educators with essential learning tools.
Review + Renew
Reflecting on our time during the retreat, it was clear that coming together magnifies the power of each idea, transforming them from mere thoughts into impactful successes. When individuals unite with a shared purpose, the potential for innovation and excellence amplifies exponentially.
The energy everyone brought to the table, the shared ideas for the future, the resetting of priorities, and the efforts to improve our standards were truly remarkable. Some of these ideas are seeing results a few short weeks later. The momentum stems from being together and inspiring each other in new spaces with new ways of thinking. This forward drive is a clear indication of the benefits that come from gathering in new spaces, fostering collective inspiration, and embracing new ways of thinking.