Adam Hauser, CFO eyebobs
As CFO of eyebobs, Adam has found this innovative and signature design eyewear brand to channel both his creative entrepreneurial side and past successes. In earlier positions with large corporations, he developed a passion for working with tangible products and became fascinated with the ongoing riddle of how to engage customers. These experiences translated to smaller organizations that are more nimble and able to move quickly in the fast-pace competitive world of retail. The ability to lead in a changing industry during a challenging time, while still continuing to grow a brand that consumers identify with made Scouts Talent curious to learn more…
Have there been any silver linings for your business as result of COVID?
While the physical retail locations have been shut down for several months, we have been hyper-focused on our web channel, concentrated on how to best serve and communicate with our customers, and prospect for new ones. Essentially, COVID dictated that our business was reduced to one, singular channel, and as a result, I believe we accelerated our understanding of opportunities and our pace of improvements for eyebobs.com. We’ve also benefitted from an increased awareness and demand for eyeglasses with lenses that help reduce digital eyestrain caused by blue light from digital devices. The WFH world, that many of us are in, has us looking at screens more than ever before. At eyebobs, we are an industry leader, offering lenses with blue light protection on nearly our entire assortment of frames.
If you could try a different job for a day, what would you choose?
Leading the analytics department of a major league baseball team.
What advice would you give someone starting out in your industry?
Regarding the retail industry, I would advise people to be energized and motivated by constant and fast-paced change. In retail, you have to embrace change and seek out changes that create competitive advantages at a quicker pace than your competition. Regarding finance, it would be to embrace the opportunity and responsibility of being viewed as the objective, trusted voice at the table. Regardless of industry, always remember that hiring, developing and retaining great people is always the most critical element of success.
What is your mantra?
Build trust and respect with your team, peers and cross-functional counterparts first…then identify how you can influence change and create value.
How do you get yourself out of a slump?
Laughter. Try to have some fun when times are difficult. Step back and put things into perspective, taking full appreciation of the positives, whether in life or work.
What companies or leaders do you admire?
I admire authenticity. Companies and leaders who are not afraid of taking risks, making mistakes, and then admitting as such.
What has been the biggest shift you’ve noticed in your industry in the last decade?
There have been so many shifts in retail and consumer goods that it’s obviously a long list. A couple of the bigger shifts I’d mention would be the dramatic hyperbole several years ago regarding the death of brick & mortar retail. In 2019 and early 2020 (pre-COVID), a consistent narrative emerged that brick & mortar is still critical, even to digitally native consumer product companies. I think this ties directly to another shift I’d mention. Consumers really want to feel connected to and identify with their favorite brands. Physical retail, when done well, is a critical component to feeling that connection to a brand. There is a new challenge in front of all brands to safely execute and serve customers during an ongoing pandemic, but it is clear that serving customers in a brick & mortar capacity remains very important.
Who has been most instrumental in your career?
I’ve worked with many tremendous leaders, but I’d anchor back to my parents and an upbringing that instilled in me that you have to work hard for what you want, respect the thoughts and ideas of others, be open and honest with people and be willing to laugh at yourself. I think all of those values have been very important throughout my career.
What is your go-to celebration meal, drink or tradition?
Disconnecting and spending time with my family and/or a date night with my wife.
