Coworking with Randy Carr

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Randy Carr is president and CEO of World Emblem, a patch manufacturer working with partners like Levi’s and New Era.

How would you describe your job to someone who doesn’t work in retail? I oversee the technologies and procedures that ensure our products and services always meet expectations. There are many different materials and processes that go into making the items our clients sell, and emblems and patches are an essential piece of that puzzle. As CEO, my job is also to make sure there are clear roles and responsibilities for our employees, along with a vision and path for success.

One thing we can’t guess about your job from your LinkedIn profile? As much as I put myself out there, I am really an introvert at heart. When I’m done working, I just want to go home, be with my family, and get some rest.

What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on? We’re currently on year three of transforming our company through lean manufacturing—a system that reduces production and response times from suppliers to customers. World Emblem is investing in technology that can support our lean journey and improve the customer experience, and it has been a revelation for us. We’re stripping out waste every day, and it’s great to see it manifested in happier clients and a higher gross margin.

Which emerging retail trend are you most excited about right now, and why? I love the way Microsoft is bringing everything together under Office 365, including AI, and how the retail industry will be able to benefit from leveraging all that new technology.

What’s your go-to coffee order? A four-shot of espresso. It keeps me going all day.

Worst piece of advice you’ve received? “Cut your losses.” My father owned an emblem company in New Jersey from the 1950s until the late 1980s when it went under. We could have given up, but instead my father, brother, and I restarted the business in Florida. Since then, we’ve grown World Emblem to become the largest emblem and patch producer in the world.

What was your favorite retail product when you were 15, and what’s your favorite retail product now? It was my RM250 Suzuki motorcycle, and now I’d have to say my iPhone (sadly enough).