Meri Briggs

Meri Briggs built a distinguished 30-year career in loss prevention, beginning unexpectedly at a Kmart and evolving into a leadership role across multiple retailers. As one of the first women in the field, she took on high-risk situations, advocated for safety protocols, and pioneered the use of point of sale technology to improve operations. At HomeGoods, where she witnessed the company grow from five to over 900 stores, she achieved the lowest shrink rates for at least eight of her twelve years there and received numerous certificates recognizing her results. After retiring early, Meri opened her own Christmas shop in a converted horse stable near the Thousand Islands, transforming it into a whimsical destination with rotating holiday themes that left visitors feeling as though they had stepped into a Hallmark movie. She ran the business successfully for nine years before selling it and relocating to Rochester, New York, to support her husband's cancer treatment. Now fully retired, she channels her creativity into exploring new opportunities such as restaurant ownership or interior decorating while reflecting on a career defined by adaptability, innovation, and a passion for creating joyful customer experiences.