Since my last "about me" post was written several years ago, I thought it best to replace it with a more current post.
2017 marks my 20th year in the gift industry!
My career goal when I went to college (Virginia Tech, thanks for asking) was to enter the management training program with Thalhimers department store in Richmond, Virginia, and work my way up. My college years coincided with the era of department store merging and rebranding, however, which caused a retail earthquake that led me down a different path.
My wholesale career began in 1997 as the showroom manager for a rep group in Los Angeles. Before that my background was in retail management for Macy's, Timberland and Bloomingdale's.
After several years and some invaluable mentoring from an industry veteran, I went out on the road full-time for that same group. My territory was Palm Springs and Las Vegas. Good times!
Then I scratched the itch to return to my hometown in Virginia and open my own gift shop. In 2005, I went out on the road again to work an entirely new territory with entirely new customers.
My business now is a combination of companies I represent on my own and companies I represent through Knack.
The industry has changed tremendously over the years. Some changes are sad (as when prominent retailers and suppliers go away) and some are exciting (new technology and social media).
Even when the economy is robust, business is challenging. Some days are exhilarating. Some days are frustrating. But it's never boring and if you're like me you wouldn't have it any other way.
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