Today is International Women's Day. This day stands for the fight for equality between men and women and is meant to especially draw attention nowadays to violence and discrimination against women. For me, it is the perfect day to introduce you to one of our power women here in the office: Our sales manager Marie-Chérie!
Dear Marie, you are one of the veterans at Eulenschnitt. How long have you been here and what has changed since then?
I have now been at Eulenschnitt for a little over three years and almost everything has really changed since then. Back then, I was the fifth member of the Eulen family. Meanwhile, we actually have 15 employees. At that time, we still worked at Lena and Felix's home and had just managed to stop packing and shipping our products ourselves, instead having a small Hamburg fulfillment handle it.
I started here right after my parental leave. For me, it was a significant adjustment: from being purely a mom back into working life. I was still breastfeeding then and found it really hard to leave my child at the daycare in the morning because he cried for months when being dropped off. For that, I had incredibly funny distractions in the office. We all sat together in one room. It was simultaneously chaotic and professional (more of both than I had expected before!). I originally come from a corporation and was used to strict hierarchies and a formal culture of addressing each other formally. Suddenly, I was working with my friends whom I have known since childhood, and that changed everything for me. It was a bit like coming home.
I still remember our first trade fair so well. The booth was about the size of a horse stall. I was there with Ascan and Felix and took tips by phone from Lena on how and where our wall pictures should hang.
At the beginning, I took care of sales alone. Meanwhile, I have three really great girls on my team without whom I can no longer imagine working here. We are all so different and yet fit together so well.
You are our sales manager. Can you tell us what you do in sales?
In sales, you mainly sell. Here at Eulenschnitt, you sell our beautiful products. Besides our online shop, we also have a special shop for our wonderful retailers who sell our products in their stores. I am responsible for these great people. When I started, we had just under 200 retailers. Now there are a little more than 2,000. Naming this number makes me incredibly proud of our team!
Back then, I had a sacred Excel sheet where I maintained every customer contact. From the start, we had great and loyal customers who already believed in us back then. That is exactly why it is so important to us today to continue working with small shops. Without the retailers from back then, we wouldn't be here today.
Our contacts from the stores have very different concerns, which my team and I address. This also includes coming up with various campaigns, discovering platforms where we can be represented, exploring new sales channels, and also classic customer service. I especially like to talk on the phone with our retailers and advise them on our bestsellers or exchange ideas with them.
I still get excited about every new retailer and every product sold. It is not a given for me to be successful, to have a job that brings so much joy, and at the same time to earn enough to take good care of my son and myself alone. For that, I am infinitely grateful!
What activities in the office do you enjoy the most?
The very best for me is when, for example, Lena comes around the corner and teases or scares me. Everyone here always says such funny things that we often laugh until we cry. The interaction here in the office is the most beautiful thing in the world. Everyone can be themselves here. We all have such a silly sense of humor. I love it when all of that comes together.
The last year has changed our work a lot. How do you manage to work well from home?
That requires a lot of self-discipline and structure. I have set up a fixed workplace at home and have scheduled my working times well. I also find it important to maintain contact with colleagues and coordinate well. That way, you don't lose each other.
Today is International Women's Day, you are one of the power women here in the office. Besides your role as sales manager, you are also a single mother. How do you manage to juggle everything?
To be honest, it is actually quite difficult. And I have only one child. I have a really great family structure as support, which helps me a lot. My parents love to look after my son, even though my Mama also works full-time. I draw a lot of strength from that. Also, I would describe myself as a basically positive person, which helps me immensely.
During the week, we actually have relatively fixed structures. I come home, pick up the child, and look for a parking spot (sometimes that really takes eeeeons!). Then we play and cook. It is important to me that there is always fresh and healthy food on the table. I could probably make it easier for myself. As soon as Konni sleeps, I take care of the household and usually sit down for another one to two hours to work. To switch off myself, I like to listen to audiobooks in the evening. I am totally crazy about North Sea crime novels. To fall asleep, I always start the 15-minute snooze function, but I have never managed it!
What do you like to do most with your son?
I love being a Mama! Most of all, I like to experience Abenteuer with my little Konrad. Sometimes I realize how much child is still inside me. Last summer, we painted a treasure map together and then wandered through half of Hamburg looking for our treasure. Eventually, we found a pirate playground that perfectly fits our made-up story. We generally just like being outside together and letting our imagination run free.
What do you like to do most to switch off?
I love jogging the most. That's when I can think best. Also, my great passion is singing. I like to meet with a pianist friend in Norderstedt to make jazz music with him.
If you could go on vacation today, where would you go?
To Switzerland!
I spent part of my youth in the French-speaking part of Switzerland and lived with a family there who became a second home for me. I just love being at this little place on Lake Geneva.
What is your favorite animal?
Actually, freshwater dolphins. With their incredibly long snout, they look so funny. Freshwater dolphins somehow have something imperfect, which I like. I also melt when I see a three-legged dachshund. These imperfect animals always win my heart immediately!
Last question: What is your favorite Eulenschnitt product?
Uuuh! As a saleswoman, I of course love all our products! But I am especially convinced by our washable doormats. I have them all over the apartment and I always enjoy washing them and seeing them look like new again. No matter what you spilled on them before.
PS: Would you like to know which retailers Marie was talking about? Take a look at our category Eulenschnitt near you and see if someone in your city sells our great products.
