Olsen would not be Olsen if it were not for the 600 dynamic personalities on the team, breathing life into the company and infusing each day they spend here with passion. In this new series, ‘Inside Olsen,’ we’ll introduce you to some of the people who make Olsen incredible, along with some insights into their day-to-day work life.
Mildred began leading our store teams in Eastern Canada in 2013. For over 7 years, each business day is met with a renewed focus on goals, planning, and constant communication with our store managers and associates to ensure our high standards for customer service are being delivered. Although her performance-driven approach to meeting objectives is a constant, no two days in her work life are ever the same. From visiting different stores across her region (which spans approximately 450 km), to virtual meetings with home office, to communicating with vendor partners or offering store specific visual merchandising support – thoughtful planning and prioritization is the key to success in her district.
“Retail is such a dynamic environment to work in. There are so many moving parts and that’s what makes it so exciting. It’s not just sitting at a computer analyzing sales, it’s about the 360° aspect of the business, at the heart of which are our store teams and our valued clients.”
Our people are our everything
Of course, Mildred can create a sales plan for the week, but it wouldn’t matter much without her passionate and energetic store team to deliver it. More importantly, the very reason why we do what we do is the lovely and diverse clients we serve each day.
“Every day I am delighted to hear stories of satisfied clients thanks to our attentive and skilled staff. They find it very rewarding to deliver the full Olsen experience and offer wardrobe solutions to our clients that meet the needs of their active lifestyle. It’s really about building relationships. We want Olsen to feel like a second home for them.”
Diversity in the district
Canada proudly boasts a cultural mosaic of over 250 ethnic origins in its population and is a bi-lingual country with Québec as a predominantly French-speaking province. For Mildred, managing her team often means toggling between communicating in English or French.
“There is that added layer of complexity when sending communications to my district since ‘one size does not fit all’. In our stores in Québec we have to abide by language laws in conducting our business and this includes store signage. It’s probably a little known fact globally, but it’s part of the day-to-day in my district. I sometimes catch myself saying ‘Bonjour’ instead of ‘Hello’!”
Quebec: European city in North America
European influence is strong in Quebec. Often touted as the most European city in North America, Old Quebec is home to European-inspired architecture, culture and foods, so much so that one can trick themselves into thinking they just might be in Europe when visiting.
“Quebecois woman love their fashion! Dressing well for everyday life is a way of life.There is a joie de vivre in Quebec that influences all cultural aspects of daily life in Quebec, including fashion. We have a lot of fun in the stores dressing our exuberant customersI It’s really a gratifying feeling to know that we are playing a part providing wardrobe solutions and styling for their active lifestyle.”