Staff Spotlight: Get to know our Sales & Marketing Manager
As our Sales & Marketing Manager, Lucie creates all of Chameleon's Marketing Material, manages all of our Social Media Channels, our website and manages all of of the Promotional Clothing Sales. Find out more about what Lucie does on a day to day basis...
How did you get into the Print Trade?
I joined both Chameleon and the print trade in 2013 after completing an Apprenticeship with the previous company I worked for, where I learnt a range of skills in both Customer Service, Sales and Marketing.
What did you do prior to Chameleon?
I remember leaving school on the Friday and starting work on the Monday where I worked as a Personal Assistant before finding an Apprenticeship at an IT Solutions Company in Nottinghamshire where they manufactured Laptops in-house and sold them into schools along with a complete infrastructure solution. I was an Apprentice and learnt a variety of business skills through several departments before finally finding my flare in Marketing. This is where I learnt all of my skills on Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator and Web Design.
How did you learn all of the skills for your current job?
I did Business Studies & Marketing as part of my GCSES and started my AS Level in Business Studies whilst still in year 11 at School. Soon after starting Sixth Form, I realised that A levels weren't for me and that I wanted to get stuck into the working world and find out what I enjoyed the most. I didn't go to College or University, I picked all of my skills up as I went along from other colleagues and the different types of projects I would work on. I went on a few day courses in my previous and current job to learn more about Adobe Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator. I realised very early on, that this one of my favourite parts to my job. I thoroughly enjoy designing brochures for Chameleon and managing our company website, which I also tend to do for customers every now and then when our designer is super busy!
What other skills have you learnt since joining Chameleon?
Well.... even though my job title is Sales & Marketing, I have done a bit of everything over the years since joining Chameleon! As we are a family run business, I feel like it's a responsibility to ensure everything runs as smooth as possible. I have always done the Marketing for Chameleon but our design department has grown massively in the last 3 years, so when I first joined the company, I was the one using my Adobe skills to put together small pieces of artwork for customers before we asked Kelli to join the team to take over the department. I also used to manage all of the deliveries for both UK and International shipments before Suzie came on board to take over all of the logistic responsibilities. I have always dealt with Customers since joining Chameleon as I set myself a challenge to grow the Promotional Clothing department which is now a huge part of the business. I knew nothing about Print or Embroidery before I joined the company, and now it's like second nature, just like the Print Trade. It's fair to say that over the past 5 years, I have learnt a huge amount of new skills since joining Chameleon!
What do you enjoy most about your job?
What is there not to enjoy about working alongside your Dad? I am very lucky that I get to see my Dad every day and that we get on really well both inside and outside of work. I have to put him in his place every now and then but I must say, I am so proud of the company he has created. A lot of our team say that working at Chameleon doesn't feel like a job as none of our team can ever switch off and we all come together to work as a team on the bigger projects. It's true what they say, 'When you have a job that you love, you will never work a day in your life'
What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?
I would have to say that the proudest moment of my career so far is having so many Dance Schools contact me to have their uniform produced with us and creating the Bespoke Elite Dancewear Range which is made up of a Jacket, Crop Top, Shorts and Leggings. This was a whole new part of Chameleon that I created myself after one of my Dance School clothing customers asked if we could start doing it for them. I spent two years manufacturing and tweaking the garments to ensure that they were the perfect style and fit for what the school required. We now have schools all around the UK wanting bespoke dance uniforms and just like with all of our projects, it's so exciting seeing the design come to life!
Why are Dance Schools such a huge part of Chameleon?
I danced from the age of three to eighteen where I competed in Competitions around the UK, took part in Shows and attended the Birmingham Royal Ballet Associates every other Saturday for seven years. Dancing and performing was a huge part of my life and I just didn't fancy it as a career as I was quite business orientated and due to injury. So, I used all of my contacts within the Dance Industry to start supplying Schools and Competition Organisers with Uniforms, Print and Design.
What are you most looking forward to seeing Chameleon achieve?
I am looking forward to seeing how the Bespoke Elite Range progresses over the next 18 months as this is such a new and exciting part of Chameleon. I also love seeing the designs that Kelli, our designer comes up with on such a vast range of projects too! I will also be trying to take some sort of partial maternity leave at the end of the year when I become a first time Mum, so I am intrigued to see how long I can stay away from the office for - I imagine it won't be for long!
