Inside the Culture at Custom Ink: A Conversation With Showroom Manager Emelie Lalama
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Over the past few years, itโs become clear that creating strong communities matters more than everโand thatโs why itโs so important to maintain a culture of community at work. Whether that means organizing in-person gatherings, helping employees maintain a healthy work-life balance, or offering opportunities for career growth and development, investing in the people who power a business is crucial.
We asked Emelie Lalama, a Custom Ink showroom manager from Massachusetts, about her experience working at Custom Ink and the community sheโs found there.
Emelie and an assortment of Inkers take a moment to connect.CI: What drew you to Custom Ink?
EL: I have a friend who was working for Custom Ink. We have very similar work histories, so I trusted him when he said that CI is nothing like anything we’ve done in the past. Ultimately, I was looking for a place where work-life balance was a real thing, not just buzzwords companies use to attract employees (when the reality is very different). And I found the culture, the care for people, and the challenge of a new channel to be enticing.
CI: What is your favorite part of your role?
EL: It’s twofold for me. First is the intimate relationships we get to build with customers, the community, and its people. The second part is the innovations and contributions I get to bring to a channel that’s still very much in its infancy.
CI: What sets Custom Ink showrooms apart from traditional retail?
EL: When they say they care about their people, they mean it. I don’t have to work seventy hours a week to be successful.
The showroom’s interior.
CI: What was your initial reaction walking into a Custom Ink store for the first time?
EL: Well, it was a new showroom setup, so when I finally got to see what it all looked like, it was small, intimateโa simple showroom. I’ve never been able to “open a new location” as easily as this!ย
CI: Whatโs unique about your showroomโs location?
EL: Fun fact: the street parallel to our showroomโs location is the halfway point of the Boston Marathon.
The showroom’s exterior.
CI: How do you manage your time? What does your average day look like?
EL: Planning ahead can be tough sometimes in our roles, as we can’t predict inbound demand, walk-ins, calls, emails, etc. I try to have a “plan” for the day that identifies the least important thing to do that day, so I can flex it depending on those unknowns. On an average day, I may be on the phone, doing some outbound outreach, conducting post-order follow-ups, being available for inbound calls, etc. Then I may be working with a customer’s order or in an in-store appointment. Throughout the day I do my best to support questions that Inkers in our region may have in our chat groups. And then I spend the rest of the day either in meetings, coaching my team, or partaking in some kind of Inker engagement activity that we often do (either through our channel or as CI as a whole). So in other words, a little bit of everything.
CI: What tools/programs do you primarily use for your work?
EL: Well, I live on everything that’s Google Office, Salesforce, and Embassy!
CI: What is the product you are most excited about?ย
EL: Tough one! We have so many great products. Lately, I’ve been excited to see all the additional baby/toddler options we have added. In our area, requests for these products are common, and now itโs exciting to be able to offer more products.
CI: Do you have any favorite memories from being with Custom Ink?
EL: A more recent one was our holiday party. With three stores in Massachusetts now, we have a bigger group, and having the chance to get everyone together, celebrate our year, get to know each other in person, and go bowling and karaoke…it was a great night.
CI: Who inspires you?
EL: ย Also a tough one. I’m inspired by different people for different reasons. I think my best friend inspires me even when I don’t realize it. She is an example of someone I admire for her resilience, kindness, and ability to see the positive in almost any situation.
CI: Is there a quote that motivates you?ย
EL: One that has always stuck with me in my career is simple: “If you say you can or can’t, you’re right.”
CI: Is there anything else youโd like to share?
EL: Here are my top five reasons I like working at Custom Ink:
- The care for people
- Building connections
- Work-life balance
- Opportunity for growth
- Benefits
Interested in joining our team? Check out our available job opportunitiesย here.ย
Tess Lynch is a copywriter at Custom Ink.