Career Profile Part 5

 

Name: Shellie Smith Position/Title: District Manager Company Name: Swarovski America Limited Company's web address: www.swarovski.com, Company Description: Swarovski was founded in Austria in 1895 based upon a patented, electrically-driven machine which was able to cut large quantities of crystal, jewelry, and gemstones with a precision previously unattainable. The company employs over 500 people worldwide, manufacturing and distributing a wide range of industrial and consumer products. Instruments from Swarovski Optik are sold under the ěHabichtî brand name, while Tyrolit Abrasives is the leader in the abrasive cutting tools market. Swarovski crystal components, meanwhile, are essential to fashion lighting (chandeliers) and road safety innovations. I am employed in the Swarovski Silver Crystal division.

Job Description:

I am responsible for training, development, marketing, and sell-through of silver, crystal, and signature jewelry, and selection for some 100 gift retailers, owners, and associates throughout the western suburbs of Chicago.

Career Path:

I've been in sales for my entire adult life. First, it was with Marion Merrell Dow, selling pharmaceuticals. Then I went into medical publishing with Mosby Year-Book, and then into college publishing with Irwin/McGraw-Hill.

Now, my position at Swarovski is a complete about-face, and my first step into management. It encompasses every aspect of management, including sales and marketing, thanks to its retail orientation. Opportunities come when you least expect them, and I always welcome new challenges. Change is good, and growth is better. Both allow you to always learn new things.

Career Challenge:

Time management is a huge challenge, present in every aspect of life. Training is huge in this industry, as in most. I have 100 different sales teams to train and retrain on the company, new products, and (most importantly) selling the products to every customer coming through the door. The levels range from high-turnover sales staff to very well-educated store owners. Meeting the needs of each training encounter is the biggest challenge I face.

Educational Background:

B.S. (Marketing), Univ. of Missouri-Columbia. Minors were Management and Psychology.

Favorite Course:

Business Law. It taught me how best to prepare for the "real world." It was the most difficult "A" I achieved. It made no difference if you were an accountant or a marketing major; you were learning practical skills for the future.

Best Course for your Career:

Marketing Research. It forced students to familiarize themselves with companies for which they might later be interested in working, through papers, projects, and contact. We didnít have a sales course option at the time.