Celebrating International Women’s Day + Women's History Month
Cheers to International Women’s Day + Women’s History Month! Let’s celebrate today, and every day.
Women of Ivystone by the Numbers
Q & A
We are celebrating International Women’s Day and Women’s History month by asking key questions to women in a variety of roles at Ivystone.
Evelyn Julian
Sales Representative, VA
Evelyn has been with Ivystone since 2002. She has a passion for the Gift and Home Industry that shines when working with customers. Evelyn puts a great deal of energy into forming strong vendor and customer relationships and treats her customers as family.
What advice do you have for women who are just joining the industry?
This is such a unique opportunity to partner with fellow sales reps who want to help others be successful. Use your natural skills to help and grow your business and the business of your retailers.
How has the gift industry changed over the years?
It has definitely changed in technology! 20 years ago, we wrote orders on paper and gave the “yellow copy” to customers who could barely read it. Fax was King. It’s much quicker paced now, more focus on analyzing our business. But the heart of the business is still the same, having relationships with our customers.
What do you love most about the gift retail industry?
Every day is different, it’s the small things that make me feel appreciated when I help a customer.
Sharon Auler
Sales Representative, OH
Sharon joined Ivystone in 2011 as an award-winning sales executive with over 26 years of experience in the Gift & Home industry. She has a steady drive to grow sales and revenue through her exceptional relationship-building skills, strategic and territory management expertise, and customer-focused style.
How did you first get involved in the gift and home industry?
A friend of mine from college was in the industry and she suggested I join her company as a salesperson.
How has the gift industry changed over the years? Where do you think it is headed?
I’ve been in the industry since 1985 so there have been many changes over the years. When I started, I knew where every pay phone was to call customers and used a map to navigate to appointments! Technology has clearly advanced and more orders now being placed online for convenience of the customer. Technology and online ordering will continue to get better and stronger but my hope is that there is always the need for the road rep!
What do you love most about the gift retail industry?
I love controlling my own destiny, my relationships with buyers, and helping them be successful with vendors that I represent.
Julia Leister
Sales Representative, PA
Julia grew up in the Gift & Home Industry. Working trade shows, tagging along on sales calls, as well as working in her family's retail store, she has a broad knowledge about the workings of our industry. She is attentive to each and every customer's needs and provides them with honest, and individual advice and service.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Stay confident in who you are and be open to chances & change! The best things come when you’re comfortable with yourself and open to opportunities. Life doesn’t have to be so serious and it’s good to make mistakes.
How did you first get involved in the gift and home industry?
My mom! She was always in the industry. She had a store, then became a rep, owned her own group, and now runs Simblist! I always saw how much fun she had as a rep and was thrilled to join the Ivystone team & follow in her footsteps (although I have big shoes to fill!).
What do you think makes the most successful sales rep?
Being someone who isn’t just there to sell! We get to play consultant, creative & friend. Having a broad knowledge of the industry, where it’s headed, what the trends are, how to merchandise, etc – sharing all that knowledge and creativity will help make your customers (& ultimately YOU) most successful. At the end of the day, running a business can get crazy and we are there to make our customer’s lives easier. We have to be there for them – as business person & understanding friend.
Desiree’ Herrada
Sales Representative, AZ
Desiree has been in the gift industry for over 25 years and could not imagine doing anything else! She loves meeting new people, collaborating with others, and living each day to its fullest!
Who is a woman that currently inspires you?
My mom, she has lived so courageously, faced all sorts of challenges, and still is the kindest and most loving person I know. She gives from her heart and is always unconditional.
How did you first get involved in the gift and home industry?
I worked retail, then started a family and needed a more flexible schedule so started selling teddy bears and it just grew from there.
What do you love most about the gift retail industry?
The relationships and helping people be successful!
Meg Nichols
Regional Sales Manager, KY
Meg has more than 15 years of experience in the Gift and Home Industry as a Sales Manager responsible for both regional and national territories. She has worked in product development cultivating new brands into leading lines as well as growing the business of established industry leaders. Meg has extensive experience working with Gift, Tabletop, Stationery and Accessories vendors, equipping her with a broad range of skills and knowledge in the Gift and Home Industry.
Who is a woman that currently inspires you?
Beatriz Ball – the evolution and growth of her brand is awe inspiring.
What advice do you have for women who are just joining the industry?
Lean on your peers – this is a friendly and supportive industry, that network is priceless.
What do you think makes the most successful sales rep?
A strong rep, is a true business consultant that will smartly guide a retailer to grow their bottom line.
Sandra Wiggans
Operations Administrator, CO
Sandra started working with Nancy Lee many years ago and is proud to have recently celebrated her 24th anniversary with Ivystone. She appreciates how forward thinking Ivystone is and the relationships she’s built with her coworkers, vendors and customers.
How did you first get involved in the gift and home industry?
At 15 years old, Nancy Lee hired me to help in her showrooms during my breaks from school. I loved it – the people, the product, the energy. She hired me on full time a few years later and the rest is history.
What do you think makes the most successful sales rep?
Watching some of my heroes in our industry, they have all built strong customer and vendor relationships.
What do you love most about the gift retail industry?
I love the energy at the shows and the friendships I’ve made in the industry.
Heather McElhannon
Corporate Trainer, TX
Heather joined Ivystone 10 years ago, starting in our Dallas Showroom and evolving to different roles withing the company. Her independent learning skills, problem solving, and love for helping other’s have made her a valuable asset as a corporate trainer. While not working she enjoys spending time with her family and outdoorsy hobbies such as gardening or hiking.
Who is a woman that currently inspires you?
My kids and I studied a few women last month for Black History Month, and I was reminded how much I admired the strength and beauty of Maya Angelou’s words and activism.
How did you first get involved in the gift and home industry?
I started out as a shipping coordinator for a small rug company, managing logistics for incoming and outgoing shipments to big box stores. I eventually made my way to Ivystone through one of our key account reps, as her assistant. Came on board as Dallas Show Coordinator 10 years ago, and took on the Corporate Trainer position about 5 years after that. I truly enjoy helping our reps every single day!
What do you love most about the gift retail industry?
The number of powerful women in this industry has always impressed me. It truly is a wonderful industry to be a part of. Intelligent and caring women play a major role in our company, and I greatly admire that.
Christie Whittington
Sales Representative, MS
Christie joined Ivystone in 2010 with a successful background in gift and paper product sales. She is a multi-award-winning rep and a member of the Million Dollar Club who acutely understands the key to success has been with her strong customer and vendor partnerships.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Don’t take anything too personal or too serious. Remember in 1 day, 1 month, and 1 year you won’t feel the same way you do today.
How did you get involved in the gift and home industry?
By accident! I was between jobs and thought I would do this for fun for a few months – to try it out. Still doing it almost 14 years later.
Why do you think sales reps are so important within the retail industry?
Customers still want that personal touch. They still want people to give them guidance, suggestions, and support. They are stressed in so many ways with rising costs, increased freight, lack of quality employees, etc. Retailers need our support in different ways than they did before.
Lindsay Moor
Regional Sales Manager, TX
Lindsay is a retail industry professional with over 20 years of experience in merchandising, buying, product development, and store management. She is performance driven with a high sense of urgency and ownership. She has consistently been acknowledged and rewarded for strong management skills, innate sense of trends, creativity, positive attitude, and accuracy.
Who is a woman that currently inspires you?
Currently I would say Lizzo (the singer). Her message of body acceptance, self-love, and overall positivity is so inspiring.
What advice do you have for women who are just joining the industry?
Learn as much as you can about all the different roles available for retail and wholesale, shadow people, ask questions. Find out what inspires you and go after it.
How has the gift industry changed over the years?
Where do you think it is headed? There is a slight shift happening to higher quality, more inspirational items. People care more about where their goods are coming from and if there is a story behind items. I think this will continue to shift that way. Consumers don’t want more junk and clutter; they want beautiful things that make them feel good.
Laura Fast
Sales Representative, CO
Laura started working as a Territory Manager with Commito and Company in 1995. Commito and Company became part of OneCoast in 1999 and part of Ivystone in 2010. Previously, Laura managed a home furnishings store, Integrand Design, in Santa Cruz, CA, from 1986-1995. She also was a partner in a retail store, Green with Envy, located in the Cherry Creek North shopping district of Denver, from 2001 - 2003.
How did you first get involved in the gift and home industry?
I started in the industry working at a home décor and tabletop store in Santa Cruz while I was in college, in 1985. I eventually became the manager, buyer, and bookkeeper at that store. When I decided to move to Colorado in 1995, I decided I would like to try to break into the sales rep end of the business. Two of my reps that I was buying from at the store gave me referrals to the name of the same agency in Colorado, where I ended up getting hired.
What do you love most about the gift retail industry?
The people, the product, and the relationships.
How has the gift industry changed over the years?
Where do you think it is headed? I am more in the home and furniture side of our industry versus gifts, and in our world, there are many more interior designers than there were even 5 years ago. We are all benefiting from the home focus that has come with COVID, and I think that will continue for some time. I also think more consumers are focusing on the many aspects of sustainability, and they are looking for the products they buy to have some component of sustainability, ranging from things like recycled and upcycled product, environmentally friendly offices and production processes, to supporting small artisan manufacturers around the globe.
Christie Schellenbach
Design Specialist, CO
Christie joined the Ivystone team in 2019, bringing with her over 20 years of experience in interior design. She quickly became an incredible resource to help her customers grow their business by sharing her knowledge of furniture, design, and industry trends. She utilizes her eye for detail, unparalleled dedication, and strong personal connections to drive success in her business.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Don’t be so hard on yourself. Recognize how amazing your body is, and take a step back and put yourself in the other person's shoes.
What do you think makes the most successful sales rep?
Great communicators, amazing follow up with attention to detail, and being able to deliver the good and bad news to your customers.
Sharon Scheihing
Regional Sales Manager, MD
Sharon brings over 30 years of consumer goods experience to Ivystone, spanning all categories of product across the gift, home and fashion industries. She rejoins Ivystone in a managerial role after a 5-year hiatus working for Swarovski and previously spent 10 years with Ivystone managing a sales territory for the Mid-Atlantic region. Sharon prides herself on her ability to build lasting relationships with all industry partners and has been frequently recognized for her sales acumen and business development.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Be independent and strong in all aspects of your life - your career, your family, and your finances. Never settle!
What do you think makes the most successful sales rep?
Tenacity, a winning spirit, willingness to pivot, thirst for knowledge, and doing the right thing. These will all lead to successful sales acumen and a rewarding standard of living.
What do you love most about the gift retail industry?
We are always learning, growing, and helping our retailers and vendors to be successful. It is very rewarding to foster such strong relationships.
Just for Fun
What is the best and worst gift you remember receiving?
Women Supporting Women
