Say hello to Vanessa…
What is your role at Merchgirls?
I’m a new Account Manager.
So, welcome to Merchgirls! Tell us a bit about your background and what led you to where you are today.
I came from fashion. I studied and designed fashion for four and a half years, and then after moving to Melbourne from Adelaide I slowly fell into fashion wholesale. I worked in fashion wholesale for eight years, and then very recently I felt like it was time for a little bit of a change. I know that for me, my strong suits are selling but also the design side of things, so I just felt like there’s gotta be more out there. I felt that was an opportunity to go on a little hunt and that’s where I sort of fell into finding Merchgirls. I was really taken by the creative side, that you can do merch and it doesn’t have to be boring; it can be fun and exciting.
How does it feel to be out of fashion and in promo-merch?
It’s fun! I’m actually really enjoying it. I wasn’t sure how it’d go… I don’t miss fashion as much as I thought I would.
Do you find that Merchgirls almost blur the line between fashion and promo merch?
100%. I think it just opens things up a lot more!
What has been your highlight in your career to date?
Just the amount of growth I’ve been able to take out of every situation I’ve been thrown in. I’ve had amazing opportunities to travel, not just through Australia but the world, and deal with a lot of different manufacturers and just a lot of different people. So, I think for me that’s just given me a holistic view on how a lot of things work.
What drew you to wanting to work with Merchgirls?
I think the idea of jumping into something that I’d never done before. But definitely the creative side was driving for me. I think that they were trying to take something that wasn’t as fun or can be a little bit boring and making it, as they say, twice as nice.
In your experience, why is merch such an amazing marketing tool?
I think that it’s just creating more awareness for companies and that’s what they need, especially after coming out of such a horrible couple of years. They just need a bit more fun and they also need to give their employees a bit more to be excited about.
So, what’s your favourite merch product?
Oh! The poppy phone grip. I think because I don’t have one, or I didn’t have one and so now I’m like, this is something I needed in my life!
Who would be your dream client to work with?
I’d love to do some merch for Zoe Foster-Blake. I think she’s created such an amazing empire, from skincare to her books, so I think she would be really fun to do product for.
Quick Fire Questions
London or Tokyo?
London.
Caffeine or meditation?
Meditation.
Snow or sun?
Sun!!
Sneakers or heels?
Oh… ahah! Heels.
Plants or puppies?
Puppies!