In the mad rush and juggling act that define Mother’s Day preparation and fulfillment, I am struck again by the freshness of our product and how it literally permeates everything we do. All the technology, the advances and innovation on the production floor, our meticulous seed selection, the focus on forecasting, even the design and creative combinations we’re so proud of – all of them are all about freshness and how to make the most of it.
At every turn, this team “gets” it: Maximum freshness = your flowers last longer = a better experience for our clients and for your consumer.
Master Grower Todd Thornton is a huge asset to our freshness initiative. His highly trained and watchful eye over each step of the process allows us to say with confidence that our Sunflowers are fresher than anyone else’s. Because all of our farms are in California or Mexico, there are no flights for flowers to linger on and absolutely no delays from harvest to cooler. Think about the difference that makes!
In this issue, Dos Gringos leaders give a glimpse of their specific role in making sure we’re fresher than the competition. I think you’ll like what you see. Please let us know if you have any questions or would like more information.
Kathie StemigThe “strange” story that ends with Kathie Stemig becoming a Dos Gringos Business Development Manager actually begins in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Working at a flower kiosk in the heart of the “flower world,” Kathie found herself chatting with a fellow American – Jason Levin. “I just sent you my resume!” Kathie told him upon seeing Jason’s business card. A few months later Kathie was headed back across the water to her native Southern California, ready to bring her experiences from abroad full circle.
“I started working in flower shops when I was 16, and I’ve been in the business ever since,” says Kathie. “I believe that my product knowledge and design experience will help me to give our clients here at Dos Gringos the best service possible.”
What’s so great about joining Dos Gringos? “I’ve seen so many changes in this business over the years. Especially now, when the economic picture is tough for everyone, it’s great to be with a company that’s growing and thriving. The team here enjoys coming to work every day, and there’s a real sense of team spirit. I’m getting great guidance and feedback from everyone, I feel like part of the family, and that’s very important to me. In just three weeks I’ve learned a million things. I can’t wait to see what happens next for me as a member of this amazing team.”
Kellie KingThe way Kellie sees it, her move to Dos Gringos is a “perfect opportunity” to combine her past work in sales with her years of experience with flowers (she and colleague Kathie Stemig share the “high school flower shop gig” thing).
“After researching the company and meeting the leadership team I just kept thinking how great it would be to sell something I’ve always enjoyed working with and being around,” says Kellie. “This really is a combination of my past work experience.”
A number of positives resonate with Kellie after her first three weeks as Business Development Manager. She especially appreciates the flexibility and creativity in catering to customers. “I love the focus here on the customer and on delivering a quality product. There are tools and resources at our fingertips, but the structure never seems to get in the way of providing the best customer service.”
The individual strengths of co-workers combine to make a strong team at Dos Gringos, Kellie notes, but she’s even more impressed by how it all “comes together to service Dos Gringos’ customers. Every idea is valued, every person is considered part of the team. The coaching and mentoring are terrific; I’ve really enjoyed learning how each department and work stream affects the others. I feel like I have a great foundation to learn more about how our clients operate and to grow the business.”
Josefina graduated from the University of Phoenix this weekend. She graduated with a bachelors in Business Administration. She was trying to keep it on down low but that’s impossible here. We love to share good news. Congrats Fina!
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