For our weekly “In It for the Money” feature, we’ll be introducing you to the kick-ass Knock Knockers who make everything go, from creative to sales to logistics to . . . everything! Note—everybody answers the first five questions. After that, they have about fifteen wild-card questions from which to choose.
1. Name and title? Carolyn Andrews, VP of Sales.
2. Originally from? Carlisle, Pennsylvania—home of Sticks Potato Chips (the best in the world, RIP), the Hot-Chee Dog, the Big Green Machine (Carlisle High School’s Marching Band), the US Army War College, and Dickinson College, which is why my family ended up there.
3. What the hell do you do all day? I do my utmost to see that our domestic and international customers are fully satisfied with every aspect of their interaction with Knock Knock—from the product experience to the personal experience. This means I work with and oversee two wonderful teams: sales and customer service. I also analyze and project wholesale revenue, manage our custom programs and several of our key accounts, and spend lots and lots of time thinking and talking about products. Sales collaborates closely with our creative, production, and operations teams. All in the name of love . . . of our product and our customers!
4. Favorite thing about working at Knock Knock? I like working for a small company that often acts more like a big company—organizationally and functionally. We have plenty of dysfunctions, but we take running the company well very seriously. And the good people of Knock Knock—another favorite that must be stated. We do a lot of laughing and wouldn’t survive without it.
5. Favorite hobbies outside work? Some of my favorite things have taken a bit of a back seat in my adult working life, such as reading and movies, which sadly get reserved for flights and vacations. I love music and people, not necessarily in that order. Spending time with those I love is a huge priority. My car provides the loud-music space during my commute . . .
And did I forget food and eating? Oops. My brother-in-law often jokes that when my family gets together, the conversation turns to food within five minutes. I am always looking forward to the next meal.
6. Did your professional life exist before Knock Knock? Did it ever! My alma mater is Urban Outfitters. Fifteen years of committed service (mostly as a buyer) and one of the best experiences of my life, in particular because of the wonderful people I met there over the years.
7. Any hidden talents? My young friends, Lilah and Sebastian, suggested snorting potato chips and/or gum up my nose and then chewing it with my nose. But I can’t really do that. A better answer would be my experience/talent as a hospice volunteer.
8. Interesting factoid no one would know about you from first glance? I was a proud high-school band geek. Or maybe you would know this from first glance! (Note above reference to the Big Green Machine.) Marching band and the dear friends I made there saved me from being miserable in high school.
9. What’s currently in your music rotation right now? Laura Veirs (The Triumphs and Travails of Orphan Mae), Tedeschi Trucks Band (Revelator) Jill Scott (The Light of the Sun), Steve Martin (Rare Bird Alert—I highly recommend the song “Atheists Don’t Have No Songs”), Bon Iver (Bon Iver), and Thievery Corporation (Culture of Fear).
Two of my favorite records of 2011 are definitely among the titles above . . . Can you guess which?
10. Favorite place to sit back and relax? The beach or near water, bar none. The water thing is a family trait, which also links to some very strong positive family memories at Nauset Beach on Cape Cod.
11. Food or drink you couldn’t live without? Trendy or not, it’s bacon. Note exhibit A: I am a known bacon lover far and wide—as indicated by a sampling of related gifts given to me over the years.