Tag: Meet Missouri Star

We’re back in the Customer Service office today, meeting two more members of the helpful crew here! Ready to meet Kayla & Katie?

Kayla

Kayla has been a customer service representative for ten months now. Have you had the chance to talk with her on the phone? Let’s learn more about her!

Do you sew? What do you make?  I have a five year old daughter that loves fabric just as much as I do. Anytime I find a new fabric that I think she might like I surprise her with it. I’ve made her skirts, dolls and pillows but my favorite projects are children’s quilts!

Favorite fabrics? Moda and Riley Blake fabrics.

Best thing about your job? I love everyone I work with!

 

 

Katie

Katie is our product photographer, whom you might remember from this recent “behind the scenes” post! She’s been with MSQC for two years now and her tale of getting the job is a fun one!

How’d you get the job? When I walked in the shop, I was only hoping to get a job for the summer. I had just graduated college and back at home until I found a “real job.” But then Sarah called me in and asked if I could take some pictures and design a few things!

 

Do you sew? Yes. I like quick and easy projects.

What’s your favorite customer story? I do the Precut Tuesday and Fabric Fridays, and some ladies came to the warehouse for a tour and Carol introduced me and what I do. As soon as she mentioned the blog they went crazy! Telling me how much they love it and how helpful it is! I didn’t even know people read them!

What are your favorite fabrics? Modern Fabric, like Tula Pink and Kate and Birdie

What do you love most about your job? The best thing about working at MSQC is meeting people from all over, seeing the new product and working for a family company.

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Come back next Monday when we meet more members of the growing shipping crew!

 

Today we’re stopping by to meet two fantastic ladies in the customer service department. The entire department truly prides itself on hunting down any information a customer might need… right down to the brand of shirt Jenny was wearing in a certain tutorial (True story! You think we’d make that up?!). Ready to meet Anna and Becky?

Anna

Anna has been with MSQC for three months now and jokes that she landed the job by “begging Sarah! I just love her!” She doesn’t quilt yet, but- watch out, folks!- she’s purchased her first layer cake and is going to give it a try! She loves it when customers tell her the stories behind their quilts.

Favorite fabric? Civil War prints

What do you love most about your job at MSQC?  I have lived here for 40 years. This town looks awesome since MSQC has came to town. Everyone is just so nice and fun!

 

Becky

Becky is quite the dynamo! She joined the MSQC family a year and a half ago and is now the Customer Service Manager. She loves to talk and visit with new people. “Talking is a skill that I have mastered through the years!! My husband says I could have a conversation with the wall!”, she jokes.

Do you sew? I do sew. I have made a couple of quilts. My 10 year old son has started to quilt, as well! He just got back his very first quilt from our quilting department and he takes it every where with him!

Any favorite fabrics? Minnik and Simpson jelly rolls!

Do you have a good work story to share? Oh my gosh…where do I start. I have had the chance to meet and talk to some of the best people from around the world! Recently, one of our frequent machine quilting customers from San Francisco came to visit. I went to lunch with her! She was a superstar in my eyes and it was so exciting. I have been on the phone with two ladies from Israel when they started fighting! This last Christmas I got to play Santa Claus for two wonderful husbands that gifted their wives a retreat for Christmas. I called the ladies during the time their families were opening presents and told them the exciting news. It was so fun and the ladies couldn’t believe it!!! These are just a few of the many memorable moments from my days here.

What would you share about your life outside of MSQC? I am married and have one son. We are very active in 4-H. I have lived in Hamilton since I was 3 years old and would never live anywhere else. We live on a 85 acre farm just outside of Hamilton. I love helping my husband farm and my son with his prize show pigs. We are a very typical Midwestern family wouldn’t trade it for anything! 

What do you love most about your job at MSQC? I love the family atmosphere. The Doan family is so caring and understanding! I couldn’t ask to work for a better family! I also love talking with quilters from around the world, listening to their stories and making new friends. I really do have the best job in the world!

 

Today we’re back in the shipping department to meet more of the crew working to get your orders out the door! This department set a new MSQC record recently and we want to pause the get-to-know-MSQC fun to share about it!

On Friday, May 16th, they 2303 packages out the door. AMAZING! We can’t say enough great things about the people in this photo. They LOVE our customers and are truly just as fun to work with as you can imagine. Way to go, shipping crew!!

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Ready to meet some more of them?

Amanda

As you can tell from her photo, Amanda is a shy and quiet employee who started working here this spring. Don’t worry, though. We’re working to help her come out of her shell. *wink* 

Do you sew? My Grandma taught me how to sew along with crochet many years ago. Kinda got away from it when she passed away 11 years ago. I still sew simple things and patch, but after starting at MSQC I have found the desire to start getting back into it! Now to just decide what project I want to start with!

Any favorite fabrics you see while working? I love the variety of so many fabrics to choose from. Seeing the new stuff come in is pretty awesome.

Favorite thing about working at MSQC? Working with a great bunch of people is very refreshing!

Carol

Carol is the Training Manager and prior to that, she managed the shipping department. She made the transition from customer to employee three years ago and we couldn’t be happier! 

How’d you land the job? I was a customer at MSQC before I was an employee. I was so happy to learn that a quilt shop was coming to Hamilton. I had been wanting to learn how to quilt. I took the very first class that was offered back in November of 2008. It was the zigzag table runner class. Some time later, I happened to be shopping in the store one day when Sarah asked me if I knew of anyone who needed a job. I said, well, maybe me. The rest is history.

What types of projects do you like to make? I quilt and love it. I have a goal of making everyone in my family a quilt. I also make baby quilts and love to give home made gifts. They just offer that extra special touch to show the gift getter some special love.

Favorite fabrics? I love all of the fabric that Deb Strain creates!

Do you have a funny work story to share? We like to take a little extra time to give our customer a little special attention in shipping by writing a hand written note on each order. Several of us at various times have been writing a note and maybe doing a little talking at the same time. Some notes that we have had to white-0ut include, ‘Thanks for the weekend’ and ‘Thanks for the water.’ Ha!

Any parting words for blog readers? I have been married 31 years. We have one son, a daughter in law, a granddaughter who is four and grandson who is 19 mos old. We love to travel on our Ultra Classic Electra Glide Harley Davidson. Besides quilting, I also love to read and am active in church activities. I have lived in Hamilton almost all my life and am ecstatic that our little town is coming to life, and has hope and a future. It means so much to me that it is hard to put it into words. (Missouri Star note: Aw! The feeling is mutual, Carol! We love this town, too. And our employees? We can’t ask for better!)

What do you love most about your job? Our employers make sure to let us know how much we as people and the work we do is greatly appreciated. We are told and made to feel that way in many different ways. Not something that I have experienced in such a way at other places I have worked. 

Dylan

Dylan has joined MSQC about seven months ago. He doesn’t sew, but fabrics with camouflage or outdoor imagery catch his eye when they come through shipping. Speaking of camo…. Dylan loves being outdoors, hunting and fishing. Another fun fact? He works with his mother, Anna!

And the best thing about your job? The work environment is great. Everyone that I work with keeps the mood of the work place all happy. I feel like I’m just part of a big family and always feel very welcome as if we are all just a big family.

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Aren’t they so great? We hope it’s fun for you to put some faces with those notes in your packages! We’ll cover more shipping crew members later. Next week, it’s off to customer service!

In this, the third installment of “Meet Missouri Star”, we head to the shipping department to meet three of the fastest shippers this side of the Mississippi! Ready to meet Sara, Adriana and Julie?

Sara

Sara has been with MSQC for exactly a year (can someone order a job birthday cake, please?). She’s mother to three wonderful children, likes to paint, be outdoors and go on occasional movie dates with her husband. 

How’d you land the job? My interview was in the nutty guy room with Sarah and Al. There were no chairs so we sat on the floor for the interview. They initially put me in customer service, but the force is strong with Al so he moved me to shipping.

Do you sew?  I can sew, but not very well. I plan on taking some of the classes at the retreat center to increase my skills. I want to learn how to do everything.

Favorite fabric? I’m starting to like all of it. I’m definitely catching the quilting bug.

The best thing about working at MSQC is the people I work with. MSQC is definitely the most fun place I have ever worked!

Adriana

Adriana has been with MSQC for four months and, while she doesn’t sew (Yet, we say!), she would pick batiks as her favorite fabric. The atmosphere is what she loves most about working for Missouri Star.

Julie

Want to know a fun fact about Julie? Her daughter also works or Missouri Star! In addition to her daughter, her family includes a son who is in The Marines and her husband of 21 years. Julie joined the MSQC work family two years ago.

Do you sew? I don’t sew much. I’ve made a pair of pajamas for my daughter probably ten yrs ago. However, since working for MSQC I’ve made two quilts. I have three more planned!

Any favorite fabrics? I’ve worked with charm packs & jelly rolls. Equally easy!

The best thing about working at Missouri Star? There are several reasons MSQC is a nice place to work. It’s family oriented and I think it’s awesome to work in our hometown. Even as we grow Sara, Al & Dave like to stay connected with all employees. Everyone works together.

 

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Aren’t they super? If you’ve ever been in town and done a tour, you’ve most likely seen them working like busy bees (and grooving to a great song on the radio!). This department is full of staff, so we’ll cover a few more of them next Monday, too!

In today’s edition “Meet Missouri Star”, we head to the longarm quilting building to meet Amber and Mari. Ready? Let’s go!

Mari

Mari has been with Missouri Star for two months, but certainly isn’t new to quilting. She has always enjoyed crafts and has put together a few quilts in the past and picks primitive fabrics as her favorite.

As for her sewing, Mari explains, “I have done a lot of sewing. I just like to do quilt projects mostly. I haven’t done any for a while, so seeing all of the pretty fabric and all of the quilts that come in gets the quilting fever going! I have a snowman quilt in the works now that I need to finish. Maybe before winter…..”

Tell us about your family: I have a son and daughter. Brandon is married to Katie and they have three sweet boys. Samantha is getting married in June to Jace. I couldn’t ask for better mates for my kids. Being a grandma is, well, just awesome!! I love them all bunches!

Funny MSQC story: One time I almost sewed my long sleeve in the quilt I was doing. That would have been interesting!

The best about working at MSQC is that we are all connected with each other. Most of us started in the fabric store and then got moved to another department where they needed us or where we needed to be. I personally was thankful for that. When I started, I was healing a sprained ankle and was not getting around as well at the fabric store. They were concerned and sensitive enough to move me to the quilting shop where I could get off of my ankle and let it heal….which it has!! I am again thankful for that. We all seem to be concerned about each other, so it is a “family”.

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Amber

Ten months ago, Amber began working at Missouri Star. During a walk down the street in front of the main quilt shop, she felt the need to ask for an application and the rest was history. Shortly after that she began working in the main shop, then moved to shipping. She now works in the longarm quilting department.

Any special experience in the past that helps with your role at MSQC? I have a lot of customer service experience. I have worked in management for three different companies. I attended Northwest Missouri State University where my major was art education. My grandparents owned a shop in Chillicothe where they sold and repaired sewing machines. I am very skilled at off-loom bead weaving and hand sewing.

Do you sew? I’ve made several Halloween costumes. I’ve made purses and wallets. I’m working on a wall hanging and a table runner right now and love batik fabrics.

Tell us about your family: I have two sons, my oldest is 8, youngest 2. My 8 year old has autism. I’m able to better take care of their needs because of my job at MSQC. I just love telling people I’m a Longarm quilter!

Any MSQC stories you can share? I was working in the shipping department during the 2013 holiday season. I am a single mom and I have been working very hard to provide for my two sons. I was working away when I was approached by someone from customer service. She handed me gift cards and told me they were from their department. They wanted me to have a merry Christmas. They had all pitched in. I was moved to tears. I was able to buy a Christmas tree for the first time since becoming a single mom. It was a wonderful Christmas. I felt very blessed.

Best thing about working for MSQC: The days at MSQC go very fast. We have so much fun it doesn’t feel like work. Everyone is so caring and hard working. We have great customers, too. It’s so thrilling to see how excited they are to get a tour of the company.

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Aren’t these two great? We’re so blessed to have them in the MSQC family. We’ll profile more of the longarm quilters soon. And join us next Monday as we visit some busy elves in the shipping department!