Kara Smith is 35 years old and has been working at Holland Colours America’s for five years now. She has worked everywhere in the building. Kara started in out in production and then moved into the lab as a Sample Sprayer Technician for a year. Now in her current position, she is working in Inside Sales/Customer Service, which she really enjoys. ‘’ I'm really good with people, I like talking to people and I like building relationships with them. And it's also kind of an adrenaline rush when you go after a new customer to try to win that deal.’’
What does a day at work at Holland Colours look like for you?
I always start my day by going through my emails. I do both customer service and inside sales, so sometimes the boundaries blur a bit. I do the orders for my inside sales. I send lead time reports reminding customers to place an order, I ask how their stocks are doing, I just ask them how they are doing and check with them about samples they might have. I probably spend the most time asking if there are any problems with how they are using it, even if they have been using it for about six months, because I still understand that it is a kind of trial and communication with the customer is very important. And I oversee some of the selling, the POs, the shipping at the end. It kind of depends on the day, the week, the month. Some months are very quiet and customers need less and other months are very busy. So it depends a bit. It's widely varied but I really like that. That way, a day is never the same and that gives me energy.
What role does teamwork play in your daily responsibilities and why is this important?
Amongst the team, I think we all help each other. If one of us has a busy day, we can count on someone else on our team to help us through the day. Also, in customer service, I think we probably have the most contact points in this building. We communicate with our production, with shipping and with the lab. Without this teamwork, we wouldn't be able to give our customers answers.
In addition, I think building good relationships with our customers is very important. It helps with communication to ensure that, if they have problems, they feel comfortable contacting us. Through teamwork together with all departments, we can ensure that the customer is helped as well and quickly as possible. For example, we work with the lab if the dosing of our products is not going well. I believe a good relationship with customers can also have a positive impact on gaining new customers.
Which 3 words do you think best describe HCA?
Determined, Caring and Family
How do you experience the atmosphere?
I feel very comfortable going to people in my department and to colleagues in other departments such as the lab and asking for advice on something a customer needs. If it is something we can do, like how to pass on the right information, I feel that everyone in this building is always willing to give their opinion and help everyone. It definitely feels like a family atmosphere. We have relationships that are not just eight to five. If we have a bad day, everyone in this building absolutely takes care of each other. That also has to do with the caring atmosphere here. Also people don't like to leave once they are here. The atmosphere here is really nice. Not only with your work, but also with your personal life - it's definitely one I haven't experienced before at previous jobs.
Something else you would like to share about your experience at Holland Colours?
I think that here at Holland Colours we all care about everybody in this building, I think we're all very hard working and want to move towards the goals that we have. I have been in many departments in this building, so I have seen the determination. For example, the lab has to match colors even when they are challenging. I have seen how Production tries to get everything that is possible out the door. And then Sales... the answer is not always just yes. But we just keep working harder to ensure the best result every day. The determination is something all colleagues at HCA have, in my view.
I was always told that if there was a place I liked to work, or if I needed a particular training to achieve my goals, I could indicate that. I did and so I worked in almost every part of the building.
Question from Pascal: How do other colleagues at Holland Colours promote having a close-knit team?
I would say being in the office helps maintain the closeness of teamwork. Having the ability to go across the room and have daily conversations helps ensure better collaboration. I think it is very important for a close-knit team to be able to connect with others easily and quickly by being close to each other. In our case, the proximity we all have in the office helps teamwork. This doesn't work for everyone, but only if your colleagues are also open to contact. We meet a lot with our team outside work and this definitely strengthens our bond!
Which question would you like to see answered in the next interview with another colleague?
What area in terms of teamwork can we improve?
