If it’s something we all know by now, it’s that change is inevitable. The year 2020 certainly proved that. Though we’re still dealing with the challenges surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, that anxiously anticipated light at the end of the tunnel is starting to present itself. We all tend to look at the change in the calendar when we flip into a new year as a metaphorical way of starting from scratch, creating new goals for ourselves, and so on. For me, one of those aspirations was to make the next step in my career.
Hello, my name is Jacob Ouellette and I am the new Social & Media Relations Specialist here at Stonewall Kitchen! I couldn’t be more excited to have Stonewall Kitchen be the place that made my aforementioned aspirations a reality, and now I’m here to share with you just what my first 30 days here has been like.
We all know that transitioning into a new job is challenging. For me, it was a stark contrast from what I was used to. Just to put things into perspective, though I was still in the marketing field, I came from a 10-branch regional bank. From finance to food (and more) if you will. However, despite the vast difference, it created so much excitement for me. It wasn’t long before I knew this was going to be a great place to work.
I arrived home late one night prior to joining the Stonewall Kitchen family to a box at my door. “I don’t remember ordering anything” is what I said to myself. I picked up the box only to see the Stonewall Kitchen logo on the box. I couldn’t wait to open it. When I did, I was greeted by a nicely packed box with a selection of Stonewall Kitchen items and a handwritten note on the box that said, “Welcome to the team, Jacob!”
How special was this? A personalized message alongside a variety of our products. It was 10:30 p.m. when I first discovered the box and you better believe the time of night didn’t deter me from opening up the items in the box just to get a taste of them all! I’d like to believe we’d all do that – because Stonewall Kitchen is just THAT good.
Fast forward to my first day here on May 10th. Though the company was primarily working remotely with an in-office phase-in plan in the works, I arrived at the York headquarters and was greeted by one of our receptionists, Karen. There was another gentleman there beginning his first day in production as well. One of the first things Karen said to the both of us was, “Welcome to Stonewall Kitchen, this will be the best job you’ll ever have!” It was then that those first-day nerves seemed to settle just a little bit. You could just feel the positivity and camaraderie this place holds.
It has been a whirlwind since then. I have met so many people from my direct teammates in the marketing department, to the creative and design team, to merchandising, e-commerce and so much more. The one thing that has been quite clear is that everyone is passionate about their job and are always willing to lend a helping hand when needed. I’ve been in contact with editors and social media influencers; I’ve jumped behind the wheel of the Stonewall Kitchen and Village Candle social media accounts (who knows, I may have even interacted with you already!); I’ve observed and learned the process behind the styling all of our photography; and so much more.
I was familiar with some of the products from Stonewall Kitchen’s family of brands, but there are so many more that I was excited to try! It’ll take shear will power to not buy everything at once and take it home, especially when you already know the quality of the products. From the fresh fragrances of our Village Candle products at your friend’s house, to your mother’s obsession with the Margarita Mix when cocktail hour rings (sorry to put you on blast mom!), there is something for everyone! Furthermore, a former co-worker of mine who even happened to be my loan officer when I bought my first home over three years ago gave Stonewall Kitchen Dipping Pretzels and Honey Mustard Dip as a gift at the closing. You could say I had a connection well before I even knew I would be working here.
The one thing I will say is this: Stonewall Kitchen truly cares about quality, and not just in the products we create, but in our employees as well. There is still so much to learn, but I am already proud of what this company stands for and the people I get to work with. I look forward for what is to come and if you happen to see us on social media, please say hello!
