- 3rd March 2022
What is International Women’s Day?
International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global celebration that highlights the achievement of women championing economic, cultural, political, and social causes worldwide. IWD first started in 1908 after 15,000 women marched in New York City demanding voting rights, better pay, and shorter working hours. Since then, IWD has been at the forefront of reminding people around the globe how far we’ve come and the work that still remains.
BIDBI & International Women’s Day
This International Women’s Day, we are celebrating the amazing women of BIDBI and thanking them for their hard work and dedication. Therefore, in this blog, we will highlight the female employees of BIDBI and get to know them a bit better. So let’s begin!
Meet Joanne one of our Account Managers:
What is your Role at BIDBI?
I am an Account Manager, I look after our publishing, universities, and food accounts
What is your Favourite product from the BIDBI collection?
I think it’s got to be the Fairtrade & Organic Tote Bag. I love a classic tote bag and this is like that but made with Fairtrade & Organic cotton!
If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would you choose?
I’m a big Depeche Mode fan, so either Dave Gahan the recording studio manager or his PA.
What’s your go-to productivity trick?
Do the hardest tasks first and the day should be plain sailing.
What Eco-friendly practices do you implement in your personal life?
Recycling and trying to change everyday items and life to sustainable.
What’s the biggest misconception people have about your job?
I think it’s that being an Account Manager is sales. It’s sales but it’s also being there for your customers, nurturing relationships, and understanding people.
Do you have any Hobbies or a Personal talent?
I enjoy Pilates and travelling. My favourite countries are America, Greece and Italy. I don’t think it’s a talent but I am a control freak!
Do you have a role model / Source of inspiration/motivation?
My Mum, she is so upbeat no matter what problems she has.
What Song do you currently have on repeat?
Personal Jesus (Depeche Mode) and Cold Heart (Dua and Elton)
What was your first job?
I was a Quality Control surveyor for a special metals company
Thanks Jo! Next up, we chatted to one of our Graphic Designers, Jess:
What is your Role at BIDBI?
I work in the design department as a designer.
My role is to help set customers' artwork up ready for printing and make sure every customer is happy with how each product is going to look before it goes into production.
What is your favourite product from the BIDBI collection?
My favourite product is the Luxury Shopper especially the Fairtrade and Organic one. I like this one because the all-around gusset allows me to fit plenty of items in my bag and still look stylish.
If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would you choose?
The Queen because who wouldn’t want to meet the Queen's Corgis and have a private tour of Buckingham Palace.
What’s your go-to productivity trick?
Have plenty of coffee breaks and snacks ready to keep you going.
What Eco-friendly practices do you implement in your personal life?
I recycle all my rubbish, buy eco-friendly products when I can and I like to upcycle items for my art projects outside of work.
What’s the biggest misconception people have about your job?
That it's easy. Sometimes setting artwork up for orders can be a lot of work and people don't see everything that goes on behind the scenes.
Do you have any Hobbies or a Personal talent:
I love doing arts and crafts outside of work. I really enjoy painting and more recently vinyl cutting to make ornaments for people and express my creative side. The main thing I love to do is relax by watching a good film or series and spending time with my family.
Do you have a role model / Source of inspiration / motivation?
My parents are absolutely the best role models and inspiration to me. They work hard and have taught me everything that's important throughout my life. I work hard to make them proud of me because I look up to them.
What Song do you currently have on repeat?
Anyone For You - George Ezra
What was your first job?
I worked in customer service in a DIY shop.
Thanks Jess! Finally we spoke to our HR Manager, Alison.
Hi Alison, what is your Role at BIDBI?
HR Manager
What is your Favourite product from the BIDBI collection?
Premium & Fairtrade GOTS shopper bag, its lovely and thick, its natural and it fits on your shoulder perfectly.
If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would you choose?
A food critic, I say this often, this is the dream job scenario for me, to eat for a living! Although being a vegetarian restricts this somewhat…
What’s your go-to productivity trick?
If I feel like something isn’t working or if it’s taking longer to complete a task than perhaps it should; the best thing to do is park it and revisit. If your heart isn’t in it, there is no point carrying on in that moment. This can’t always be practical, particularly if there is a deadline so I also try to seek out the people that motivate me in the business. We have some great colleagues that can always put a positive spin on a tricky situation or simply make me laugh about something and this is often all it takes to boost productivity and return to the task in hand.
What Eco-friendly practices do you implement in your personal life?
My Daughter and I are both vegetarian, we recycle everything that we can and make conscious choices to avoid single use plastics where possible. I’m very conscious about the clothes that we wear, and I’m prepared to spend more on an investment piece that will last for years and years rather then fast fashion. I walk wherever I can as I currently drive to work, I try to balance this out and walk wherever I can, I recently completed a 100KM challenge walking from Norway to the North Pole. I did my final 10KM in the snow so only managed to run for 6!
What’s the biggest misconception people have about your job?
That HR are the ‘hire and fire’ department.
Do you have any Hobbies or a Personal talent:
Walking is my go-to. It’s good for my mental wellbeing and I will often go for 15-20KM at a time in all weather. I also enjoy actively working out and do this 4/5 times a week. I don’t really have any secret talents, but I used to dabble with millinery and have completed courses in a previous life. I’ve made a few hats and headpieces in the past.
Do you have a role model / Source of inspiration / motivation?
I’ve worked for some great people and try to emulate what I’ve learned from them in the past and apply to my role here at Bidbi. Diane, Helen and Kate, just three of my former leaders from previous employment have been very important to me in my career, my attitude and my approach to the ways that I work.
What Song do you currently have on repeat?
Son Shine by Sault has been my repeat play for the last few years, it never fails to put me in a good mood and anything that gives me that holiday/beach feeling.
What was your first job?
My first ever job was fitting kids’ trainers at a Sports Shop. I had just turned 16 and worked all the hours I could get, I loved it.
Thanks, Alison!
