By Erin Eastburn
FORT COLLINS, Colo – From their attention grabbing commercials to customer loyalty base; retailer Victoria’s Secret, continues to develop their reputation as one of the best in women’s wear, lingerie and beauty products.
Macayla Wevers, store manager at the Fort Collins Victoria’s Secret said, “The company’s success derives from our ability to hire. We rely they on employees to learn and care about the brand and promote and sell it well.”
Victoria’s Secret, as a brand, is known for providing products to women. But the ideal employee Wevers is referring is not limited to females. Gender diversity is an enormous goal for a manager, according to Wevers.
“I need both males and females to run the store correctly,” Wevers stated. “Our female employees mostly work on the floor with customers, but our male employees play a key role in our store image and keep-up.”
The men that work at the store focus on stockroom maintenance, shipments and after hours work. Victoria’s Secret allows men to work in the store, but don’t allow them in the fitting rooms. Wevers stressed that it is difficult to hire male workers that are mature and want to learn.
Wevers said, “We value our customers privacy and in the areas of lingerie many women need help with sizes and getting fitted; we don’t want to put them in uncomfortable situations.”
Alex Drake, a male employee, has been working for Victoria’s Secret for two years and has recently been promoted as stockroom manager at the Fort Collins Store.
“At first it was odd working for a women’s retailer, but now, I am used to it,” Drake said. “I don’t think most women customers would be comfortable with a man working the fitting rooms, nor do I think I would be very comfortable.”
Drake continues by discussing Victoria’s Secret sales tactics, using personal testimonies was one of the most successful.
“Customers want employee testimonies from women that have tested and worn the bras they recommend; if a man were to do that, trust and customer satisfaction would be a huge issue,” Drake said.
Diversity in the work place has provided both Drake and Wevers with amazing work experiences; according to both, employment with Victoria’s Secret has been wonderful.
In a women’s world of underwire, strapless and pushup bras; the brand of Victoria’s Secret has developed a successful work environment for both male and female employees.
I really liked how you got quotes from a female and a male. I especially liked the quote about trust and how a man is physically unable to provide the same information that a woman can provide. I also like the final paragraph. I thought it connected everything and, being more fun, was appropriate with the tone of the story. If you were to expand on this story, I might try and see if there is a male that thinks it is discrimination on gender that they must be stuck in the back. I also think it would be interesting to know why the male you did interview started working there. What are the benefits?
ReplyDeleteI think that this story is fun and informative. It is something you wouldn’t normally read about. When you think of Victoria Secrets you don’t think of men, so it is a good diversity topic. I think that it was short and sweet but something I could have enjoyably read more about. I liked that it was an unusual news value. I think a good question would be “as a male how do you decide to apply to Victoria Secrets.” Another good question to ask would be “Are there ever any awkward situations while working at Victoria Secrets as a male.”
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