Behind the scenes: Mariana
In our ‘Behind The Scenes’ feature we introduce you to one of our much loved employees here at malabrigo yarn. Mariana has been with malabrigo since the very beginning and has helped shaped it into the company you know and love today. She works directly with costumers as well as ensuring the office continues running smoothly. While juggling an array of tasks, Mariana is one of the faces of malabrigo so to unwind she does Yoga and Pilates to give her the much needed energy to keep on top of everything. In this ‘Behind the Scenes’, Mariana provides a wonderful insight into the world of malabrigo.
How long have you been working for malabrigo yarn?
I’m actually one of the employees who has been here the longest! I started 2006 so it’s been almost 12 years now. I’ve always done a little bit of everything so I’m a bit of a problem-solver around here.
What do you do for the company?
Oh, I do a lot of things so it’s difficult to describe: I work directly with the customer by processing orders and taking payments. The customers are mostly from the US but some could be from all over the world like China, Singapore or Australia. When there are special orders for specific customers I handle that process and make sure it reaches them all right, so it’s quite a lot of things.
What is your favorite yarn and colorway?
My favorite yarns are Caracol and Rasta because they are quick and easy to knit with. The other yarn I quite like is Silky Merino because it is shiny and soft, but that might be because my grandmother likes to use it a lot when she knits.
What sort of things do you knit?
I am not a very skillful knitter. I love knitting scarves and hats; I've recently learnt a new technique for hats, which makes them both easier and more beautiful to knit up . Personally, I love warm colors in multi or semi-solids, in reds, purples, oranges, yellows and natural, for example, some of my favorite colorways are Archangel, Piedras, Burgundy, Volcan, Glitter, but there are so many more!
Does your Grandmother knit a lot then?
My grandmother (90 years old!! ) is an avid and talented knitter and always knits for me!.I have beautiful cardigans, sweaters, and even dresses made by her. I love yarn and really don't do well in winter, so malabrigo always keeps me warm. One of the garments she made was from Malabrigo Book 4, the gorgeous Alcazar dress, with Rios Cumparsita. She doesn't know how to "read" patterns because she learnt to knit from a friend when she was very young so she never needed to. She just looked at at the pictures of the garment and immediately knows how to reproduce it!!
What sort of relationships do you think the shops have with malabrigo?
Most of the shops are really happy with malabrigo. They are usually big fans and get really excited when new colors or types of yarn are launched. Many have visited our warehouse and enjoyed they experience, since they had the opportunity to learn about the process and get to know some of us. I guess malabrigo gives off a friendly sense of home to the customers, with our simplicity and eagerness to help.
What is the environment like in the office?
The atmosphere at the office is really relaxed. We work hard but in a great environment, making jokes and laughing. Even when work is crazy, we try to to keep everything warm and relaxed. Our bosses are really easy to work with. They are flexible and have a good sense of humor which contributes to making the office a great place to work.
You've worked in both locations, in the warehouse and in the office. Can you shed some light on the whole process?
When I was working at the warehouse I was physically close to the packagers and dyers and learnt lots about the colors, yarn types, and the dyeing process just by witnessing it everyday. Being close to the actual yarns made me learn how each of them feels and looks like, which is important information when a customers asks. That was great for me since because it gave me a real in depth understanding which is important for somebody who has been in company for so long. I also know how each yarn type is made and about the logistics of our export process, etc.
Has anything changed since you started regarding the relationship between malabrigo and the shops?
Probably yes, when I started (12 years ago) malabrigo was a much smaller company, so the communication was mostly over email and not as fluent. Now we are in touch with customers all day, whenever they need we are just a phone call away which I believe has really improved our relationship with them. They are usually easy to speak to because they are very nice and understanding, so , when a problem arises, it's easy to work things out. Many customers have been ordering from us since the very beginning so we have really close relationships with many of them.
Do you have a funny anecdote?
I don’t think it is funny exactly, but some years ago when I was dealing with a specific customer, I made a mistake. I accidentally charged the wrong card and instead of there being any serious problem, while fixing and sorting everything out we actually became friends. When we email each other we share stories and it makes t\he whole process so much better!