The Insider: Meet Nina
The Insider column introduces the people and places that make up Petunia Pickle Bottom. Click here for past episodes.
Meet Nina Mazur - Customer Service Supervisor
If you’ve ever called the Petunia offices with a comment or question, there’s a good chance that you’ve talked with Nina Mazur, our Customer Service Supervisor. Filled to the brim with friendliness and a desire to help, Nina is our very own UK-expatriate. If her charm doesn’t win you over, her delicious British accent will.
So you were born and raised in London. How did you end up in Ventura? I’m not quite sure exactly. After living in the UK with my husband we decided about a year ago to come and try life in sunny California. He’d lived here for quite a few years before moving to London and so we thought we would give it a try. Somehow we ended up choosing Ventura.
What was the biggest adjustment or culture shock about coming to the U.S.? Everything! Everything is different, nothing is the same! Not even the language we speak. I had to learn quick to stop asking my officemates to borrow their rubbers (what you call an eraser).
Besides for proper British English, what else do you miss? Proper fish and chips, sausages, nice looking English money, weather seasons, Robinson’s fruit drink, rugby, the English accent, being able to walk to the store, English TV soaps, British movies and music, the Queen mom…oh my list can go on and on.
C’mon, you know that California is growing on you though. Anything you’ll admit is better than back home? I love the fact that I can grow vegetables here. Yesterday I picked my first green beans which were delicious. Also, the beaches are beautiful and there is one just 5 minutes away from my home. Plus I have a lovely growing family here of friends.
I imagine in Customer Service you get to see both the good and the bad in Petunia bag owners. What’s the best part of the job? Receiving emails on how happy a customer is about the service we provide or receiving little thank you cards or photos of their families. I like the personal contact and the fact that I can almost become a friend, someone they can trust to help them through the situation.
Any advice on how to deal with difficult customers? I believe customers come to me because they really have a legitimate concern they need help with. The best advice I would say is to listen and try to understand their point of view and then help find the best steps forward. I believe PPB gives me a lot of freedom which helps me help the customer to the best of my ability.
Have you had any funny customer service encounters you can tell us about? One time a store called wanting to replace a Scout wipes case because it had dents, but the message I received said the store wanted a replacement “buttwiper holder” which cracked me up for days.
I’m sure you get questions about all the products in the PPB line. What’s your favorite PPB product? Ohh, it has to be the Pink Parfait Touring Tote, I’m short so this bag is the perfect size for me and I am constantly amazed at how much I can put in there. The pockets are great because I can keep all my things separate, and the shoulder strap allows me to wear my bag messenger style when I don’t want to fiddle around with it. I also have the Kimono Roll which is luxurious and perfect for day or evening.
Okay, now some fill-in the blank…
Favorite beauty product? Lip balm. You can’t have chapped lips.
Three things we can always find in your desk? A photo of my family, food and hair bands.
Topping your playlist? John Mayer, Rachael Yamagata and The Prodigy
Favorite website? Right now ….. Facebook. It helps me keep in contact with all my mates in the UK the rest of the world and also family. It’s fantastic!
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