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!

The Insider column introduces the people and places that make up Petunia Pickle Bottom. Click here for past episodes.

Meet Morgan Simpson – Employee 001 & Sr. Account Manager

Wow, Employee 001. You do realize that there is only one number one. I know, crazy. I was the first person hired at PPB to help out part-time to fill orders and do quality control. That was almost 6 years ago! Some of my fondest memories were chatting it up with the owner’s moms while we sat at a big table prepping bags and filling orders. What started out as a family business has grown to an internationally renowned company – it’s been amazing to be along for the ride.

So you’ve seen a lot of changes go on at Petunia over the years. What hasn’t changed? The company culture. PPB remains a fun, passionate business full of dedicated employees. I consider all of my co-workers to be more than colleagues, and they are some of the most genuine, smart and fun people I have ever met. We have true friendships and one thing in common: a love for the PPB brand.

So now that those days of part-time quality control work are over, what do you do at Petunia now? The formal description would be that I manage all of our domestic accounts to ensure a positive relationship with retailers and am the liaison with our sales team. I also deal with all prospective new accounts. However, the less formal description is “the dabbler”.

What’s the best part of being The Dabbler? Definitely interacting with retailers. Over the years, I have established some great relationships with store owners and really enjoy hearing about their families, the accomlishments of their stores and their success with PPB.

Such as… Stork’s Nest of Old Pueblo comes to mind. Whenever we talk I feel like I am talking to an old friend – so supportive and enthusiastic about PPB. I have been working with them for several years and love to see them continue to be so successful with the brand.

Also, I have to give a “shout out” to my old buddy, Stu, from Go To Baby in NYC. I have been working with Stu since I started at PPB. Stu runs a great store and has always shown so much support to PPB throughout the years. It’s been a privilege to watch his business and his family grow over the years.

Which products are retailers and reps reporting are the hottest PPB items right now? The Boxy Backpack (always!), the Touring Tote, our Scout bags and our new Cosmopolitan Carryall. A retailers and reps are both eagerly anticipating the release of our Fall fabrics which will be out in the coming months.

Do you have a favorite Petunia bag? The Misty Shanghai Touring Tote. I consider my style to be “classic” – not too trendy and not too plain Jane. The Misty Shanghai exudes elegance and class. I love that I can wear the bag with jeans & a t-shirt or a black dress and it still looks great! I always get a ton of compliments when I carry this bag.

You run Petunia’s San Diego office. How would you describe the office décor? We work in the old, historic Spreckels Theatre built in 1919. The building still has many of the original fixtures including two “safes” we use as closets and all of the original marble and tile. Our office is adorned with soft pink walls, chocolate carpet and PPB product proudly displayed throughout.

Any dark secrets of the SD office you’re willing to share? Since we work in a theatre building, we often get some big name bands in town such as Arcade Fire, Damian Rice, etc. The band tour busses often sit right outside of our offices and occasionally when a band is in town, we’ll sneak down for 10 minutes and try to get into the “sound check.” If that doesn’t work, we have been known to do a “walk by” of the tour bus on our lunch break in hopes of catching a glimpse of someone famous. We’re a little star-struck down here in SD.

Okay, short answer…Favorite beauty product? Sabon Lavender/Apple Body Scrub. Your skin will feel like silk!

Three things we can always find in your purse? Neutrogena “Dreamy” lip gloss, a hair clip (the perfect solution to any bad hair day) and PPB Business Cards since I’m always on the road.

Here’s an imaginary $1000. You spend it on… Plane tickets to Kona. I’m in a wedding at Kona Village in October and the airline tickets are astronomical!!

I cannot live without… My husband, Louie. He rules.