THE ADMIN TEAM AND THE SMOOTH CLIENT EXPERIENCE

From left: Jane Addie, Adwoa Agyemfra and Julie Baldwin

As our clients know from their own experiences, business rolls smoothly when a solid team operates behind the limelight of the designers. In our case this is Director of Finance Jane Addie, Manager of Logistics Julie Baldwin and Administrative Assistant Adwoa Agyemfra. You love our creative work on floor and wall coverings but you also need assurance that your beautiful pieces will be delivered and installed as scheduled. 

While their major activities are focused on delivering superior customer service to our clients, they join the design team for Creative Matters' signature Art Days when we all take time away from our desks to immerse ourselves in making art in traditional ways. In this way, the administrators stay particularly connected to the creative nature of our business and are even responsible for some of the designs in our Art Day archive. 

Jane selected Creative Matters' Glacier from the Arctic Collection as a favourite design. "It was developed from an Art Day I particularly enjoyed that focused on Canada’s Far North using images of ice and snow." 

As Creative Matters enters a new phase in its growth (the addition of two new partners in May 2017), it's important to know there is a highly experienced Director of Finance ensuring the smooth delivery of executive functions at Creative Matters. That assurance comes with Jane Addie who has been key to the management of our company since she came on board 16 years ago. 

In addition to guiding Creative Matters through accounting management systems and best practices in human resources and sales strategies, Jane reinforced her relationships with our mill colleagues in Nepal during a visit late last year. 

About her experience at Creative Matters Jane says, “Looking back on my career, I feel I have been given an enormous opportunity and I have taken full advantage. The support and the appreciation I receive for my abilities is something I experience almost daily. It has been, and will continue to be, a source of pride and well being."

Julie's pick for a favourite rug is the Creative Matters Hydrangea design from the Perennial Collection. "Handknotted in Nepal from wool and silk, it so beautifully captures the floral explosion of the hydrangea.”

If Fedex offered a PhD, then our Manager of Logistics would surely be Dr. Julie Baldwin by now. After 13 years with Creative Matters, she has lived through - and mastered - many dramatic changes on the technological side of the shipping business. This is the person you want managing your delivery during the aftermath of an earthquake (Nepal 2016) or if your massive carpet absolutely must arrive from Thailand before the grand opening, even though you only ordered it a few months ago.

Frankly, Julie is so efficient and professional, we don't know how she keeps up the pace. She says it's the dynamic atmosphere that keeps her so motivated and "It's wonderful to be surrounded by such an creative team and an honour to work for a company that is a member of Label STEP."

Adwoa adores this custom Creative Matters runner. "I love how the rug is both bold and subtle at the same time. It is such a statement piece and it really showcases how intricate our designs can be." 

How do you describe the work of someone who will do anything and everything to ensure our clients receive the floor or wallcovering of their dreams? Although she is the youngest member of our staff, Adwoa learns oh-so fast and always enjoys client contact. Working closely with Julie, Adwoa too knows how to track our beautiful rugs as they move around the world. 

Her gratitude is also hard to beat. "As a young adult, it is important that I am surrounded by hard-working and intelligent women and this is exactly my experience working here at Creative Matters. I continue to learn a great deal about business and design through my coworkers. I see their determination and see how what they do is respected by not only our clients, but pushes the envelope in the art world around the globe."

Everyone at Creative Matters knows the admin team is instrumental to a good client experience - it is with pride and pleasure we work together.