Ellie Hawks grew up on Maine’s Chebeague Island, where her father worked as a lobsterman when she was young. Her uncle Steve worked at Mexicali Blues for over 20 years, and Ellie always looked forward to visits to the Portland and Freeport stores to see him– and to shop for a treat with his employee discount.
“The smell of the stores was my favorite thing about it,” Ellie recalls. “When I would buy new clothes at Mexicali I would be so sad the first time I washed them because I just hated to lose that smell. And if I came home and hugged my Mom and she smelled like Nag Champa, I would get so mad—I knew she had been to Mexicali Blues without me!”
By the time Ellie’s brother, Ross, began working in our Newcastle warehouse, Mexicali Blues had started to feel like a family thing. “I wasn’t happy in the job I had then,” Ellie explains. “And I could see how happy my uncle and my brother were in their jobs. I called Ross and he got me in for an interview the very next day. I started working full time right after. I knew Mexicali Blues is where I wanted to be.”
Ellie wasn’t sure what to think of the warehouse at first. “The stores are so distinctive,” she explains. “The colors, that smell, the music, and the vibes. It took me a few days to understand that the warehouse was just as amazing in its own way. Watching orders come in from all over the world is exciting and fascinating. And I had no idea what it takes to tag ten thousand pairs of earrings!”
It also helps that co-buyers Pete and Kim Erskine are often at the warehouse to help unpack new arrivals, sharing stories about the countries each shipping container has come from and the incredible artisans who make each piece. “Pete and Kim really care about every aspect of this company,” Ellie marvels.
“I realized that you don’t have to be in the store to feel like you are a part of Mexicali Blues. You are part of the stoked, happy hippie vibe no matter where you are in this company.”
“I can be who I really am here,” Ellie says. “It’s like being in a really big family in a really fun home. We want to sell and we want to grow, but everyone knows that the wellbeing of the people working here is the key. At Mexicali Blues, I get to be my best self and live my best life.”
Today, Ellie has worked her way up to web fulfillment associate, responsible for packing and shipping all orders placed at MexicaliBlues.com. “When I first started, web orders were steady but they were small,” Ellie recalls. “They grew so fast! I used to work in the office but it quickly became clear that I needed my own dedicated space.”
Today you are likely to find Ellie behind her computer, gathering items in the staging area, carefully packing purchases and weighing packages on a scale. The pace is always brisk but this close to the winter holidays it has really picked up. “February is always fast-paced because of our annual sale, and Markdown Madness in May keeps me pretty busy, too. But nothing compares to Christmas shopping,” she laughs.
Ellie wants you to know that if you haven’t found the perfect gift yet, you’ve still got time. “If you need your order delivered before Christmas, the last day for Priority Shipping is Wednesday, December 20,” she says, “but don’t worry—I can Express ship your order as late as Thursday, December 21.”
Place your order at www.MexicaliBlues.com today and get **Free Shipping** using code FREELOVE at checkout!
The post “IT’S A REALLY BIG FAMILY IN A REALLY FUN HOME.” ELLIE HAWKS SHARES HER #MEXICALIMOMENT appeared first on Mexicali Blues Blog.
