Holiday Products’ Purchasing Manager Susanna Molina entered the adult novelty industry at the ripe age of 18 and after gaining experience at two top novelty manufacturers, moved on to Holiday Products in February 2011. In her current role, Molina participates in many facets of the company’s operations from supporting sales and the graphic arts department to executive decision making with Holiday Products Vice President Ken Sahn. Driven by passion and professionalism, Molina says she looks forward to keeping the momentum going for Holiday Products into the future.
What is your role and responsibility at Holiday Products?
Live life with passion — love what you do, do what you love. -Susanna Molina
My title is Purchasing Manager but my role is far greater than just that. I am responsible for everything related to product. This includes vendor relationships, new product, product fill rate, all ordering, pricing, budgets and maintaining proper inventory levels. I also facilitate the sales department with special order and communication as a liaison for our vendors. I also work very closely with Kenny [Holiday Products vice president] in product direction and inventory analysis. I work directly with Graphic Arts assisting in production of our catalogs, email blasts, brochures and images for our website.
Describe a typical Monday at your desk.
Holiday Products is a great place to work so I actually look forward to coming to work on Monday. There is pressure to perform well but not a pressure cooker atmosphere. When I get to work on a Monday morning I check email voicemail, run inventory reports, check stock levels … check the calendar for upcoming meetings that we will be having that week and prep myself for those meeting, which are for the most part vendor meeting/sales meeting and purchasing meetings.
How did you get into the business?
Pipedream Products — it sort of just landed in my lap, I started at Pipedream when I was just of legal age to work in the adult industry. Then I went on for a brief stint at Stockroom and was actually prepared to move into another field when I got the call form Kenny and we both felt it was such a good fit he hired me on the spot.
What prepared you for what you are doing now?
I am not sure that anything prepares you for being in the adult industry. But my experience at Pipedream certainly was a big factor in preparing me for my work at Holiday. With that said, I brought a lot to the table for our team but I have learned so much since being here and that is exciting … to still be learning and growing in your field.
What do you see as the challenges of working in adult novelty sales? How do you overcome them?
Being a woman in the adult has been somewhat difficult especially at the beginning of my career now that I have 10 years under my belt it has definitely gotten a lot easier, but I honestly have to say the most difficult thing about being in the adult business is trying to explain to my two boys — ages 9 and 13 — what I do for a living.
Do you have a personal motto or mantra that you live by?
“Live life with passion — love what you do, do what you love.”
What are your goals for Holiday Products in 2012?
Personally, I just want to keep on contributing and adding to our success. I joined the company in February of 2010; just four months after Kenny joined the company. Since then we have seen such enormous growth, added so many great members to our team and are having so much fun while doing this…. My goal is to do my part to keep the momentum going!
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