In April, Kim Maty will celebrate her 11th year with specialty adult wholesale distributor Entrenue. Throughout her tenure with Entrenue, Maty has picked up a wealth of expertise on the many facets of the business — so much so that she’s earned the nickname of “The Oracle.” The customer-oriented veteran exec takes a hands-on approach with clients while also keeping her finger on the pulse of the industry’s top trends as a buyer for Entrenue. Maty fully embraces being a jack-of-all-trades, telling XBIZ she also enjoys being involved in the creative and editing process of Entrenue’s illustrious catalogs, as well as being involved in the writing of the company’s press releases and email blasts. In our exclusive Q&A with this month’s WIA Woman of the Month, Maty talks about her role, future goals and more.
XBIZ: What is your role and responsibility as Entrenue’s senior account executive and buyer?
I want to step outside of my comfort to make this year better than the last one for our customers and the manufacturers we work with.
Kim Maty: My role at Entrenue has many layers. First and foremost, I am an account executive that provides account management to key customers. I also assist with curating our unique selection of products by attending shows as one of our buyers. I am proud to be involved in the creative and editing process with our award-winning catalogs and our new 2018 calendar, as well as our press releases and email blasts. One of my most intensive responsibilities is coordinating our tradeshow booth at Altitude. It’s a labor of love and allows me to do something that I enjoy … merchandising! They call me “The Oracle” around here. I have so much information and experience in the industry; I tend to be the “go-to” for questions around the office.
XBIZ: How did you get into the business?
Maty: Way back in 2003, my cousin had a friend that was part of a chain of stores and he was kind enough to offer me a job. This turned out to be an amazing learning experience and eventually allowed me the opportunity to be involved with product selection; I loved it. Entrenue was even one of our vendors way back then. I left the industry in 2006 for a different (and short-lived) opportunity, but found myself missing the industry and the amazing people I worked with. I remembered reading that Joe purchased Entrenue. I interviewed with Joe and began my career with Entrenue in 2007.
XBIZ: What challenges have you confronted in your career and how have you overcome them?
Maty: Challenges are just opportunities in disguise, right? I have been lucky enough to work in very supportive environments that allowed me to develop a unique skill set, to seek out opportunity, while creating my dream job along the way. The pearl clutching that can come along with telling people what I do is sometimes a challenge to deal with, but once they hear how much good our products can bring into people’s relationships, they take a deep breath, relax and start to get curious.
XBIZ: What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Maty: Without a doubt, the most rewarding part of this job is working with our customers and manufacturers. Every day, I get to work with people that I consider friends … I am amazed by their passion, their commitment, and their belief that they are doing good in the world. They sacrifice countless hours, energy and sometimes even their homes to finance their businesses. How can that NOT be inspiring? The bonus is that I get to be a cheerleader on the sidelines, watching them succeed while celebrating their victories with them!
XBIZ: What is your personal motto or mantra that you live by?
Maty: Stay calm and keep everything in perspective.
XBIZ: What career accomplishment are you most proud of?
Maty: It was definitely an honor to be nominated for Account Executive of the Year at the 2018 XBIZ Exec Awards, but the accomplishment that I am most proud of is my tenure at Entrenue. As I get ready to celebrate 11 years with Entrenue in April, I look back at where we started and how much we have grown and how much this industry has changed. It has been an amazing honor to be part of the growth and success that Entrenue has experienced so far, and look forward to being part of its future success as well. I’ve had some amazing mentors during my time in this industry, and I would not be here without their encouragement and support.
XBIZ: What are your professional goals for 2018?
Maty: I want to step outside of my comfort to make this year better than the last one for our customers and the manufacturers we work with!
Each month, industry news media organization XBIZ spotlights the career accomplishments and outstanding contributions of Women in Adult. WIA profiles offer an intimate look at the professional lives of the industry's most influential female executives.
