Nowadays, more often than not the people you deal with on a daily basis at work are tiny faces in a Zoom call or names in the “To:” field in an email. As much as this allows us to work remotely and interact with people further afield, we believe that it helps to know the people behind the avatars and messages. That’s why we started our team spotlight series - so that you can get to know us a bit better, and if you work with us you know who’s on the other side of the screen.
Today we’re sitting down with who for many is The Taproom’s first point of contact - our Account Manager, Zoë Bayley.
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Atlanta born and raised, Zoë attended the University of Alabama to study Biology with the intent of becoming a physical therapist. As with many who work in ecommerce, this obviously isn’t the path she ended up taking and after university she interned for a local brewery in Atlanta - Monday Night Brewing.
We’re big fans of Monday Night at The Taproom! Tell us a little bit about your time there.
I was at Monday Night Brewing as one of just 7 people at the brewery, so I was able to gain a lot of experience by wearing many different hats. I did everything from brewing/bottling, operations, events, and sales and marketing. I ended up accepting a full time position with them once I graduated from Alabama as a Territory Sales Manager. I had a blast during my tenure there!
From there, I was offered an opportunity to work in a completely different industry with a family friend. It is a small sales firm that specializes in representing a large commercial roofing manufacturer, Firestone Building Products. Yes, Firestone sells more than just tires! We were responsible for tracking sales and acting as a consultant for the commercial roofing contractors in Georgia and Tennessee. I had a ton of catching up to do, as the commercial roofing industry is incredibly technical and complicated.
So, what then interested you in the role at The Taproom?
Aside from the INCREDIBLE team that The Taproom has, what made me most excited about this position was the opportunity to not be limited to one single industry. As you read, I have a wide range of experience in sales across VERY different industries. I love that I get to meet and help people grow their business no matter what industry they are in.
Has your role changed since you were first hired?
I was hired to be an Account Manager here at The Taproom and I can honestly say that it’s the best job I’ve ever had! I think as a small and fast growing company, positions are bound to be ever evolving. I am still an Account Manager here at The Taproom but am also now the Partner Manager and sometimes have the honor to dabble with some Project Management here and there.
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First impressions count, and when a new client enquires about a project, Zoë is often the first person they speak to. She takes all those client wishes and wants, works with the rest of the Taproom team, and pushes those projects forward.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I like to think of myself as The Taproom’s official liaison. I get the privilege to meet these incredible entrepreneurs, learn about their business, project needs, and introduce them to The Taproom. If a company is interested in moving forward, I work closely with our team to build out a scope of work, develop a quote and get them onboarded for an official partnership. When I’m not onboarding new clients, I am always checking in with our current clients, ensuring their needs are always being met!
What are the biggest challenges you face in your role?
Since I am not from the ecommerce industry, I have had some catching up to do. I’m lucky that I have some of the best teachers right within The Taproom that are always there for me when I have a question.
How about the most rewarding thing in your role?
I am so inspired by the talented entrepreneurs that I get to meet every day and learn about their incredible services or products that are making a difference.
You mentioned that you were fairly new to ecommerce when you started in this role, what about this industry do you find interesting?
Ecommerce is an incredible beast of an industry. Since I have always been in a sales role throughout my career, I find it absolutely fascinating to learn about all of the different products and services out there. I think I am naturally a bit nosey so I truly enjoy getting introduced to as many people and products as possible.
Working across team members with so many diverse roles, what do you feel is the most important factor in a successful team?
It all starts with the people! Kelly, Victoria, and Josiah have put in a great deal of effort to ensure that we constantly feel supported, connected and happy. They are always looking out for our best interests, making sure we are having fun while working hard, but also putting a focus on balancing our personal lives as well. I’ve never worked for a company that truly puts their people’s well being first and I think that makes a huge difference for all of us and certainly contributes to the success of our team and The Taproom as a whole
Given everything is remote now, how do you find it dealing with a remote team and clients also being remote?
Since The Taproom has always operated remotely even pre Covid, our internal processes and communication were built on a remote foundation. We’ve had the time to fine tune our process and we have some great systems in place that allow us to easily and effectively communicate with the team. Aside from the day to day communication, our fearless leaders are always finding ways for us to connect/bond via monthly team nights where we set our work aside, have some fun, play games, or even experience a boutique chocolate tasting!
I think clients being remote is wonderful. In some senses it puts us all on the same playing field when it comes to communication and can make interactions feel a little more laid back.
What are the most important factors in a successful client-agency relationship?
Communication, support, and trust. Every client is more than just a business interaction to me. I want to ensure that they feel just as at home at The Taproom as I do. I want them to consistently feel supported, connected and of course, completely satisfied with our services.
What have been the biggest lessons you've learned throughout your time with The Taproom?
Being fairly new into the ecommerce industry, I have learned SO much about development and how big this world truly is. Absolutely everyone is online and it is only going to get bigger-- I think it's incredible! Personally, I am so inspired by Kelly and the team - it has taught me so much about what “success” can mean for a company
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As with our previous spotlight articles, we like to round things off by taking off the work hat and looking at what our team likes to do when they’re not putting together all their amazing projects for clients.
So you live in Smyrna currently, who’s in the house with you?
I live with my husband in a ranch home that we renovated in 2017 with our 2 year old daughter, cat (Waffles), and dog (Toast). Obviously we have a thing for breakfast breads!
What do you like doing in your spare time?
When I am not socializing, I love to garden, spend time with my family and listen to music.
What's your favorite drink to have first thing in the morning, and the one you go to once you close your laptop for the day?
Fresh, cold brewed coffee from my french press in the morning and a glass of the driest Cabernet Sauvignon you can find to wind down in the afternoon!
If you could learn any skill, what would it be?
I would love to learn how to roller skate!
Where would you most like to travel to one day?
New Zealand! The adventure capital of the world!