If you have been in the Gulch area in the past couple years, you have most likely seen our Nashville store Manager in our store, on her running journey, or even hitting the best spots on a night our with our other girls on her team! Katie Hicks has been in charge of our largest location for almost two years now, which she handles like a pro, and has brought such fun and fresh energy to our storefront and team. Her calm and carefree demeanor, always put together appearance, and ability to talk to anyone about anything will make you love her as much as we do! Read on and get to know our Katie a bit better, or better yet, pop in our Nashville location and you will be best friends before you know it.
Q: What does your position entail?
A: “I keep everything in The Gulch running smoothly! My day-to-day is ever-changing: working with sales, styling, merchandising, inventory, working with our HQ team, hiring plumbers and electricians (if you know you know), hiring and onboarding new team members…the list goes on! But my main priority every day is establishing a positive, inviting culture for our Gulch team members and making sure everyone who shops with us receives the highest quality styling experience and loves to spend time in our store!”
Q: What is something, if anything, you want people to know about you?
A: “The outfit I’ve picked out to wear on any given day has been copied straight from Pinterest. I wake up early every morning to drink my coffee and scroll Pinterest to look for outfit inspo!”
Q: How did you come about finding e.Allen and acquiring your current position?
A: “I actually live above our store in The Gulch! I had walked by the store every day for a year, and when I was looking for a job change, e.Allen was my obvious first choice. I sent multiple emails to anyone I could find, looking for any opportunity within the company, not even knowing if they were hiring. Literally a week later, I’m scrolling Instagram and see that the current store manager was leaving and there was an opening! I went to send an email once again, and to my surprise, I already had an email in my inbox asking me to come in for an interview! Just goes to show, if you want something, keep trying and don’t be afraid to ask for what you want!
Q: What qualities or characteristics do you possess that you think help in your position?
A: “I like to think that nothing can shake me, I’m able to keep my cool in any situation- and we’ve seen some crazy things around here! The building could be on fire (which has happened), and you would never know because I’m as chill as ever.”
Q: Who, if anyone, do you work with in your position?
A: “I’m so lucky that I get to work a little bit with everyone! Me and the other store leads, Katy and Banning are always working with and supporting each other. I get to meet and work with our fabulous HQ team often for a variety of different things. And obviously, I get to work with my incredible Gulch team every day, who are the BEST and make my job such a joy!”
Q: What is your favorite part of your daily job?
A: “This sounds super cheesy, but getting to see my team grow and develop within their fashion career is really amazing. We really have such an empowering culture at e.Allen that allows us to explore our different interests within the fashion and operational space, and I love knowing that I get to be a part of that journey for my team.”
Q: What has been the most challenging part of your job?
A: “Humm, probably when we had a plumbing emergency in our store, I had to hang up my fashion girly title for a minute and become a plumbing expert.”
Q: What has been the most rewarding part of your job or your greatest accomplishment?
A: “When I was hired, I came in with the opportunity to hire a few new stylists all at once, which is intimidating because you just have to take a chance and hope it works out, especially since this group was already so established. But I think the most rewarding accomplishment is that I’ve always trusted my gut with the people we’ve brought in, and our team could not be stronger!! I’m so proud to be surrounded by a group of such hardworking, funny, kind women, and I love knowing that I had a part in bringing us together!”
Q: In what ways do you want to grow in your position or grow the position itself?
A: “I’d love any opportunity to expand operationally. I love numbers, goals, building relationships, and motivating!”
Q: What has been your favorite memory at e.Allen so far?
A: “The Christmas party every year is always such a highlight, I love getting to see everyone at the same time! Also, getting to go to the Sabrina Carpenter concert with the girls after only working here for like a month, I am her #1 fan, and they definitely got to see a different side of me!”
Q: What do you look forward to the most at e.Allen?
A: “I love watching us be a fixture of Nashville culture. When I tell someone I work at e.Allen I always get, ‘I know that store!’ or, ‘I love that store!’ and as we expand and do bigger things, that recognition and respect just grow and grow.”
