Meet Carrie Adkins of B&H Office Solutions. She recently joined our team to fulfill the role of Sales Rep. Carrie has worked in the office and furniture supply industry for over 18 years. We asked her to share about her experiences and insights she’s gained over the years.
Tell us about your role at B&H Office Solutions and what attracted you to join the team.
As a Sales Professional, I will be helping customers find solutions for their office furniture needs.
B&H Office Solutions allows me to focus on the part of the industry that I enjoy the most and that is furniture and space planning.
Tell us about your sales experience over the years.
I began in the paper industry selling envelopes for a wholesaler for 8 years. After a family move, I got a job at an office supply store selling office products. I was introduced to the furniture side of the business and it has been my favorite and most rewarding. It started out with a chair here and there and then an office desk, add-on to a bank, car dealership, hospital, schools, cruise lines, just to name a few. I have 18 years experience in the Office Supply and furniture Business.
What’s one thing — either industry-related or not — you’ve learned int the past year or in your career?
It is hard to name just one thing. One of my motto’s is to learn something new everyday.
I would have to say that during and after Covid, the one thing you have to be is flexible. The supply chain is still adjusting to factories being shut down or running half-staffed. Some products are still waiting to begin production and lead times are much longer than what the industry had become accustomed to.
If you could choose any famous person as your personal mentor or life coach, who would you choose and why?
I can’t think of a more famous person than Jesus Christ. He is the key to my salvation. He is the reason I get up every morning. Who better than to teach me and guide my steps.
Tell us about life outside of work.
I have been married to my best friend and husband, Ray, for 32 years(Aug 4th). We have two of the most awesome kids. My daughter is a recent graduate from University of Oklahoma, Price College of Business, and works for a local company in Southlake. My youngest just graduated from Byron Nelson High School and is currently at MCRD San Diego for USMC boot camp. He will be attending his MOS in Pensacola, FL. He wants to be an airline mechanic. We have two dogs, Chloe(jack-o-weenie) and Bella(Pomeranian). They are spoiled.
We are soon to be empty nesters and you can find us at the lake or the ocean almost any weekend. We love spending time with friends and family, entertaining, cooking, baking and traveling.
Most of our volunteering is done at our home church in Roanoke. Our favorite activity so far has been the meal packing marathon.
What’s your favorite part about your role in the office space industry?
My favorite part is working on a project from the beginning with the vision and seeing it come to life after installation.
What’s one of the biggest challenges of your industry?
Time. In today’s world, people want to click on an image and have it delivered the next day. With large furniture projects, you have to spend time to develop the concept and style the customer wants. The lead time is sometimes longer than they want to wait. There are many hours that go into creating the space that a customer can envision themselves coming to work in everyday. You want to make sure and comb every detail and get it right.
What’s one of the biggest rewards of your industry?
Relationships. When you spend time getting to know the customer, some of them you form a relationship that will last a lifetime. Making the customer happy is my number one goal. Seeing the joy on their face after a project is completed is a huge reward.
