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Fashion – Style – Trends
Meet Denise, New Orleans Store Manager
Denise, the Manager of Buffalo Exchange New Orleans, has been with the company for an incredible 25 years! She shared some of her favorite memories and valuable takeaways with us – keep reading if you want to find out more about her time as a part of the herd.
How did you start working here?
I started working at Buffalo in 1998, while taking what I thought would be a short respite from traveling. I liked to sew and DIY old clothing into new looks, so when I found myself in Phoenix, I applied and was offered an interview on the spot!
How did you become a Store Manager?
I was hired as a Buyer, and shortly thereafter became an Associate Manager at the new Boise store in 2000. I was soon promoted to Store Manager, and remained at BE Boise until 2004. From there, I moved to BE Flagstaff for a year, before being offered a training position at the newest store in New Orleans. I arrived two days before Hurricane Katrina. Longest story short, I’ve been in New Orleans ever since and cannot imagine what my life would be if New Orleans wasn’t in it.
What does an average day look like for you?
Some of my favorite things – working with people and looking at pretty things.
Most memorable moment?
In 25 years, I have had so many memorable moments — it would feel limiting to call one more memorable than another. However, in my first 6 months, my manager at BE Tempe was doing a review of the vintage section. I had recently graduated out of training, but was still shaky with vintage simply because I tried to see the beauty in all items. A crafty seller talked me into buying a very weird, very 90s dress with multiple textures and prints. The managers were talking at length about this piece as I straightened the racks within ear shot. While I was too scared to come forward and admit my mistake, I still listened in on the vocabulary and lessons.
Secondly, on a company cruise around 2008, I did so many tequila shots with Spencer Block that I ended up seasick and throwing up for several hours before disembarking the ship.
Favorite Buffalo Find?
Those no longer with us: A pair of Birkenstock Paris clogs I bought my first week at BE Tempe. These, at the time, were my unicorn. (I still have them. They are pretty worn.) A Kelly green Hogan bag, a tiny microfiber Prada bag with a lucite handle, a floral Betsey Johnson dress with buttons down the front, and a 1981 Kenny Rogers tee that I sold because the graphic was too front and center.
My favorites that I am still cherishing: A Lee 101J vintage denim jacket, a Taxco bug brooch, Teddy Bear Killer and Rave Kitty costumes, a silk Mardi Gras-inspired kaftan, and an Adam and Eve bag.
How have you seen secondhand grow in your time here?
When I started at Buffalo in the late ‘90s, secondhand was peaking. I personally was always on the hunt for classic labels, nice fabrics, and unique pieces in my own thrifting. Once the designer denim craze took hold in the early ‘00s, thrifting became less of a trend as people were shopping for logos and big names. But around the time of the recession, second hand geared up in a big way as it offered lower price points than retailers. Now following the pandemic, people are looking to fill the variety they desire in their wardrobes – without the environmental cost of fast fashion.
Something you’ve learned at Buffalo over the years?
The 5 Points of Power have influenced me in all aspects of my life. Starting every morning with an intentional choice of my emotional levels sets me right for the whole day.
What in Buffalo’s future are you looking forward to most?
The 50th Anniversary event we’ll be hosting in March. Training on and building our inventory for this has really been a highlight at BE New Orleans for the past 12 months.
We are grateful to everyone who has been a part of our 50 year journey! We’ll be introducing more of our team as we celebrate this incredible milestone, so be sure to check back if you’d like to learn more about the people who make all of this possible. If this sounds like a team you want to be a part of, head over to our Join Our Team page to apply and learn more!
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