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Fashion – Style – Trends
Meet Mike, Company Trainer
For the past 20 years, Mike has been a key player in the story of Buffalo Exchange. Read on to learn more about his most memorable moment, his favorite finds, and what a day in his life looks like!
How did you start working here?
My first time selling, I asked if the store was hiring. I’d never seen anything like Buffalo before, and I was intrigued! I filled out an application and the Store Manager set me up with an interview right there. I was hired a few days later.
How did you become a Company Trainer?
I was hired as a part-time Buyer while I was in college. I worked my way through the career track until I graduated, after which I was promoted to Associate Manager. I assisted with training other ASMs before becoming a Store Manager in 2009, then a Store Manager II a few years later. I stayed in that position for many years before I was promoted to Assistant Area Manager a few years back. I asked to join the Training Team in 2022.
What does an average day look like for you?
Each day is different! I work in my office in Philly one or two days a week, where I can be meeting with the training team to work on presentations, completing training online, or assisting with tasks such as editing forms and handbooks. I also train at BE Philadelphia, and travel to other stores to train a few times a month.
What I love most about the job is helping other people succeed.
Most memorable moment?
Moving BE Philadelphia twice and expanding it. It was such hard work but SO much fun. I’ve also assisted with opening stores, which is also quite rewarding.
Something you’ve learned at Buffalo over the years?
It’s OK to fail, just keep trying and move forward. I’ve learned to become adaptable, how to grow and become very self-aware, and how to turn that self-awareness into positive and lasting change.
Favorite Buffalo find?
My 1993 Smashing Pumpkins Just Say Maybe tee. I had the same one at some point in middle or high school and donated it to a thrift store, but one came back into my life a number of years ago at BE Philadelphia. I also have a Madonna Girlie Show tour sweatshirt from the same era that I got from BE Philadelphia about 11 years ago.
How have you seen secondhand grow in your time here?
Buffalo has helped with eliminating the stigma around secondhand fashion over the years. Growing up in Philly, I really only remember thrift stores and high-end consignment boutiques. Buffalo was nothing like I’d ever seen or heard of before, and resale wasn’t really a part of the conversation in fashion as much as it is today.
Now resale is everywhere. And everyone shops at Buffalo. We’ve gotten really good at making everyone our customer.
Mike is one of many unique and accomplished individuals who have helped make Buffalo what it is today. Want to help shape Buffalo’s future? Stop by our Join Our Team page to learn more about working with us, then fill out an application in-store or online!
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