Celebrating Our Long Service Team

Celebrating 25 years in the wholesale giftware industry is a remarkable milestone that fills us with appreciation and gratitude. This anniversary is an opportunity to honour the exceptional dedication of our long-serving staff members. Their hard work, loyalty, and passion contributes to our success. Get to know some of our long-serving team below to gain insight on how the business has evolved over the years and what it’s like working at Something Different!

How many years have you worked for SDW, Nicola?

17 years

How has your role evolved since you first started?

When I first started there were around 10 of us working in the business. We used to all muck in, answering phones and unloading containers along with our day job. There were around 3 containers a year!

How have you seen the company change over the years?

I see this more than most and it’s been an absolute pleasure being part of the growth of the company. The increase in sales, staff, departments and location has been huge.

What do you enjoy the most about working at SDW?

It hasn’t changed, it is still as friendly as if there were 10 people working here, that’s what keeps me enjoying coming to work.

What’s “something different” about you?

I absolutely love a pint or two of Guinness. It’s my favourite drink since I was a teenager, apart from a cup of tea. Oh, and I once drove a 7.5 tonne lorry to move stock from our old warehouse into our current warehouse!

How many years have you worked for SDW, Alison?

15 years. I started in April 2009!

How has your role evolved since you first started?

I started part-time picking and packing orders. As we evolved as a company, I worked through many different roles as and when required. I even tried my hand at book-keeping when Nicola (our Accounts Manager) went away on holiday ... I've not been asked to assist since, possibly not my forte!

How have you seen the company change over the years?

It's changed massively over 15 years. We had no set processes, no defined departments and no rules being such a small team. We picked and packed orders and served customers. We had a cash-and-carry warehouse back then. We've grown from a small company into a professional one, with processes and rules and regulations, all of which we as a team, set up. It's amazing to see how far we've come!

What do you enjoy the most about working at SDW?

The ever-changing, challenging environment, and having the Directors’ faith in me has helped me progress to where I find myself today.

What’s “something different” about you?

I find myself waving middle-age goodbye, embracing my grey hair, or as I like to think, rocking my grey hair, with at the last count, 23 tattoos with no sign of stopping.

I had my fingers tattooed for my 50th birthday. What else does one buy a 50 'odd' year old woman who doesn't need anything?!

How many years have you worked for SDW, Jamie?

This year will be my 14^th year working at Something Different.

How has your role evolved since you first started?

When I first started, I used to pick and pack orders. When we moved warehouses in 2012, I then invoiced orders after they were processed. After that, I went on to uploading products on the website and writing product descriptions. I then (because I love making displays/merchandising) moved on to be our Showroom Co-Ordinator before it closed a few years ago as I love merchandising displays. Now, I am part of the Customer Care and Admin Team.

How have you seen the company change over the years?

When I first started working at Something Different, we were in a much smaller warehouse with roughly 11 people working there. We all used to help each other, including unloading containers. 2 years later, we moved into our current warehouse where I have seen the company grow and grow and we now have 80+ staff!

What do you enjoy the most about working at SDW?

We are lucky to have such hard working and friendly group of staff that actually get along, which can be rare for a growing business.

What’s “something different” about you?

I’m part of an Amateur Dramatics Musical Theatre Group where I attend rehearsals after work twice a week and then put on shows usually twice a year. A large group of staff, managers and Jane our CEO have been to see all of my shows!

How many years have you worked for SDW, Rowan?

11 years in August this year!

How has your role evolved since you first started?

My first job at SDW was working in the dispatch office, creating invoices and shipping labels. I then trained in picking and packing orders. After a few years, I was then in charge of overseeing dispatch and key accounts in the warehouse, before eventually overseeing all transport. During covid, I became a Deputy Shift Supervisor. I then became Logistics Supervisor which includes heading the goods in department, overseeing all “indirect / other” work in the warehouse, as well as overseeing the forklift trucks, and all transport / export related tasks.

How have you seen the company change over the years?

The company has changed in some small ways in my department, but a lot of what makes SDW the way it is, remains the same. The biggest changes I have seen have been around product design and marketing. We used to purchase a lot of generic items and didn’t have a lot of diversity in product ranges. I think having our buying and design team radically changed the nature of the product development, and our Marketing Director, Nia, brought a more professional and experienced vision for marketing to our company. The one thing that hasn’t changed is the shared vision and determination of everyone to make SDW the best it can be, and not just settling for being “good enough or big enough.” I think we have always punched above our weight, going toe to toe with a lot of other big companies when I first joined, and now have not just outgrown a lot of our competitors, but we have become pioneers and trendsetters in our industry.

What do you enjoy the most about working at SDW?

The culture. Jane and Anthony have always made sure that SDW is a place where we are all respected and valued as individuals. I know they take great pride in making sure that SDW is not just a nice place to work, but that the community spirit within the company is just as valuable as commercial success. A lot of companies will have nice rewards and incentives, just like SDW however, I don’t know of any other company where the Directors spend the day prepping and serving food for their staff to show how much they are appreciated. Those kinds of gestures mean a lot to people. Every company likes to talk about creating a nice culture, but SDW have also demonstrated it time and time again.  

What’s “something different” about you?

The exact purple shade used in SDW branding has been my favourite colour since I was a small child.

How many years have you worked for SDW, Rebecca?

Nearly 9 years this year!

How has your role evolved since you first started?

I first started at SDW in 2015 as a Purchasing Assistant supporting with the sourcing of new products. I am now the Buying Manager with responsibility for sourcing and developing all products within the business, working closely with the Design Team to establish the latest trends, developing exciting new and exclusive products for our Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter Seasons, whilst managing our shipments from our supply chain around the world.

How have you seen the company change over the years?

The company has grown significantly since I joined back in 2015, from the number of staff to the number of products. A lot of our products were sourced from trade shows, with us designing and developing a much smaller percentage of the stock we produced. We now design and develop the bulk of our stock from the product itself to the packaging. Our supply chain has also grown alongside the number of containers we import each year.

What do you enjoy the most about working at SDW?

I’d have to say the people I work with and the products we develop. I’m fortunate to work with a fantastic team of talented and dedicated people who are constantly coming up with exciting new product ideas and highlighting emerging trends to the team. We spend a lot of time brainstorming our creative ideas and it’s astonishing the new product ideas we develop year on year.

What’s “something different” about you?

Before joining SDW and working in the Home & Gift industry, my career was in the fashion industry, working as a Fashion Buyer after graduating in Fashion Design. I am also a trained Pattern Cutter and Seamstress and have experience in tailoring, creating a collection of tailored coats and jackets.

How many years have you worked for SDW, Louise?

9 years. Wow!

How has your role evolved since you first started?

My role has changed a huge amount since I started working at SDW. When I first started, I used to design everything you can imagine (our emails, maintaining our website, social media, catalogues, products/packaging). I even turned my hand to sales at our trade shows and picking orders in our warehouse. After a few years, I was lucky enough to focus on what I’m passionate about and that is working closely with our amazing suppliers and designing our products.

How have you seen the company change over the years?

I have seen the company grow significantly since first starting. There were less than 40 employees when I first joined, and the company has now doubled in size to 80 members of staff. The warehouse and office space has also doubled in size too!

What do you enjoy the most about working at SDW?

No two days are different! I love our variety of customers and products.

What’s “something different” about you?

I may look sweet, but I enjoy packing a punch in kickboxing when I’m not working.

How many years have you worked for SDW, Rebecca?

9 years this year!

How has your role evolved since you first started?

When I first started, I was only shooting images on a white background for the website and marketing. Now, I shoot a wide range of content; lifestyle images, 360 images and video content. I originally worked in a very small studio space where everything was shot. Now, we have a much larger studio and I regularly shoot on location.

How have you seen the company change over the years?

The company has grown massively over the time I’ve worked at SDW. When I first started, we could pretty much fit all the office staff in one room, and we had one warehouse space. Now, we have two office spaces full of staff and a second warehouse.

What do you enjoy the most about working at SDW?

Every day is ‘different’ at SDW and that’s what I really enjoy. One day, I could be working on a very dark gothic range, the next I’ll be shooting Christmas! I love the variety and it allows me to be creative.

What’s “something different” about you?

I owned my first camera at 5 years old. I loved to photograph my dolls and stuffed animals. I think I was always meant to be a photographer!

We would like to thank our incredible team and our customers who have been on this journey with us, and we look forward to many more years of shared success and growth.