Anna Agerhall, marketing manager: ”When I first started at WFI, I felt that I had found my way home”

Varied roles within web and e-commerce
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree from her media and communication studies at Jönköping University in 2005, Anna began her career at Thule in Hillerstorp. Although she had thought throughout her studies that she would never work with web, that was exactly where she ended up. After a year, her journey continued at Theofils Beslag in Jönköping, initially as marketing coordinator and finally as marketing manager. And there the next ten years would be spent.

–    Since graduation, I have only been working with web, even though I was all set on becoming a communicator and not move in that direction at all. But it just happened naturally. When I got hired for my second marketing role, I was asked if I am more focused on marketing or technology, and the answer is probably that I have always been somewhere in between, Anna begins. 

–    Considering that this was in 2006, it was early times to start up an e-commerce, there was no marketing department when I started, so everything had to be built from scratch. After ten years at that company, I tried working on the “other side”, as a consultant implementing e-commerce for other businesses. While it was very educational, I quickly felt that I was not in the right place. I thrive more on the customer side where I get the opportunity to be a part of the entire journey, not just a small part of each project, Anna continues.

Start-up of extensive marketing efforts
From consultant as project manager and team leader, to stepping in as marketing manager at WFI. Here, Anna came in under similar circumstances – there was no marketing department, the e-commerce was just at its starting point, and the management had ambitions to invest more in brand building. 

–    That was exactly what attracted me the most, to get in at an early stage and be involved throughout the whole process. The website had just been launched at this stage and our online configurator, which was high on the agenda, became my first major project. I truly felt at home from the start and found my way back to what I think is the most fun, to create flows and being a part of what becomes the whole, Anna says.

Strategic and operational work with internal and external parts 
There is no such thing as an ordinary office day for Anna, as her days vary between both agenda and location. Her work includes both strategic and operational parts, as well as continuous communication with internal and external parties. 

–    No days are really the same, as I do everything from working strategically with our marketing plan, to working hands-on with advertising material, or running around in the warehouse packing props for fairs. It is high and low! But it is the variation and size of the organization that make me thrive as much as I do, we are always close to decisions and have the opportunity to find new ways and keep pushing forward!, Anna concludes. 

Three fast questions with Anna! 

What do you prefer to do in your free time?
–    I spend a lot of time of all different kinds of sports! Our daughter got the whole family into the world of orienteering, so that is something we spend lots of time on together. I never thought I would end up there but now I love it. Then, mostly other activities where our children are engaged, quality time with loves ones, and flea market runs when there is time. 

How would you describe WFI as an employer?
–    A familiar workplace with an employer who always want to be at the forefront.

What is the most fun part of your job? 
–    When marketing efforts can generate sales. It is incredibly fun to see the effects of different projects and what they can give back to the company.