Irene Melin, inhouse sales and projects at WFI, was the third person to join the business in 2005

When WFI was founded in 2004, the team consisted of Johan and Henrik. Only six months later, on January 1, 2005, Irene Melin became the third person to join the company. And the rest is history. Since then, she has been involved in most things related to the business and thus possesses incredible competence within everything from product range to company structure. Over time, her area of responsibility has become narrower, and her role has evolved from multi-tasker to inhouse sales with focus on projects. But despite that, the 17-year-old history speaks for itself – if there is anyone who knows WFI, it is Irene.

Extensive experience from the industry
Even before Irene became a part of WFI, she had almost ten years of experience working in the industry, from her previous workplace. Competence that came in handy when she became the first one outside the family to be employed at the company. However, her tasks shifted from economy and reception to, among other things, order management and customer support. Initially, Irene’s area of responsibility covered most of the administrative work, something that has narrowed with time as the business has grown and the team has expanded.

– Over the years, I have had the time to be involved in most things! Considering that WFI was still in the start-up phase when I came into the picture, it became natural to work with a little bit of everything. In the beginning, there was a lot of ongoing work with the products, for a period there were more technical questions, and now a few years have been characterized by exports. Since I am a number person, I know the old range quite well, and for a while I was also the office’s living telephone book as I had all the important numbers in my head! Irene begins.

Technical issues, deliveries, and quotation requests
At present, Irene works with inhouse sales with focus on projects, export customers, and customer support. On a typical day, she does everything from manage deliveries, solve technical issues, and receive quotation requests to create new articles and register orders.

– Mainly, my role contains a lot of problem solving, and that is also what I think is the most fun! To have that customer contact and be able to help our customers by answering their questions. Most of my time is thus spent answering emails and talking on the phone. It can be questions about a delayed delivery, a missing part during assembly, or a product that is not working correctly. The technical part has become more and more fun over the years, so it feels extra fun to be able to help the customers with those types of questions, Irene continues.

A familiar workplace
Furthermore, Irene highlights two key factors that have been important for her well-being at WFI since day one – the corporate culture and her colleagues. The culture in such way that it is based on freedom with individual responsibility, and the team as it is familiar, contains a lot of laughter, and always has been built on an open-minded atmosphere.

– Our team is fantastic in every way, but the one I am the closest to is Lotta. We have our offices in the same corridor upstairs and talk a lot with each other through the walls. It works really well as we have a close collaboration and can pick up details on matters that are upcoming, just by hearing the other person’s calls and conversations. I also have a close cooperation with Pontus and the team in the warehouse. I can never say anything bad about our community or cohesion! Irene concludes.

Three fast questions with Irene!

How would you describe WFI as an employer?
–   Open-minded, freedom with responsibility, and familiar! I thought about it before this interview, why have I stayed for over 17 years? Obviously, I thrive quite well! *laughter*

What is your best memory from WFI so far?
–   It must be all the trips we have made together. When we celebrated five years in Ystad, ten years in Berlin, and fifteen years in Barcelona!

What do you prefer to do in your free time?
–   I like to stay active! Everything from spending time with my five grandchildren and renovating our house to dancing to live orchestra, hiking (have hiked in the Alps eight times), and singing in a choir. My husband and I have, among other things, dancing as a common interest, and that was actually how we met for the first time in 2017. So, I have the dance to thank for social events, exercise, and my marriage!