third key holder

Third key holders collaborate with managers to keep both the store and stockroom running smoothly, and in the absence of managers, they step up to guide the team. For the creative-minded among us, there is also the role of the visual third key holder, and everything you see when you enter one of our stores is what they help maintain. They bring our brand to life by overseeing the visual merchandising, setup and marketing directives in the store. No matter their specialty, all of our third key holders are emerging leaders, and we rely on them to create a customer-friendly environment while supporting daily operations and their teams.

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nafsika

Third Key Holder
Years at Ardene: 5



Favorite quote: “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough” -Mae West

The last book you read: The Hobbit

Your hobbies: Painting, playing cards (Scopa) and making Tik Toks

Favorite band: Backstreet Boys

Favorite food: Sushi and spicy Doritos

Style icon: Audrey Hepburn and Cher

Hidden talents: I am trained in special effects makeup!

Ideal vacation: Greece

Q. What's a typical day at work for you?

A. Depending on the day, I either organize the clothes for the week or install new walls and window displays. I also integrate new stock with our existing inventory on tables and racks, and I fill out online orders to be shipped out to customers.

Q. How has your role evolved since starting at Ardene?

A. I started out as a seasonal part-time employee and became permanent after the summer. I became Third Key Holder, Visual in 2018 and still continue in this role while attending school at the same time.

Q. What accomplishment are you most proud of?

A. During my time at Ardene, I've been given opportunities to train other members of management regarding the visual aspect of the store. I have also been able to help open new stores such as the St. Catherine location and Centre Laval, which I'm very proud to have been part of.

Q. What challenges have you overcome in your career, and what did you learn from them?

A. When I first started working, I was more on the shy side and kept to myself. Within a few months however, I had built strong relationships with my coworkers, and now I consider them my best friends. Overall, my shyness was the biggest challenge in order for me to further evolve within the company.

Q. What advice would you give to someone starting a career in your field?

A. Have fun with it and it is okay to ask questions when you are not sure of something. Your coworkers are there to help you succeed, so there is nothing to feel ashamed about when asking for help.

Q. What is your favorite Ardene memory?

A. I remember first launching the Kendall & Kylie collection. It was the first time I had to create a display the night before, since the whole collection was supposed to drop at once. The day of the launch, everyone was so excited to see the new collection and the visual setup I created. It felt great!

Q. Do you have a mentor or someone you look up to at work?

A. My manager, Camille. She always comes to work with a positive attitude and she's always there for me and my coworkers. When she first started, she really pushed me and let my creativity run free, because she believed I was capable. If I am really struggling with a task, she has multiple options readily available to help me out. She is honestly the best manager I have had during my career, and her work ethic and drive are things I aspire to achieve.

philip

Third Key Holder
Years at Ardene: 9



Favorite quote: "If you want it for real, you have to do it for real”

Favorite food: Asian Cuisine. My favorites are bistek tagalog, sushi, ramen and butter chicken

Favorite movie: The Matrix

Role model / style icon: My best friends are my role models and I am the style icon!

Hidden talents: I have a really good memory

Something you can't live without: Books

Q. How has your role evolved since starting at Ardene?

A. I’ve worked in many different Ardene settings; from the head office and shipping, to opening and closing stores, and working in stores. I would say I’ve always done similar work across the board, yet each time with more experience. I am much more confident in my abilities than ever before, and I have learned a lot from many people I’ve worked with.

Q. What's your favorite part of working at Ardene?

A. Developing bonds with my team and coworkers. I’ve met a lot of great people at Ardene, who in turn created a lot of good memories. I learned a lot in the workplace; not just about work ethic but about people and the different walks of life we all come from. The people I’ve worked with taught me a lot about life and myself in many ways. It has been both a humbling and a therapeutic experience.

Q. What accomplishment are you most proud of?

A. I'm proud of constantly working harder and smarter for myself despite setbacks I've had to deal with. Some days are tougher than others, but it’s all about staying confident in your abilities and staying motivated - one day at a time.

Q. What advice would you give to someone starting a career in your field?

A. Keep an open mind, always be ready to learn, don’t judge and most importantly, listen.

Q. Do you have a mentor or someone you look up to at work?

A. I could easily write a thousand words on the people who have either inspired me, motivated me, or earned a lot of respect from me over the years. Currently, my colleague Valerie is someone I always look forward to working with. She inspires me, she works incredibly hard and is really smart. We make a good team because we motivate each other even if the going gets tough, in both life and work. We’ve both been through a lot since the beginning of 2020, and we’ve supported each other to keep our heads up and maintain a positive ambiance to continue to produce results!


gabrielle

Third Key Holder
Years at Ardene: 2.5



Favorite quote: "You only live once"

The last book you read: Before, The After Series

Hobbies: Nature walks, shopping and seeing my friends

Favorite musician: Justin Bieber

Favorite meal: Poutine

Favorite movie: Fast and Furious

Your ideal trip: Los Angeles

Q. Describe a typical day at work.

A. I usually start my shift by getting my tasks for the day from my leader. I then follow through on them while serving the customers until the end of my shift. If I'm the one in charge of closing the store, an hour before closing, I tell the team to complete their tasks for the day and we clean and prepare the store to close.

Q. Describe how your role has evolved since you joined Ardene.

A. When I first joined the company, I was a sales associate. I was mostly doing small projects and customer service, but my role at Ardene really evolved when I got the third key position. I am now involved in managing the team, so my contributions in the company and responsibilities are greater.

Q. What do you like most about working at Ardene?

A. What I like most about working at Ardene are the bonds that we create between colleagues; we have become like a little family. I also like the fact that you always have something to do, but that the tasks are different for each day of the week. We don't do the same thing every day.

Q. What are you most proud of?

A. My proudest accomplishment is definitely getting the third key position on the team. With this position, I definitely do some management, and I have become a bit of a key team player. For example, if one of my colleagues faces a customer service challenge, I'm the one they'll come to for help, so it's allowed me to develop my sense of responsibility and to evolve professionally. I'm proud of that.

Q. What challenges have you overcome in your career and what have you learned?

A. I would say that my shyness was the biggest challenge I had to overcome, because when I started at Ardene, I was really shy, and I was even nervous to approach customers. Over time, I learned to trust myself, and by observing how my colleagues created a great customer experience, I learned to do the same.

Q. What is your favorite memory at Ardene?

A. Boxing Day. It's one of the only days in the year that all the team members are there, so before we open, we always have a little pizza lunch together. It's really fun and even though it's a big day, there's always a great atmosphere.

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