20 years is a huge milestone for a business. Our CEO started the company in his garage, now two decades, 70 team members and 3 warehouse moves later, it’s safe to say we’ve come a long way!
Behind every great business, there is a team of hardworking and loyal individuals that have built it up over the years to the business you know today. And, in this edit, you’ll get the pleasure of meeting a selection of them…
We’ll be taking a trip down memory lane, looking back at the longstanding staff members, best memories, their proudest moments here. All key milestones which helped shape them as people and Escentual into the business you see now, 20 years on.
Keen to meet a few of the long-standing team members that made this happen? Here they are…
Rakesh, CEO
How much has it changed since you started?
“In lots of ways nothing has changed, we are still a family business that is deeply grateful and humbled by the trust each and everyone one of customers places with us. We have the most amazing group of people with a few more over the years; each and every one of them both contributing and defining what Escentual is, moving us forward, sharing our story and achieving our mission of being the top premier beauty destination. All helping to curate and inform the world on the best in beauty.”
What’s your best memory of Escentual?
“Every day is amazing, we are constantly improving, getting better at meeting the needs of our audience, customers, partners and team, achieving above and beyond all our hopes and aspirations. Every evening I leave happy that we have all done the very best we can.”
What’s your proudest achievement whilst working at Escentual?
“The ability on occasion to make somebody smile, be it a customer searching for a long lost fragrance for their wedding anniversary, to a new team member that has proudly achieved something new, or a working with a supplier to jointly tell their story to our audience.”
Matthew, Operations Director
How much has it changed since you started?
“I’ve worked for Escentual for over 13 years, I started working in the warehouse covering a shift for a friend – Graham Carr – when there were only about eight employees. The business has changed so much over the years from a new start-up feeling operation, with a very small team, not many orders and very basic systems and set up. We had limited heating (it was freezing in winters and like a greenhouse in the summertime), there were no product locations (we just had to memorise where all the stock was!), all the shipments were done manually and payments were captured manually at the end of the day. Now there are over 70 people with air-conditioned offices, a large new and clean warehouse with much more automation in the processes.”
What’s your best memory of Escentual?
“My best memories are when everyone pulls together to make sure every order gets shipped, no matter. I remember the times where members of the team worked 30 days straight over Christmas including 18-hour days just to make sure we didn’t let customers down – that close-knit team feeling is hard to beat.”
What’s your proudest achievement whilst working at Escentual?
“My proudest achievement isn’t just my own, it is seeing how much the company has grown and changed from when I started to where we are now and feeling part of the team that helped make that happen. It makes all of the hard work feel worth it.”
Nigel, Warehouse Operative
How much has it changed since you started?
“I’ve worked at Escentual for 12 years. Since I’ve been here It’s changed dramatically, going from the old warehouse to the new warehouse. The amount of stock is the main difference, there are bigger quantities. The old building was single-storey, always freezing cold in the winter and boiling in summer. The new one is a lot bigger and is a good temperature – unless you’re working at the back of the warehouse!”
What’s your best memory of Escentual?
“One of my best memories is pizza Friday. Some Fridays when we would have a meeting, Rakesh would bring pizza to share – I miss those days, now we’re all trying to be healthy!
Another funny memory has to be when we dressed up as Santas for the Christmas party. And this wasn’t by choice, you had to wear one – no excuses! We went for a pub lunch dressed up and the looks that we got were so funny.”
What’s your proudest achievement whilst working at Escentual?
“Working with the pharmacy, when I go out to deliver the patients’ their medications. Over time you get to know them, it’s all a part of the charm of the job! I find it so rewarding because I enjoy helping them because I know there’s no way they’d be able to do this themselves.”
Alan, Digital Director
How much has it changed since you started?
“I’ve been working at Escentual for 11 years, since February 2009 to be exact! I originally started in the warehouse in Christmas of 2006 to earn money while completing my computer science degree, and then returned in 2009. It’s safe to say, we’ve grown a lot since then. I remember when I started there were about eleven employees and now we have over 70! The biggest change? The people; it’s been amazing to see people grow, both with the business and in their future endeavours.”
What’s your best memory of Escentual?
“It’s hard to choose just one because I have so many. But If I had to, it would be when we moved to the bigger premises. Walking around the building for the first time and getting it ready for the move in, taking down the shelves and setting up the equipment together. It was an exciting feeling and that we had accomplished something as a team and that sense of achievement and growth is hard to forget.”
What’s your proudest achievement whilst working at Escentual?
“Hitting our first 1 million in revenue on Google Adwords, while beating the 10 to 1 ROI target, has to be one of my proudest achievements.
On a more serious note, it’ll be my contributions to office culture, which include the introduction and winning of the inaugural chair race, the “invention” of the pizza sandwich and the hard to believe feedback from my incredible CD mixes!”
Richard, Merchandise Manager
How much has it changed since you started?
“I started working at Escentual in 2011. The company has changed massively since then. Over the years it’s been cool to see the long term staff grow into real characters around the office and everyone’s personal growth too. I’ve especially loved watching the entire business change over time!”
What’s your best memory of Escentual?
“Moving to a new office because it felt a monumental step in the company. Everyone pitched in and helped out no matter what their position and that’s something that is still part of our work culture today. From time to time, CEO Rakesh packs parcels, warehouse and office staff all help out when the warehouse becomes too busy – everyone always gets involved! And, that’s something I love about working here; working at Escentual feels like one big family that helps each other.”
What’s your proudest achievement whilst working at Escentual?
“My proudest achievement is watching my team grow as people in both their personal and professional lives. A close second has to be when Rakesh offered me the job after only signing onto a temporary three-month contract.”
Pat, Customer Service Supervisor
How much has it changed since you started?
“I have worked for Escentual for eight years, I started as a temporary gift wrapper for the Christmas period. When I started we were based in Byron Street, it was very small, but the atmosphere was great.”
What’s your best memory of Escentual?
“My best memories at Escentual are of the friends that I have made along the way, some have left but we have always kept in touch. Also when Rakesh’s son, Hari was small he used to sit with me at the gift wrap desk and share my mini cheddars, I always made sure that I kept a good supply!”
What’s your proudest achievement whilst working at Escentual?
“My proudest achievement is when Matt offered me the customer service role, everybody (especially my great friend Nikk) was very kind and patient whilst I was learning.
Lastly and most importantly I want to thank Rakesh for employing me and for being the best boss I could wish for.”
Nikki, Customer Service Supervisor
How much has it changed since you started?
“I’ve been with the company for 7(ish!) years, I started in the role of customer service advisor whilst the business was still at the old premises at Byron Street, we were a much smaller team back then but still as uber efficient. If I had to guess I’d say there were around 20-25 employees in the business from the warehouse to the CEO.”
What’s your best memory of Escentual?
“Honestly there are so many I could never narrow the list down enough! Some of my fondest memories are Christmas jumper days, always our Christmas party (cue a festive food fight and a magical night in a castle) but the best memories by far come from the friends I’ve made for life, more like family.”
What’s your proudest achievement whilst working at Escentual?
“Amongst again a very long list of proud moments, I’m very much a career woman and I’d like to think that from the day I started I’ve been on an amazing (and ongoing) adventure that I would now call my career. I’ve gained my very best friend Pat, a promotion to customer service supervisor and I’ve had some great opportunities such as training with the Fragrance Foundation to become a bona fide fragrance specialist, we’ve trained with brilliant brands and gained so much knowledge. I’ll forever be grateful for my Escentual family. Thank you Rakesh for taking a chance on me all those years ago; Happy birthday Escentual!”
Jamie, Warehouse Operative
How much has it changed since you started?
“I started Easter – 2015. When I started there were no managers and now there are several supervisors – there’s more structure now.”
What’s your best memory of Escentual?
“I have so many at work every day, it just merges into one. I don’t know about best, but one of my most memorable moments was when I first started. I picked up a box in good-ins (where the deliveries arrive) and it gave way at the bottom and it was full of designer men’s fragrances and they fell over the floor. I was mortified at the time, but now looking back I have to laugh. Being a beginner, it seemed typical for something like that to happen!”
What’s your proudest achievement whilst working at Escentual?
“To always keep learning new areas of the warehouse. Over the years I have been able to pass on my skills to new team members in training and it has been extremely rewarding; I’ve seen some of them move on to be supervisors which
Ceryn, Communications and Campaigns Editor
How much has it changed since you started?
“I started working at Escentual in 2015. I had only finished university the year prior, so I was delighted to land my dream job. Everything about Escentual was much smaller than, including the brand line-up, and the team. We all worked very closely together, which is something we still do to this day, despite being spread across a 38,000 square ft office.”
What’s your best memory of Escentual?
“There are too many incredible memories, to name just one. A feeling I will never forget, however, is the joy I feel after a new brand launches at Escentual. The team puts so much into choosing the right brand partners and activating them with our infamous takeovers. Each new brand adds to our story, and growth, plus, the beauty lover inside me screams every time.”
What’s your proudest achievement whilst working at Escentual?
“Again, how can I name one? Over the last five years, there have been so many highs! First and foremost, I am proud of our team; it’s like one big family at Escentual, everyone pulls together, always.
A few other standouts are our countless awards; I think Chelsey, Emma (our previous Editor), and I didn’t stop smiling for weeks after winning the Most Engaging Beauty Brand back, or when we were nominated for Jasmine Awards. There have also been a lot of pivotal PR moments for Escentual that I’m proud to be a part of; every news broadcast, blogger shoutout, magazine mention still excites me to this day. I’m passionate about making sure everyone knows about Escentual!”
Chelsey, Communications and Campaigns Manager
How much has it changed since you started?
5 and a half years ago I got the call to say I got the job as a Social Media Assistant at Escentual; my world stopped for a moment as there were over 100 applicants. Escentual Emma was always one of my biggest aspirations, I couldn’t believe I got a space on her team of 3! Fast-forward to now, and the baton has been passed to me. I now manage 6 incredibly talented individuals and we’re on a mission to challenge the beauty norms – I still pinch myself as I’ve got big shoes to fill, but I’m up for the challenge!
What’s your best memory of Escentual?
Not a day goes past where I don’t count my lucky stars. I will never forget how much I wanted this job. Whether it’s one of the customers from back when I was a social assistant checking in with me and sending me pictures of their family; to hearing YSL call us their favourite content partner in a strategy meeting. Every time I see my face in our Beauty Edit email, I still have to do a double-take; I still can’t believe my article, Emojin That got shortlisted for a Jasmine Award!
On a side note, the most memorable event (I struggle to talk about it without covering my eyes, but as we’re sharing) was back when I first joined, I did the worst typo that got caught and shared across social media. Many laughed, I crumbled. It’s something I’ll never forget – but we’re all human after all.
What’s your proudest achievement whilst working at Escentual?
Looking back, I’d have to say my personal growth journey. Not a day goes past where I don’t count my lucky stars. I will never forget how much I wanted this job.
I’ve had some incredible mentors, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support and guidance from all of the team at Escentual.
Discover More:
https://www.escentual.com/blog/2020/11/02/20-bestsellers-at-escentual/
