I had the opportunity to interview Melinda Seegers this week. She's better known as "MsLitTown", Department56's Manager of Consumer Services. She makes herself available to answer consumer questions for the company.
* When did you start with D56 and what was your background?
I started at Department 56 in 1989 right here in Consumer Services. Believe it or not, my background is in education. I am a former junior high school teacher. I have always been interested in the history of things so I thoroughly enjoyed researching the history and architecture of the Villages and Snowbabies.
* What was the most successful new product introduction to date?
This is tough, but the most exciting introduction I've seen was probably when we introduced the North Pole Series in 1990. It was great fun to be part of a completely new Village series that interested so many people.
* You've answered a lot of questions for D56. I'd like to ask you what YOU collect?
A little of many different lines -- I have some Snowbabies, Christmas in the City, New England Village and Snow Village. I don't do a big display but prefer to put small vignettes in key places in my home. This allows me to buy just what I like. I have also collected a great many of our beautiful ornaments.
* Do you interface with other D56 staffers regularly?
Believe it or not, we are not a very big company (around 100 people in this building) -- yes, I work with Marketing, Product Development, Sales, Web Development, Creative and Customer Care on a regular basis.
* Describe the process for submitting ideas to D56 - when I suggest something, what happens to that idea and how does it flow through the company?
We keep a log of all suggestions that come through our department -- whether it be by phone, email, letter or in person. We regularly meet with Creative and Product Development to pass on all ideas. The Creative and Product Development teams sort through the suggestions, look at the feasibility of producing it, access the number of requests, and contemplate the licensing challenges. They keep lists of possibilities which changes regularly. Once the list for the upcoming season is narrowed down there is research, rough sketches, paper models, sculpting and painting and re-painting the samples.
* What's the biggest change day-to-day since the Lenox operation?
Getting used to seeing the new Logo. Other than that, my department continues to operate much in the same way it always has.
* Can you give me some scoop, some spoilers of what's to come, something exciting?
I can't divulge any confidential information that I am privy to at this time. It's hard not to tell all the exciting new things that I know about in the planning stages. Without telling secrets -- I'm pretty excited about the 25th anniversary of the Dickens' Village next year and the 100th anniversary of Robert Peary's conquest of the North Pole (1909) as it will affect the Snowbabies.
* When did you start with D56 and what was your background?
I started at Department 56 in 1989 right here in Consumer Services. Believe it or not, my background is in education. I am a former junior high school teacher. I have always been interested in the history of things so I thoroughly enjoyed researching the history and architecture of the Villages and Snowbabies.
* What was the most successful new product introduction to date?
This is tough, but the most exciting introduction I've seen was probably when we introduced the North Pole Series in 1990. It was great fun to be part of a completely new Village series that interested so many people.
* You've answered a lot of questions for D56. I'd like to ask you what YOU collect?
A little of many different lines -- I have some Snowbabies, Christmas in the City, New England Village and Snow Village. I don't do a big display but prefer to put small vignettes in key places in my home. This allows me to buy just what I like. I have also collected a great many of our beautiful ornaments.
* Do you interface with other D56 staffers regularly?
Believe it or not, we are not a very big company (around 100 people in this building) -- yes, I work with Marketing, Product Development, Sales, Web Development, Creative and Customer Care on a regular basis.
* Describe the process for submitting ideas to D56 - when I suggest something, what happens to that idea and how does it flow through the company?
We keep a log of all suggestions that come through our department -- whether it be by phone, email, letter or in person. We regularly meet with Creative and Product Development to pass on all ideas. The Creative and Product Development teams sort through the suggestions, look at the feasibility of producing it, access the number of requests, and contemplate the licensing challenges. They keep lists of possibilities which changes regularly. Once the list for the upcoming season is narrowed down there is research, rough sketches, paper models, sculpting and painting and re-painting the samples.
* What's the biggest change day-to-day since the Lenox operation?
Getting used to seeing the new Logo. Other than that, my department continues to operate much in the same way it always has.
* Can you give me some scoop, some spoilers of what's to come, something exciting?
I can't divulge any confidential information that I am privy to at this time. It's hard not to tell all the exciting new things that I know about in the planning stages. Without telling secrets -- I'm pretty excited about the 25th anniversary of the Dickens' Village next year and the 100th anniversary of Robert Peary's conquest of the North Pole (1909) as it will affect the Snowbabies.
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