Peerless Umbrella, Newark, N.J., announced the addition Kathy Scanlan, former customer service manager for the recently closed Rainkist Umbrella.
“We are all friends and family in this industry, so it’s always sad to see any business, even one we consider a competitor, have to close their doors,” said Dan Edge, director of sales for North America for Peerless. “We’re fortunate to have Kathy with us here at Peerless now, and [are] thankful for her experience. She brings with her a depth of understanding about umbrellas, customer service and more. And, we really appreciate the fact that she was so easy to train. She understands the industry well, is so incredibly friendly and positive, and is already up and running!”
Scanlan was a communications major in college, and entered the promotional products industry in 1995, eventually working her way into management for Vantage Apparel. She moved to Rainkist in 2011 as the customer service manager, and spent her time building relationships and helping clients.
“People have new projects they are excited about, and we have a really unique opportunity to help them in really creative ways,” Scanlon said when asked about what she loves about working in the industry, especially working for umbrella companies. “As for umbrellas, they are fun! People sometimes don’t realize all the ways umbrellas can be used in promotions. People often ask, ‘Who buys umbrellas?’ The answer is a lot of different people! It might sound silly, but it really is neat to show them what’s possible and watch them get excited about the project. Every day truly is something new.”
For more information on Peerless Umbrella Co., visit www.peerlessumbrella.com.
