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Her job as an independent coordinator for Weekenders Fashion seems almost tailor made for Lynne Glata. A Home Economics teacher for most of her working life, Lynne’s specialty was clothing construction. When she retired from teaching and moved to the Okanagan in 2001, she wasn’t interested in going back to teaching home economics, but she was looking for a way to fill up some of her increased spare time.
It was during this time that Lynne was introduced to a Weekenders Fashion coordinator in Penticton, a woman who was going to be moving away from the area, and was looking for someone who could step into the position. After some investigation into the company and gauging whether people she knew would be interested in buying the products, Lynne made the decision to embark on this venture. With her background in clothing construction and a lifelong interest in ladies’ fashion, Lynne decided to take the leap even though she had no experience in sales.
Lynne was drawn to Weekenders Fashions for a number of reasons; the first being the high quality of the clothing line. “I’ve always had an interest in ladies’ fashion and sewing. Clothing construction was my area of expertise, so I know what quality construction is about,” she says. “The company has been around for 25 years, and it’s really known for quality among its customers. I often hear people say they bought an item 10 years ago, and it still looks brand new.”
Lynne also likes that the clothes are very comfortable, and describes them as ‘clothes you can live in’. Moreover; Weekenders’ mix and match approach is a philosophy she herself has always espoused. “Colors are sometimes carried forward from one season to the next, so you can add to your wardrobe over time. The company also tries to add new pieces such as the new Joy line that appeals to younger women & those young at heart”.
Aside from her belief in the product, Lynne was also drawn to the structure of the company. She was impressed with how inviting and helpful everyone in the company was, and how supportive the company and other coordinators were in helping her get started. “You can work with other coordinators, and it’s not so competitive that people are stealing each other’s customers. There’s a friendliness there. People will offer suggestions to help you boost your sales. People share what works and what doesn’t.”
Lynne likes to bill herself as “the store that comes to you”, and offers home parties as well as private consultations. She explains that a home party needn’t be a large gathering: “Some get intimidated if they think they have to invite a lot of people, but it can be a small number. And I provide everything: the clothes, the full-length mirror, etc. I also wear the fashions and get the hostess to wear them too.”
The personal interaction with her customers – be it at home parties or private consultations – is Lynne’s favorite part of her job. She particularly enjoys helping her clients make choices that will enhance their appearance, feel good, and fit into their existing wardrobe. Being able to work with a broad range of women is just an added bonus. “This job gives me an opportunity to meet people I’d never otherwise meet,” she says. “In schools, you meet others, but they’re all in the same business – teaching. Now I get to meet all kinds of people of different ages, from different backgrounds, with different interests. There’s a lot more variety.”
The flexibility of being an independent coordinator also appeals to Lynne. She is free to work to the degree that she wants, and can have a flexible work day. This flexibility also means she can work with other people’s schedules and still have time to do other things she enjoys.
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