The Insider column introduces the people and places that make up Petunia Pickle Bottom. Click here for past episodes.

Meet Melissa White–Operations Manager Marvel

So just what kind of operations do you manage at Petunia Pickle Bottom?
I oversee the flow of orders, keep track of inventory, deal with department store orders, manage shipping and dabble in some customer service.

What’s the best part about your job?
I’d have to say learning something new every day. Change and growth are all part of the scene here – I’m never bored!

Besides the fascinating world of orders, inventory and shipping, what’s something you’ve always wanted to learn?
I’d love to learn how to play the cello and cook Ethiopian cuisine. It’s my favorite cuisine.

Any good local Ethiopian restaurants you frequent?
Not any in Ventura that I know of. My favorite place to go out in town is probably Westside Cellars for their veggie tacos. It is an upscale place known for its wine, but I love these fancy tacos! If I’m grabbing something quick it has to be Snapper Jack’s Taco Shack. I love their burritos and chicken tacos. Basically it’s all about the fire-roasted salsa.

Mmmm…sounds delish. So you like a little spice in your food. Does that go for your style tastes as well?
I think so. One of my favorite PPB fabrics is the Misty Shanghai – I adore the color combination of the neutrals in white and grey but with the bright pop of yellow. It reminds me of summer. I also love the ethnic stylings of the India Ink fabric – classic, daring, and reminiscent of foreign travels.

Are you a travel lover? What destinations are on your short list?
I’d love to visit Morocco. The country is rich in cultures from many different peoples (European, Moors, Berber) which shows up in their architecture, food, music, and way of life. You can experience rich history and beauty all with modern comforts. I’m planning a trip to go there…someday.

What 5 things did you always have with you?
Burt’s Bees chapstick, sunglasses, cell phone, water, and mint gum. Oh, and my iPod- can I make it my top six?

We’ll let it slide this time…as long as you tell us whose topping your iPod playlists right now.
Sea Wolf, Radiohead, Portishead, and World Lounge. I’m also a big KCRW fan.

Any favorite KCRW programs?
Metropolis for music, This American Life for interesting stories, Good Food to make me hungry!

Ok, now for the serious stuff….Who has the cleanest desk in the office?
Well, that depends on what you mean by clean! Organized or the most space? I always have a mass amount of paper on my desk, which is just part of the job, but I know where everything thing is…does that count?

Hmmm, so you’re trying to win on organized chaos….
Then I would venture to say John’s desk, but Korie probably gives him a run for his money.

The Insider column introduces the people and places that make up Petunia Pickle Bottom. Click here for past episodes.

Meet Kendall McKinley – Master Marketing Coordinator

So what does coordinating marketing really mean?
I work on all marketing related materials and projects. A major focus of mine is trade shows from application to show recap, set-up to breakdown.

What’s the best part about trade shows?
Getting to travel to fun places and meet all the other vendors. I’ve made a lot of good friends with other vendors that I would have never met had I not been at all these trade shows.

Heels or flats when you’re working the trade show floor?
Ohh, toughie. I own more heels than flats but right now I just loving flats. It’s a draw.

Do you have a favorite bag you love to highlight at the trade shows?
My favorite bag is the new Cosmopolitan Carryall in Midnight Blackberry Cake. I love the design of the silhouette. It’s exactly my style and I love the long shoulder straps!

We get a ton of feedback from women who don’t have kids and still use Petunia bags as their go-to purse. Not having kids yourself, what are your tips for how to rock a PPB bag as a non-mom?
The bags rock themselves. They make great purses with all the pockets and ample room. I most recently test wore the Cosmopolitan Carryall for the last trade show and just loved everything about it. The size was perfect, and since it is an actual diaper bag it’s loaded down with pockets galore – a huge plus. I was always able to find my cell phone and my car keys because they each had their very own pocket on the outside of the bag that was easy to access. I also recently discovered that the Boxy Backpack makes a great overnight bag for my puppy when we go out of town.

So the dog has its own PPB bag? Geez, ruff life…..(get it? Ruff?)
Funny. Yes, Mercedes (English Cocker Spaniel) prefers to travel in style with her Trotting in Tiergarten Boxy to carry her necessities. The nature theme is animal-appropriate and the Glazed fabric can stand up to her sharp little nails.

Where did the name Mercedes come from?
She is almost 100% black but with one small circle of white on her chest that looks like the Mercedes car emblem. I personally like to call her “Mercedes Girl” in a high pitched singing tone. She’s so cute! Feel free to post her picture….

Alright…

How about some fill in the blank.

I can make a mean ________ in the kitchen.
Mess…though my tortilla soup is pretty rock’n.

I cannot live without my ___________.
Slip-on tennis shoes! Oh so comfortable and oh so easy to slip right into. Maybe not the most fashionable of shoes but I couldn’t live without them.

My all-time favorite movie is __________.
Zoolander. Hands down. No contest. I do a fierce Blue Steal.

Now if only we had a picture of that…

The Insider column introduces the people and places that make up Petunia Pickle Bottom. Click here for past episodes.

Meet Pepper Grout – Finance Manager/Booking Guru.

So you’re the money lady. Yep—I am the financial hub in charge of accounts receivable, accounts payable, HR/Payroll, commissions, taxes, Worker’s Comp, etc.

Were you good at math as a kid? I started early. I always pretended I was a banker with play money from the Monopoly game, and growing up, my family had a restaurant where I was the cashier. So I got lots of practice.

Accounts payable, receivable, payroll, taxes…how do you keep it all straight? Are you super organized? Martha Stewart-esque filing systems? A great attitude keeps it all straight for me… and I laugh a lot.

Besides getting to sign all those checks, what’s one of the best thing about working at Petunia? Our annual spa day! Just kidding, however the owners are very generous and at the same time they keep it real.

You get to see all the PPB bags come and go through the office—have a favorite bag? Definitely the Cosmopolitan Carryall. Love the line. It reminds me of my grandmother with her big bags and all the stuff she carried with her. My sister and I used to rummage through it for fun and one time we found a pancake in a baggie of all things. It just cracked us up.

Now we’re curious. What’s in your purse? No pancakes I hope… No pancakes, but I always make sure I have lip stuff of some kind, a picture of my husband and a toothbrush! You never know when you’ll need to brush.

You mentioned you were a fan of the new Cake Collection. Which bag from the line sounds the most scrumptious? I’d have to go with Chocolate Cherry. It reminds me of back in the day when Brach’s still made chocolate covered cherries. They were a family favorite on Christmas morning.

Summertime is just around the corner. If you’re not sending bills, writing checks or playing Monopoly, where will we find you when the weather gets nice? Most likely camping and fishing. They call me “Catfish Hunter” although I haven’t actually caught a fish yet. I keep on trying though. Maybe this will be my summer…