NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Meet Stephanie Victor, Marketing and Merchandising at Specialty Store Services

Welcome to EFBC, Stephanie! Can you tell us a little about what you do and how you got to where you are now?

I’ve been at Specialty Store Services for over 30 years. I’ve done a bit of everything. I started in customer service, moved up to call center manager, and eventually transitioned into merchandising and marketing. That’s where I’ve been for the last 20 years. Today, I help design new products, manage pricing, oversee our catalog, and lead website updates. I’m also working on a full website redesign and back-end transition that’s launching soon.

What do you enjoy most about your role now?

I really love designing products and coming up with new ideas for retailers. It’s always a bit of trial and error—sometimes it takes years for a product to really hit—but I enjoy the creative side. I also like attending trade shows, seeing what competitors are doing, and keeping an eye on trends in the industry.

How did you first hear about EFBC?

My brother, Eric, has been a member for over a decade. He’s been encouraging me to join forever, but for a long time, my kids were young and I didn’t feel like it was the right fit. I’m not an owner, just an employee, so I wasn’t sure if EFBC was for me. I also wasn’t ready to step outside my comfort zone.

Now, both of my kids are in college and I realized this is the perfect time to do something for myself. I wanted to push myself a bit, get out of my routine, and start thinking about the next chapter of my life.

What drew you to join?

I’ve always been a bit hesitant to put myself out there, but I felt ready. I went to dinner with my Forum and then attended my first full meeting a couple of weeks ago. Everyone’s been so welcoming and supportive. My Forum is all women, and it’s been great to connect with people who have different perspectives, especially since most of them are owners. It’s a safe space, and I already feel like I can be honest and myself.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I play pickleball, I love walking, and I’ve been trying to figure out my next hobby. I recently became an empty nester—my son just moved downtown and my daughter is spending the summer in Israel—so I have a lot more free time. I’ve always been curious about creative things like pottery or even trying out carpet tufting. I did pottery years ago and really enjoyed it, so I might get back into it. I’m still exploring!

BLOG