A “Day in the Life” at a Marketing Agency
Here’s a glimpse at what goes on behind-the-scenes at E Group, an incentive, loyalty, and promotional marketing agency in downtown Minneapolis.
Here’s a glimpse at what goes on behind-the-scenes at E Group, an incentive, loyalty, and promotional marketing agency in downtown Minneapolis. Our Account Management, IT, Sourcing, and Warehouse departments strive to serve our clients’ unique technology and marketing needs through the best program possible. From concept creation to product fulfillment, we all work together to move people to action!
Account Management
E Group relies on our account managers to propose ideas, develop strategy, and drive change. Our team is diverse, with a wealth of knowledge from an assortment of industries. Each team member provides different perspectives and expertise. They unite in their passion for building relationships with clients and helping them grow their businesses. We spoke with Judy to learn a little more.
What does a typical day look like?
“Every day varies; however, we are always interacting with people whether it is connecting with clients to support their unique needs or an internal team such as Sales or Client and Member Services to ideate and problem solve.”
What do you love about your job?
“I love the variety. The clients I work with span countless industries from sports, to manufacturing, to retail. I am always learning because each new project provides different situations, challenges, goals, and audiences.”
What are the most challenging projects?
“The ones that are like onions. At first glance, they appear to be a simple task; however, as you dig further into the project you unpeel additional layers to the situation.”
Describe the Account Management Department in one word or phrase?
"Dynamic!"
IT
E Group depends on our IT professionals to create innovative digital platforms including interactive loyalty and rewards websites, multifaceted e-stores, and convenient apps. Our IT team’s extensive skillset is integral to our daily operation and long-term client goals. We enlisted Connor to take a few minutes out of his busy day and answer some questions for us.
What does a typical day look like?
“I tackle ongoing design, development, and data integration projects while fielding any smaller, more immediate requests for digital platform improvements that are directed my way from our clients or E Group’s Account Managers.”
What do you love about your job?
“I love solving problems using technology and helping take someone’s idea and turning it into something they can see and use.”
What are the most challenging projects?
“For me, the most challenging projects are the ones that are heavily data driven. Sometimes I’m thrown a lot of data and trying to work with and decipher it can be a bit of a bear. These projects also tend to be the most rewarding because in the end, I’ve usually helped someone or solved a problem.”
Describe the IT Department in one word or phrase?
“Innovative! Or to quote Tim, another member of the IT team, ‘Nothing is easy.’”
Sourcing
Armed with catalogs, coffee, and an eye for creativity, E Group’s sourcing specialists make our clients shine by providing unparalleled merchandising support. From trendy to traditional items, our Sourcing Department’s team members will curate the perfect collection of personalized product to build valuable brand awareness. We sat down with Linda, Lauren, and Aili to discuss their roles.
What does a typical day look like?
“Serving the customer always comes first, so we check up on our client work and cater to any needs that they have in the morning. Then we generate ideas, handle rush orders as they come up, and go through all the logistics involved with making sure clients get everything they want on time.”
How does the Sourcing Department help set E Group apart?
“We help save our customers time because they can call us and we will generate ideas for their needs while considering event themes, audience, and project relevance. It also allows us to offer a distinctly personalized experience for our clients. They often have a vision but can’t narrow down products, we find what they are looking for and provide cost savings in the process.”
How has this job changed since you started working at E Group?
“The industry has changed in terms of shipping turnarounds. Even as recent as five years ago, 24-hour shipping was extremely difficult and expensive, now it’s expected in some cases. We also see higher quality products available on the market. Color printing has become cheaper over the years, which is ideal for our clients. It’s fun to see how many trends come back in style.”
Describe the Sourcing Department in one word or phrase?
“Creative”
Warehouse
Pull, Package, Ship, Repeat! E Group’s warehouse team members excel at an array of crucial functions, including receiving and processing incoming merchandise as well as fulfilling and shipping orders. We took a field trip from our office to our warehouse, both located in downtown Minneapolis, to chat with Dave and Chris.
What does a typical day look like?
“We begin by handling all the daily orders from our e-stores and we prioritize based on the deadlines. After fulfilling client orders, we work on receiving shipments that come in, which can sometimes include huge truckloads of products. After those are complete, we work on backorders and inventory counts.”
How does the Warehouse Department help set E Group apart?
“The warehouse space allows us to accommodate incentive programs of all shapes and sizes. The company’s ability to fulfill orders on its own permits E Group flexibility and eliminates a lot of time-consuming middle man operations. It also lets us store product samples so we always have them on hand for clients.”
What do you love about your job?
“I love that we can tune into our favorite radio station while we work! We make a wonderful team, probably because we have been friends for 20+ years, and our hard work translates to happy clients.”
Describe the Warehouse Department in one word or phrase?
“Efficient!”
