A day in the life of... AN INTERIOR & EXTERIOR FURNISHINGS SPECIALIST LUNCH Almost always we have lunch at the office, there is no time to lose!!! Sometimes I need to travel to trade shows, or visit clients that need complex orders such as new builds or large refits, but I am never away from office and family for more than three days. AFTERNOON During the morning we have received orders from suppliers, that need to pass quality control; and after lunch orders to clients need to be perfectly and safely boxed, so our courier can collect all orders at 5pm to be sent worldwide, from Fort Lauderdale, ST Barth, to Monaco, Dubai or Croatia.
GEMMA LLOAN MCCOY GENERAL MANAGER, FIONA’S ATELIER
An important and beautiful part of my time is dedicated to large refits and new builds, and we try to offer our knowledge, helping to choose brands, advising on items not to buy, quantities of items such as towels and bed linen, recommending the right fabrics to use and the ones to avoid. Each client and each yacht is so different but this is one of the challenges I enjoy most.
G
emma left her finance profession when a friend, who had become a professional sailor, explained how poor services to superyachts were in Barcelona. So she started BcN Yacht Services, delivering boxes of fresh fish, potatoes, and whatever was needed; walking the docks day after day, the little business turned in the main yachting agent in Barcelona. After some years of fun stories and tough moments, BcN Yacht Services was sold to BWA Yachting, and Gemma was looking forward to a new adventure. After a masters degree at Harvard, she was ready to launch her dream: a company dedicated to anything needed onboard, from tablecloths to deck towels, from cutlery to guests stationery, from lanterns to leather personalised goods.
DAY BEGINS Fiona’s Atelier office opens at 10am until 19.00, in order to dedicate some time to the American market. My day starts at 7.00 am, and after my never to be missed chocolate croissant, I get my little one year old baby to school. Three or four times a week I do some exercise and then go the office, where Charlie’s Angels (Natalia, Kristiine and Manoli) are running non stop, handling more and more complex orders. START WORK Teamwork is crucial since all of us work together, taking care of presentations and options whether it’s for a purser, owner, chief stewardess or yacht manager. We need to give the best advice all the time to yachts even if they are very different, not only in size, but in style and budget. An important part of my day goes to coordinating suppliers, factories and
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artisans, making sure orders are delivered on time, and ensuring outstanding quality. Spain is the perfect country to base Fiona’s Atelier, since there is a vast and excellent network of artisan products, from leather goods, to linens or embossed paper; and to make the scenario even better, prices are much more competitive than other countries so that has helped us to present attractive solutions to our clients. TYPICAL MORNING To coordinate all our deliveries is a huge challenge we have to face everyday and with the help of our super speedy delivery boy, we get everything ready to ship in one order to each client. I try to answer all emails and requests the same day or maximum the following day, so we split the requests for advice and quotes between the team. In order to be fast and efficient, the whole team needs to be flexible in order to provide our clients with a first class service.
END OF THE WORKING DAY It is rare not to receive an unusual request, and as we never say “I cannot help you,” we dedicate as much time as needed to find the best suppliers in the world that can offer what our client needs. This is a rich and rewarding part of the job. Our suppliers database is invaluable and I am so proud of having established contracts and great conditions from the very best brands worldwide. Negotiating good prices is also challenging but necessary, so our client feels we are competitive and fair. Though the team leaves at 19.00, I stay until 20.30, finishing proposals to clients, talking to other clients and suppliers in the US or placing orders with vendors that were confirmed during the day. A couple of times a week I try to get home at 20.00 so I can bath my baby and give her dinner. Then it’s time for some relaxation and the occasional glass of vino tinto. ONBOARD | AUTUMN 2017 | 105