In celebration of Kentwool’s 175th anniversary in business, we thought it would be very fitting (no sock pun here) to interview one of it’s leaders. Introducing Kentwool’s recently promoted President of Performance Apparel, Lauren Hubbard. Now let’s go meet Lauren!
360: How did you start your Kentwool career?
Lauren: I joined the Kentwool team in the spring of 2016. My background is in sports marketing, so on the surface joining a textile company probably seemed like an unusual choice, but Kentwool has a very large presence in the golf market, which is where I got my start as well. As soon as I interviewed, I was taken with the corporate culture here, the entrepreneurial spirit that resonates even in our 175-year old business, and the familial atmosphere. I felt very much at home, and I still do.
360: Also congrats on your recent promotion! Tell us about your new role.
Lauren: Thank you! In my new role, I am responsible for overseeing our Performance Apparel company. The role is multifaceted, which I love, but at its core my objective is simple. We are best known for making premium Merino wool socks, and it is my job to ensure that our team is equipped and empowered to consistently deliver the world’s best socks to the world’s best customers… and to have a lot of fun doing it!
360: Walk us through your day-to-day.
Lauren: This is such a cliché answer, but there is no typical day in my role, and I thrive on that. While the exact structure may change day-to-day, I aim to spend time in the following areas:
1. Talking with our customers. Our customers are our reason – for existing, for thriving and for bettering our services and our products. It’s non-negotiable for me that I dedicate time to interacting with them each day.
2. Checking in with our team. My favorite question to ask is, “how’s it going?” It’s a broad question, allowing my colleagues to drive the conversation. Whatever is most pertinent to them at the moment is what gets mentioned, and that’s very valuable to me.
3. Selling, strategizing and driving growth. This is essential of course, because, well, business! We are the youngest of Kentwool’s three companies, and still feel a bit like a startup in some ways. I enjoy the balance of analytics, collaboration and intuition that go into growing and sustaining our brand and best serving our customers.
4. I shoot for professional reading every day. If I have time, it’s a book, a tea and some creative thinking that I most enjoy. When short on time, which is usually the case, I’ll check out an interesting article instead – 99u.com and Fast Company are favorite sources.
There are plenty of other typical office setting goings-on, too, but if I can spend time daily in each of these four areas, I feel most productive and balanced.
360: What’s your favorite component of working with Kentwool?
Lauren: By far, I love our people – colleagues and customers – the most. Socks can be an afterthought, but they are so impactful in terms of comfort as we go about our lives. We take a lot of pride in producing a superior sock, and the feedback we get is always special. Be it a golfer who walked their first round in years pain-free, a nurse that wrapped up a long shift feeling better than before, or a distance runner who performed and recovered better in Kentwools, knowing our customers are enjoying their work and play more thanks to our product is incredibly rewarding.
360: What’s next for Kentwool? Can you share anything with us in particular?
Lauren: In the very near term, our annual USA Collection launches this month. These red, white and blue socks are patriotic, fan-favorites each year. Looking a little longer term, we’ve got some exciting new product lined up for the Fall. New materials, new colors, new partnerships. We’ve worked with our customers to develop these, and we’re looking forward to sharing more with everyone soon!
360: When you’re not working, what do you love to do most in Greenville? Go!
Lauren: Two things I truly enjoy are food and art, which could be why I’ve fallen so hard for Greenville. You’ll find me cooking with my fiancé, Anthony, exploring the Downtown Farmer’s Market, trying a new restaurant, or returning to an old favorite (like The Anchorage.) We also love local galleries and always reserve First Fridays for date night in The Village of West Greenville.
360: Thank you so much for your time, Lauren! Keep up the great work. We’ll talk again soon!
You can continue follow along with Kentwool across social media on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Or get your own pair of locally made wool socks by visiting their website www.kentwool.com. Happy shopping!
Leave a Reply