I had a little chat with Maureen, who told me about some of her highlights during her time at Janome UK lTD.
Maureen worked in Kendal’s for just over six years, and in April 1984 won a trip visit to Janome in Tokyo. (The photograph above is from Japan, Maureen is in the pink top, with trainers from America, Australia, Canada and New Zealand). These included visits to Janome HQ and factories, but also to Kyoto, (which was once the capital city of Japan), take a trip on the famous Bullet Train, see Mount Fuji, and experience the amazing Japanese culture. She told me of bringing back so many souvenirs that thought she would get stopped at the airport for excess baggage!It was during this time in Kendal’s she was asked to become involved in Exhibitions, including “Daily Mail Ideal Home Exhibition” at Earl’s Court in London. During the years that the company exhibited at the Ideal Home Exhibition, Janome were awarded three of the coveted “Daily Mail Blue Ribbon Awards” for new products which was quite an achievement.
Maureen has continued to be involved in sewing exhibitions ever since, sometimes up to 30 a year, and no matter how busy or demanding they could be they were always a favorite part of her job.
After six years at Kendal’s Maureen was offered the post of Training Supervisor to be based at Janome Head Office. This role was to train the demonstrators, Janome had concessions in department stores all over England, Scotland, and Wales, and also to support Janome independent retailers with training and promotions within their shops.
Maureen, in the middle of this photograph, also set up a training room at Janome Head Office. Machines were advancing so much, especially the computerized ones, and it was this range of machines that customers really wanted help with. The machines had so much to offer but people felt that they were not using them to their full potential and were also a little nervous of them. So with this in mind, Janome decided to offer a one day free tuition course for the top of the range machine, which at that time was the Memory Craft 7000 in 1989. (Today, Janome still offers the one day free tuition course for their Horizon Memory Craft 12000, our top of the range Computerized Sewing and Embroidery Machine).
Maureen was then promoted to Training Manager and responsible for co-ordinating all the different aspects of training and also to coordinate exhibitions and educational programs.Customers loved the sewing classes, and when Janome moved into new premises, a larger training room this enabled the Janome Sewing School to be launched 1992. Experts, such as Alison Smith, Betty Foster MBE, Lynne Edwards MBE, Maureen Whitmore, Terry Fox and many more were involved. Classes were held on Dress Making, Tailoring, Quilting, Home Furnishing, Free Hand Embroidery, Millinery and even Teddy Bear Making.
As sewing machines advanced, customers were calling Janome seeking help and advice about which machine to buy and help with their sewing problems. Customers wanted hints and tips that could help them with their projects, and where to buy certain sewing items they needed. And so the Janome Customer Service Department was established with a dedicated Customer Service Helpline and Maureen moved over to that department as the Customer Service Manager.
Maureen has been involved with many other projects over the years, as the company continued to grow, including helping to produce tutorial videos and DVD’s. She also produced a company Newsletter from 2005 until 2009 (copies of which can still be found on www.janome.co.uk)
This is Maureen last day in the Janome office, and can be seen with Ann White on the left - Customer Service Advisor / Training Co-ordinator, then Elaine Bennett- Customer Service Manager, Maureen and then Peter Barrett - U.K. Service Manager /Software Support.Maureen told me “Over all my years with Janome I have been fortunate to work with a great team, people who are so totally professional and whose support I will always be grateful for. The Regional Sales Managers who are constantly out on the road supporting retailers and customers alike, the Service, Spares and Administration Departments and of course the Training and Customer Service Department. I was also very fortunate in having a great MD who gave me the opportunity to grow within the company during those years and will always be grateful to him for his support both professionally and personally. I will miss them all.”
But it’s not a total goodbye, as I am delighted to say that Maureen has agreed to continue with the company on a freelance basis. She will be joining us at the larger sewing exhibitions around the UK, and we look forward to seeing all her sewing projects now she has all this free time!
