From left to right: Ashley S., Lauren B., Rebecca S., Sam S., Samantha E.

On the guest list:

Ashley S. | International Design Specialist
Wedding date: August 31, 2013
“I chose the Small Colorblock Tote. I actually ordered each a different pattern monogrammed with their initials and I’m going to do a wedding emergency kit and maybe a mini bottle of champagne.”

Lauren B. | Product Development Administrative Assistant
Wedding date: I just got engaged, but we’re thinking April 12, 2014.
“The gift I chose is the little Kisslock Manicure Set. I just think it is really cute and the perfect thing to throw in your purse.”

Samantha “Sam” S. | Web Project Coordinator
Wedding date: August 2, 2014
“I chose the 2014 Agenda. We are so far out that I wanted to give something to all of my bridesmaids to remember when their dress fittings and other important events are.”

Samantha E. | Merchandise Planner
Wedding date: December 27, 2013
“I chose the Bangle Set. My colors are Tiffany and Co.® blue and red, so I’m hoping the Plum Crazy will match with the blue.”

Rebecca S. | Marketing Coordinator
Wedding date: June 6, 2013
“I chose the Seashore Tote because I am doing a destination wedding in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. I thought it was a cute for them to take to the pool or beach.”

Q. So, how did he propose?

Lauren: Mine’s pretty funny. I’m from North Carolina, and we went to Wilmington – right along the coast – where our first date happened. We were walking along the beach and all of the sudden he said, “Oh look at this shell!” Well, it was an abalone shell, which we had talked about on the way down. They are only found in California, which is where my fiance is from, and I was like, “Wait, aren’t these only in California?” And he said, “Yeah, that’s really weird, let’s dig around in the sand … “ Finally I was like okay, whatever, and did it just for fun. I was digging around in the sand and felt this glass bottle. I pulled it out, and there was a little scroll in the bottle with the ring around it; a little message in a bottle. And then he got down on one knee!
Sam: Mine is definitely not that great! We had gone out to dinner on the anniversary of the first time he told me he loved me at the restaurant where he did it. But he chickened out proposing there! He had actually said it in the parking lot, so when we went out I thought he was going to propose then but it had been raining, so he didn’t want to get down on one knee. So we went back to our apartment and he proposed there. And our dog was barking because we weren’t paying attention to him. It was really representative of us, so it was really kind of perfect.
Samantha: So mine is not as great either …
Rebecca: We should have ended with you, Lauren!
Samantha: My fiance is not romantic whatsoever, which is okay! We’ve actually been engaged for almost 3 years. We were home from college for Christmas and going to dinner for our 8-year anniversary. Every year I’d ask, “Can we go to the Christmas lights at the zoo?” And he never wanted to. This year, he wanted to go! So we went to dinner and the zoo lights afterwards and we were just walking around and I had no idea. He stopped and took his cell phone out and was taking pictures. I remember thinking, “I’m freezing? What are you doing?” I turned around and he was staring at me with the biggest eyes – like a deer in headlights – and that’s when he got down on one knee and I started crying.
Rebecca: We got engaged about a year ago, and were actually in Maui for our best friends’ wedding. He knew he wanted to propose there, so everyone knew and they were in on it. His plan was to go to Haleakala, a dormant volcano in Maui, and if you get there really early, you can watch the sunrise over the clouds. His plan was to go the first day, but I guess he tried to wake me up and I just didn’t get up! That whole day – everyone had expected it to happen – he was praying no one was going to say anything. The next day, we got up and it was dark outside and we drove up the mountains – it takes hours – and it was freezing. He asked this other couple to take pictures of us. So while this guy was taking pictures of us, he got down on one knee and we have pictures of it.
Ashley: Mine is not so glamorous. I was running The Twin Cities Marathon, and my brother and sister-in-law live there, so we had family at the race. I crossed the finish line and that’s when I qualified for Boston. He proposed at the finish line, so it was a very emotional day!
Lauren: It’s so fitting for you!
Ashley: Yeah, you know I thought a lot of girls probably wouldn’t have liked that but that was a good idea!

Q. What is your color scheme?

Rebecca: It’s kind of a peach – light peachy – and ivory.
Lauren: That will be perfect for a destination wedding!
Rebecca: Yeah, and our ceremony will be at sunset, so I thought it would look really pretty.
Samantha: I’m doing Tiffany & Co.® blue – one of my favorite colors – and red.
Sam: I change my mind every week I think.
Lauren: I haven’t really chosen any yet, but I’m thinking mint and coral since we’d love to do it on the beach, too. Or classic black, white and red.
Ashley: My colors are pretty neutral. My bridesmaids are going to be mismatched, so the colors are blush, champagne, a really soft grey and ivory. We’re getting married at the Embassy Theatre [in Fort Wayne, IN], so I thought those colors would be really pretty.

Q. How many wedding dresses did you try before you found the one?

Lauren: I haven’t tried on any, but I actually worked at a bridal store for 3 years, so I’ve seen every dress you can imagine!
Ashley: Well, I wanted to go to Chicago to find a wedding dress. So I went and the appointments are so short. You only get an hour at each place, and I thought, “If you think I can pick my wedding dress in an hour, you’re living in a dream world!” But I tried on 3 dresses and thought I found “the one.” My mom said, “Let’s just go to one or two places in Fort Wayne, you never know.” And I ended up finding my dress here. I think I only tried on like 5 dresses. I knew I wanted it to be obnoxiously blinged out. It’s kind of obnoxious!
Rebecca: I only tried on about 10. I had done extensive pinning before, so I knew what I wanted. I ended up going in a little bit of a different direction but then I went back after I bought it and I had pinned it!
Samantha: I probably tried on about 10, too. I kind of shopped around, and found my dress in Fort Wayne.
Ashley: You see these shows, and the girls say, “Oh, I tried on 98 dresses …” and I think how? How do you remember no. 14?
Lauren: The truth is, they don’t!
Samantha: I thought for sure I would try on a ton, and the third one I tried I really liked. So now, do I keep trying? I think I’ll try a few more. The one I really love is so different. I thought I wanted lace and fitted, and it’s more of a princess thing.
Lauren: I want something with a really awesome back! Have you ever seen Claire Pettibone designs? I love her styles. The backs are really ornate and very artsy. It’s really a work of art.
Sam: And people see the back of your dress so much at the ceremony!

Q. How did your coworkers react when you announced your engagement?

Ashley: Well, there are always the screams.  You know if there are screams, someone is engaged or someone is pregnant. So yes, there were screams!
Sam: My team had a secret code word on Twitter. We knew it was coming. He had my ring for a while, and everyone would ask if he did it. So we came up with a code word and I tweeted it. I think within minutes everyone knew! He was like, why are you on your phone right now?
Lauren: It’s so hard to keep it a secret! I was like, Facebook.
Ashley: My fiancé picked up the ring on his way to the airport. I think he knew if he got it any sooner, I would find it!
Samantha: I was home on Christmas, and my manager emailed me saying, “So, I hear you have some good news for us,” and my whole team on the email.

Q. So, how are you handling the planning and staying organized?

Lauren: I’m not very far along, but I have a little 3-ring binder and a few Vera Bradley notebooks, so I’m prepared. Since North Carolina is so far away, I feel like I’m going to rely on my mom and friends a lot.
Sam: I use Basecamp. Our team actually uses it to stay organized for work, but there’s a personal version as well. I can assign my mom and fiancé milestones, which are basically tasks. You can save files on there; it’s great.
Samantha: My mom keeps me sane! She’s my Matron of Honor, and we are super close. She’s taking control, which I’m so thankful for, and she keeps me on pace so I don’t feel stressed.
Rebecca: I really don’t have that much to do. The biggest thing was picking the resort where we were going to have it. And all of the resorts have wedding coordinators. So now, there’s really not much to do except get down there!
Sam: And then all of your guests get a vacation.
Lauren: How many people are you having?
Rebecca: I think close to 40 people. It’s a little more than we expected.
Lauren: Yeah, I’m looking at maybe 50, tops, for mine.
Ashley: Well, we’re at about 340 right now …
All: Oh my gosh!
Ashley: My fiancé comes from a huge family. His family – aunts, uncles and first cousins – is well over 100 people. So, I was, I don’t want to say “doomed,” but there was no other option but to have a big wedding. So, it’s going to be a big party and there will be seating in the balcony!

Q. Will you incorporate any Vera Bradley colors?

Sam: I’ve been looking at them for inspiration because I’m bad at picking out what colors go with what. I like Sun Valley, the idea of navy bridesmaids dresses and something a little brighter.
Samantha: I want to incorporate it with the Bangle Set because Vera Bradley is such a big part of my life now.
Sam: I love the monogram idea, so now I’m thinking of that, maybe with a travel bag.

Q. What are some of your favorite personal touches?

Ashley: My invitations. Our wedding is kind of vintage, kind of glamorous, and our invitations are being printed on vintage handkerchiefs. I think that is probably my favorite part, the whole vintage theme.
Sam: I like the signature drink idea in a color of the wedding.
Samantha: I want to do sparklers since it will be at night. I’ve seen these little cards on Pinterest that have a quote and then you put a sparkler through, so I thought that would be cute.
Rebecca: My fiancé’s hobby is brewing his own beer, so I saw on Pinterest these personalized beer coozies! I don’t know if that’s really classy or not but I found these really cute ones with script font. It’s fun!
Lauren: I love the little d.i.y. centerpieces on Pinterest with the mason jars and the twine.
Sam: What did people do before Pinterest?
Rebecca: I set up my Pinterest wedding board in the airport, right after we got engaged!
Sam: I had one before I got engaged.
Ashley: Oh, me too!
Sam: I have a baby board right now!
Lauren: I wish someone could take my Pinterest board, and just make a wedding out of that.
Ashley: That’s what I did with my florist, photographer and the girl who is helping me at the venue. I emailed them the link to my Pinterest board and said this is what I’m going for.

Q. What has been the most difficult part in the planning?

Sam: So far, I think getting everyone to agree on things.
Lauren: For me, it’s been the venue. I’ve been looking at a lot of venues, and it’s been a challenge planning from Indiana for North Carolina. And we want it at the coast so we’ll have to make an extra 3-hour trip. But we’ll get there eventually!
Ashley: I think accommodating the numbers. Your choices are very limited if your party is over 200 people, so we had to get creative.
Samantha: I felt like every time I got on Pinterest I was like, “oh yeah, I need to think about that!” I think collecting all of the details and making sure I haven’t missed anything has been the hardest.
Ashley: My Matron of Honor bought me a book when I got engaged, and it has folders in it and checklists and is tabbed. That thing is the gospel to me! My mom is like, “When do we need to do this? Hold on, let me check the book.”
Sam: Mine is from The Knot and is a big binder. I love The Knot!
Rebecca: My Maid of Honor got me one of the May books. They are really cute, and you can personalize them. So she got me one with my new name on it. On the inside it has everything like budgets – actual vs. spent- and it’s small so I can carry it in my purse.

Q. How has your fiancé been handling everything?

Lauren: He says he’s just going to show up, and I say it’s your wedding too! I think once we have the date and venue he’ll be more, “What can I do to help?”
Sam: He has a few very specific ideas that come out of nowhere, like, “I want one of our colors to be orange,” but other than that, he doesn’t care.
Rebecca: I don’t think my fiancé even knows what our colors are! I don’t think he could tell me. And that’s okay!
Samantha: I’ve been letting him decide what he wants to be a part of. Like he wanted input on the cake tasting and the bridal party number.
Sam: The beer.
All: Yes!
Ashley: Food and alcohol are the only priorities for him. Other than that, he doesn’t care.

Q. What are you most looking forward to?

Lauren: The honeymoon!
All: Yes!
Sam: I think the reception itself.
Ashley: Having such a big family and so many friends, it will be so nice to have everyone in one spot. To have all of our friends and family together will be awesome.
Lauren: That’s true. I rarely get to see my friends and family.
Rebecca: That’s how we are, too. We moved here from Springfield, MO, and didn’t know anyone. So we’re excited to see our friends and family for a week. I’m also excited to have my dress on and be done up and be at that spot. It will be very exciting!
Sam: Yeah, that will be fun to be dressed up and get ready.
Rebecca: I feel like, as a girl, you think about that moment for your entire life. And you will be there, in that moment!
Sam: I feel like it will go so fast.

Q. Is anyone doing a reception or going away dress?

Sam: I’ll probably have white dresses for the rehearsal dinner and the brunch after, but I’ll probably stay in the same thing for the ceremony and reception.  I’ll love my dress so much I won’t want to change!

Q. What are your honeymoon plans?

Rebecca: We’re staying in Cabo San Lucas.
Lauren: I’d love to go to Hawaii … I’m just throwing it out there!
Ashley: We are going to Riviera Maya, Mexico.
Samantha: We’re looking at St. Martin’s. I wanted to go somewhere we both haven’t been.
Sam: We’re thinking about Barcelona or Paris. I really want to do something in Europe.
Ashley: I think you have to go to Paris. It sounds cliché, but it’s so romantic. It’s amazing!
Sam: I’ve been there once, but it was a really short visit and it would be totally different for our honeymoon.

Q. What bags are essential for your honeymoon travels?

Rebecca: The Garment Bag.
Ashley: I have to have the Grand Cosmetic; it is my life! I love it.
Lauren: And the Straighten Up and Curl.
Samantha: That’s one of my favorites, too. And my Hanging Organizer; I never go anywhere without that.
Lauren: And the Jewelry Folio.
Rebecca: I was just about to say that!
Lauren: The Weekender or Grand Traveler, maybe just for my shoes!
Sam: I usually grab a Tote for my carry on because I don’t want anything too big to hit people with in the aisle.

Q. Rebecca, you’re wedding is so close! Any advice for Lauren, who just recently got engaged?

Lauren: I’ll take all you have!
Rebecca: Do what you want to do. Don’t get caught up in all of the advice everyone wants to give you. Go with your vision, and try not to second-guess yourself. I do that! I picked this but what if something better comes out? Or I’ll see something on Pinterest and think, I should have done that!
Ashley: I feel like I could have six different weddings, I’m the same way. I second-guess myself all the time. Just go with it.

Each spring, Vera Bradley invites new moms and moms-to-be from the company to bring in their loved ones for our annual Baby Celebration festivities, including a precious photo session, gifts and treats. This year, the guest list included 66 families, each greeted by the gorgeous (gender-neutral) tones of Tutti Frutti.

Decorations carried the color scheme with accents primarily of mint, teal and yellow. The centerpieces – colorful balloons tethered to beautiful bouquets – mimicked an illustration from Bunny and Bear Book, where the pair set off in their hot air balloon. Final touches included window decals, colorful serving cups and decorative straws.

When it was time for their close up, it was off to the studio where families and expecting couples were invited to pose in front of a fun, oversized fringe backdrop, while little ones were safely nestled into the basket of our own take on a hot air balloon adventure.

Welcome to all these lovely little ones!

“We go to Fort Myers, Florida, where my in-laws also vacation. This year, my parents went to Naples, which is really close, during the same time, so we got to spend time with lots of family,” Alicia said. A personalized Large Colorblock Tote in Marina Paisley was her constant companion. “I use this bag as my carry on, with essentials for the kids. They need their blankets, stuffed animals and tech toys. But my little girl typically sleeps. I’ll also carry my camera, magazines and snacks for everyone.”

Once they reached their home away from home, the bag became the family beach bag, holding everyone’s flip flops, Beach Towels, snacks and toys. While the blue is a nice touch for times her husband mans the bag, “He’s so used to it! If it were pink with flowers all over it, he’d still carry it.”

For their day trip to Naples, “I just put a change of clothes, swimsuits and towels in the tote, and we were set for our day away.”

Whether a stone’s throw from the surf or splashing in the pool, Alicia loves making memories with her little ones. “The kids are at such fun ages. They just need a shovel and a bucket and they are happy for hours. I like to walk on the beach, and they will straggle along behind me grabbing shells. They always pick the broken ones and think they are so special. It’s the sweetest thing!”

Vera Bradley employees, Emily and Renee, help Turn the Town Pink.

Last Friday, our city slowly but surely turned a hopeful shade of pink, as more than 11,000 ribbons were tied to businesses, homes and government buildings around Fort Wayne, Indiana. For 15 years these rosy ribbons have been a symbol of The Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer’s commitment to breast cancer research and finding a cure, each carrying the name of a survivor or someone who battled the disease.

Executive Director of the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer, Catherine Hill, is ready with ribbons.

Vera Bradley team members, Jessica, Tammy and Debbie join Catherine in downtown Fort Wayne.

Anna DuCharme, a breast cancer survivor, received support from her daughters Rachel, Taya and Emily, as she spoke to the volunteers.

Catherine Hill was joined by Duputy Mayor Mark Becker, speaker Anna DuCharme and the CEO of Lutheran Hospital, Brian Bauer.

Visit verabradley.org to learn about supporting our efforts with a donation of as little as $5, or celebrating the life of a loved one on our pink ribbon pathways.

Browse all of our Mother’s Day Gift Ideas online and in stores.

Being in social media certainly has its perks. For instance, spending a few hours sorting through an impressive collection of beautiful babies for our Little Stars Facebook contest. We could think of worse ways to spend our time. There was only one problem … They were all too darling to decide! Thankfully, we turned the voting over to our Facebook fans, and you arrived at an adorable top ten. Congratulations are in order for these winning entries, shown here with a few of our other favorites,
just for fun!

Grand Prize Winner

Molly S. (Wolcottville, IN) and her daughter, Lily Ann
“We had just celebrated her first Easter where she received
her first Vera Bradley items, we called it her Very Vera First Easter!”

First Place Winners*

Jocelyn F. (Watertown, NY)
Melisa D. (Aurora, CO)
Jara H. (Goodlettsville, TN)
Kim V. Allen (Park, MI)
Kerry K. (Suffern, NY)
Amber C. (Panama City Beach, FL)
Kathryn B. (McKinney, TX)
Lauren N. (St. Louis, MO)
Gina A. (Rutherford, NJ)

Adorable mention …

Jennifer M.

Jennifer L.

Jodie K.

Mollie S.

Ashley O.

Jennifer S.

Isabel M.

Sara H.

Tammi A.

*All winners have been confirmed at this time. Thank you for participating in Little Stars!

Download the calendar to use it as a colorful desktop background or print it out for a dose of fun, functional decor in your work or living space.

From left to right: Elaine B., Jillian C., Deb G., Megan M.

There is something so comfortable about a Vera Bradley Store. Maybe it’s the plush couches with beautiful fabric inviting guests to relax, or the warm hues in the bold wallpaper, or the familiarity of those white cabinets brimming with popular styles. For many, it’s the faces they see when they stop by their neighborhood retail location. Browsing often turns to bonding when our customers meet our amazing associates.

For more on how these friendships unfold, we turned to the team at Vera Bradley at Jefferson Pointe, our Fort Wayne, IN, store. We invited them (and one special visitor) to gather – before official store hours – for a bit of coffee, pastries and chitchat about their favorite styles, seasons and our unique customer experience.

On the guest list:

Deb G. – Store Manager at Jefferson Pointe |  2006
Favorite style: “Any crossbody. I love being able to shop and pick up a sweater and not think about where my handbag is. With travel, I feel so secure with it being across my body. And with the Tablet Hipster, my all-time favorite feature is that I can put my Kindle or iPad in here with all my other items!”

Elaine B. – Sales Associate at Jefferson Pointe |  2011
Favorite style: “The Weekender. I’m very organized and when there is a pocket in every spot, I think that’s great. And my favorite color right now is Sun Valley; I have everything in Sun Valley!”

Megan M. – Acting Key |  2011
Favorite style: “The Vera in Black because it goes with everything. I am so back and forth from work to school, and I live in that bag! I have designated pockets for everything.”

Jillian C. – Store Manager at Chandler Fashion Center (Chandler, AZ) |  2012
Favorite style: “I absolutely adore the Leather Trim Caroline. I love the vintage, doctor-style bags, with that rolled shape. The color for me is the absolute best. I feel like it works all year, especially with the off-white leather. In Arizona we can do white whenever!”

Q. When a customer comes in to the store, what do you hope to achieve?

Elaine: We definitely want to make them feel welcome, which is why our store looks like a home. We want to be a girl’s best friend and have them come back because they had an awesome experience.
Jillian: In Arizona, our store has been open for about a year and every day there are guests that come in and see Vera Bradley for the first time. It’s so exciting because we get to share the story with them from the beginning and expose them to who we are and what we do, and they’re so excited and amazed by the initial experience. Sometimes they’ll get as far as our first window and they’ll turn around and come back into the store for something else. They just don’t want to leave!
Deb: it’s just spending time with friends, whether it’s getting reacquainted with someone who’s been in before, or making a new friend. One of my favorite things is when someone walks in for the first time and pauses, takes it all in, and says, “This is so beautiful! It’s like someone’s home … I want to live here!” And they always comment on what a fabulous place it would be to work. Absolutely! Sometimes I wonder if this is really my job, because it doesn’t feel like a job.
Megan: And I’m not just a salesperson, it doesn’t feel that way. You feel like you are hanging out with girlfriends, and that includes our guests that come in and the people we work with. I never feel like, “Ugh, I have to go to work today.” It’s like, “I get to go hang out with awesome women who love Vera Bradley!”
Deb: Not only do we connect and make that relationship with our guests, it’s just as important that we connect with our internal guests, each other! We are a very tight group.
Elaine: We know everything about each other.
Megan: We really mesh. I think it’s because everyone who works for Vera Bradley embodies our set of Core Values and we’re all just nice people and enjoy each other’s company and the company of our guests.
Deb: I love the statement, “We don’t hire people and tell them to be nice. We hire nice people.”
Elaine: You can definitely tell. With Deb training the managers, we get to visit with them – like Jillian visiting us this week – and it’s the same all the way around!

Q. Jillian, are you from Arizona originally?

Jillian: I’m not. I’m from New Jersey. So, I am a Jersey girl through and through. Big hair, lots of color, lots of jewelry, all the time!

Q. What was your first experience with Vera Bradley?

Deb: I was introduced to the brand with a gift. It was a coin purse and it had a Gift Card in it. This will tell you how long ago it was … It was a Holiday print.
Elaine: I’ve had it since I was little. I had a pink dance bag, and I carried it for years. And I’ve had duffels and bags that have been passed on from my mom. I think it’s a family thing for a lot of people.
Deb: Which is so unique to a retail store. That a grandmother, a mother and a granddaughter can come in and there is something for everyone.
Megan: My first was a duffel. My mom got it from the Outlet Sale. I think it was called Blue Coin? She had it and I would always steal it from her when I would go to a friend’s house. She would get so mad at me! Finally, when I went to college she said, “Oh, just take it!” And I had it up until I started working here and then the strap broke and I was so sad. It is the first one I ever had.
Deb: There are memories in bags.
Megan: There are! I used it for sports, when I came home from school. I still have it.
Jillian: It’s well loved! Being from the East Coast, I grew up going to a private, all-girls school and every one had a duffel and took them into gym class. And everybody had a different color because no one could ever have the same color! Those are my very first memories of Vera Bradley.
Deb: Speaking to the generational thing, I am expecting my first grandchild in October …
Jillian: Is it a girl?
Deb: Well, they don’t know the gender yet, but if it happens to be a girl, she has already received her first gift prior to being born.  I purchased a pair of Mary Jane Soft Shoes.
Jillian: And if it’s not, he will have been familiar with Vera Bradley from the very beginning and make someone very happy someday!

Q. How do you pick and choose what to add to your collection?

Elaine: You are staring at it all day! And you see someone pick something up and put it on, and you think, “Oh wow, that is really cute!”
Jillian: I joke and say it’s the most expensive place I have ever worked, but I love every minute of it.
Elaine: We try to be supportive and talk each other out of it sometimes.
Deb: You have to be very disciplined. Elaine, we can talk each other into it, too.
Elaine: I think I talked you into that one. [Points to Tablet Hipster]
Deb: Yes, I think you did. Thanks, I love it!

Q. How do you incorporate our colors into your wardrobe?

Elaine: I buy my clothing for my bags.
Deb: We look at the trends and what’s coming up, too. I know mint was predicted to be the color of the summer, so we keep that in mind. I always call it a “backdrop” to the bag.
Megan: I tend to gravitate towards patterns that I know will go with a lot of things I already have in my wardrobe.  I was a big fan of Go Wild this spring because it had the neutral colors in it, the off-white and black.
Deb: And I think it’s important that we help the customer understand how we coordinate colors with outfits. And for the guests who say, “I don’t want to have to think about that,” we have a choice, Classic Black.
Elaine: Now that we’re getting into the summer months, I don’t care as much if my bag matches my outfit since it’s something bright. I think I’m more conscious of it in the winter.
Jillian: In my store, we have a lot of artists and creative people, and it’s funny, we tend to be a little bit more eclectic with mixing color and pattern. Everybody in Phoenix has caught the bohemian bug, and everything is layer after layer and tons of texture and color. There are times when a guest will come in – a girl who has been wearing Vera for years – and they are very coordinated, and we tend to branch them out a little bit. We talk about layering patterns and mixing it up, and they get really excited. They say, “It’s okay if I don’t match everything?” It’s like a light bulb comes on.
Megan: It’s such a fun time in fashion, where you can mix and match everything. There are no more color rules. You can wear black and navy, chocolate brown and black, it’s on-trend to mix and match.

Q. You experience all of the seasons in the stores, which is your favorite and why?

Deb: Mine would be the Summer release. I love the Beach Towels and Flip Flops, and the special beach collections.
Elaine: I think that’s my favorite, too. It’s getting warmer, people are coming in and they are happy and want their bright colors.
Megan: I think mine is Back to Campus and Fall. I love the girls going away to college. Last year we had bedding, which was so fun and new and everyone was so excited. I’m personally a big boots and sweaters and scarves person, and we always have new scarves.
Jillian: Back to Campus for me, hands down. I’ve always been the kid who was really excited to go back to school. I’ve always been such a sucker for school supplies. Even now, I buy school supplies, and I don’t know why! My entire team knows, when the Flexi Folders come in, Jillian needs them.

Q. What do you hope the experience is like for our customer?

Deb: I’ve often said, my hope is, 6 months from now, if I asked a customer what she purchased when she was in the store, she would say, “I have no idea what I purchased, but I do remember how they made me feel.”
Megan: We’re relational, not transactional. Because we build the relationships. She’ll remember that we talked about her family or upcoming trip to Europe.
Elaine: And she’ll come back and show us pictures!
Jillian: There’s a family of sisters – 5 of them – and they come into my store. The oldest just got married and she happened to win a Weekender for her honeymoon and was so excited. She came in and showed me all of her wedding pictures, because we had been talking about it. I felt like I had been planning her wedding with her!

Q. So, as we open new stores, how do we ensure everyone has the same experience?

Jillian: I can tell you the team that helps open stores is wonderful. They came to Phoenix to introduce our team to the experience, and the fact that we’re part of an organization that takes time to do that is extraordinary. In past lives, I’ve been part of new store openings where it was all about the operations. Get the product in and get the transactions going. And we don’t do that. We take the time to ensure our team understands the experience and that they’re passionate about it. That way, when the stores do open, it’s open house, not opening day.
Deb: Right. So the first piece of opening a new store is introducing the staff to our culture, the experience, and to the mission statement. And it doesn’t have anything to do with sales. Day one of training a store manager is about our culture; what does caring look like, what does creativity look like, what does honesty, respect, fun, fussy, what does that look like? We take great detail in our mission statement, “To be a girl’s best friend,” and what that looks like at the store level.

Q. As new employees, what surprised you most about working with Vera Bradley?

Elaine: I think just the environment. Everyone wants to get to know you and they want you to love your job.
Megan: I think our relationship with customers. I’ve been in retail through high school and college, and it’s unlike any other company. You feel at home, and we’re so happy to do whatever we can to help our customers! And what company is like that anymore? In past jobs, returns were such a hassle, but here, we don’t treat them any differently.
Elaine: I’m kind of a customer service snob now. I expect the best because we give the best! And I think people realize that when they come here, they’re going to get the best level of customer service possible.
Jillian: The most refreshing thing for me is that the word “No” is not in my vocabulary anymore. It’s so refreshing to empower everyone and remove that word from their vocabulary. It’s so liberating to make it all about her, in whatever capacity that has to be.
Deb: I’ve had two associates that were in college and switched majors to allow them to fit into the Vera Bradley corporate world. That’s how impressed they were with the culture.
Elaine: I couldn’t imagine working for anyone else!

Q. Could you speak to the new look of the store?

Jillian: We’re celebrating the silhouettes of the handbags more now. My store has a lot of room, so we’ve streamlined. It’s about the shape of everything, and organized by genre. It’s easier for our guest to navigate and you can really see what we have.
Deb: Our crossbodies are now in one area, and a couple are displayed how they’d look if they were on your body. It’s very customer friendly. I think the display lends to people picking it up, taking out the stuffing, and checking out the features and benefits of each bag.
Elaine: Our travel bags are right next to the packing cubes and Luggage Tags; everything makes more sense. I think it’s much more convenient, especially if you’re in a time crunch.

Q. What’s one of your favorite customer stories?

Megan: We have a lot of breast cancer survivors come in, and we love to do “girl’s best friend” things for them. We talk to them and a lot of times, we’ll find something in a Breast Cancer Awareness color and gift them. And you wouldn’t believe the impact that has. I’ve had at least 2 or 3 women cry and hug me. I mean, we’re strangers to them, but before they leave, we’re not strangers anymore. It gives me chills every time I do it.
Jillian: I had an experience with a guest. She’s an East Coast girl as well, so we immediately connected. She was so excited that we were there and we bonded over scrapbooking. Then I didn’t see her for a while. She came in with a friend and was very different. She was looking for an agenda because her husband was diagnosed with cancer, and she wanted a Vera Bradley agenda because she had to keep track of all of his treatments and wanted to have the happiest agenda she could find. I gifted a pen to her and sent her on her way. Her husband actually came in a few weeks later to thank me. It was wonderful to be able to meet him, and for him, who has so many other things going on, to take the time to come in. Still, I get choked up thinking about it. That’s what it’s all about!
Deb: For me, it’s when a guest will ask to speak with the manager to talk about the fabulous customer service that one of my staff gave them. I had that recently happen with Elaine. A guest asked if she could speak to the manager, and all she wanted to say was, “Your young gal was incredibly wonderful to me and gave my exceptional customer service.” Those are my favorite stories.

We’re always looking for friendly new team members. Check our Careers page for openings in your area.