our team @ vp usa

Yesterday was a special day at vente-privee, as we celebrated the birthday of our VP of Tech, Nic. Everyone knows Nic is a Star Wars fanatic, but nobody knows better than the rest of his tech team. Below, tech team member Gui shares some other fun facts about Nic that not everyone may know.

“Every day there’s a swooshing sound when Nic is ready to leave the office. It’s his red lightsaber. Nic started life with 9 souls, he has 7 souls left. He sold one of his souls to the dark side and got a lightsaber out of it. Don’t ask about the other soul. Other fun facts about Nic:

• He doesn’t drink coffee, but he drinks hot chocolates like water.
• The power supply for his laptop is bigger than a Macbook Pro, and he needs a wheeled cart to transport it.
• After hours, he frequently blasts Yanni and Beethoven.
• His favorite sayings are: ‘We are a startup!’ and ‘We do this in real time!’

Amazingly, in the 6 months that I’ve been working here, Nic has always been in good spirits.”

Gui isn’t joking about the lightsaber. Here’s just a sample of Nic’s Star Wars paraphernalia collection. 

A few words from the birthday jedi: 

Q: If you had a soundtrack to your life what would it be?

I don’t want to pick only one. It would clearly be the entire soundtrack from Back to the Future movie because you have a whole lot of songs that are very appropriate for all episodes of my life.

• Power of Love
• Back in Time
• Heaven is one Step Away
• Earth Angel
• Johnny B. Goode
• And of course the instrumental overture from the moviethat you can sometimes hear at my desk after 7

Q: What do you like most about working at vente-privee?

This adventure is about taking a Business model that I saw working in Europe and make it work in the US in a totally different reality and a totally different timing. Since we are a vital service to brands, we have the certitude that we are going to be there for as long as brands have stock. It’s the unique opportunity to live the startup journey without dealing with the risk of not succeeding. Plus I have this opportunity of making this new business grow from scratch and we actually have a chance to make it better without making the mistakes of our parent companies. The team we have here is incredible and I am honored to be part of it. I have a smaller team than I used to have in France but I have the chance to build it from the ground up and this is what I am the most grateful for.

Q: What do you miss most about your time spent in France?

What I miss the most from my CTO position in France is the firepower I used to have by working with 115 people. 115 people can get a lot of things done, can manage a lot of products and engage in many big projects simultaneously. Our reality as a startup is more about managing priorities which is frustrating to me sometimes.

What I miss the most about France is the fine food, I miss my wine cellar, I miss the cheap Foie Gras I used to put on everything, I miss my cool car that I had to sell. But when I was in France I missed poutine from my Quebec city.

Q: What is your favorite quote?

Darth Vader in Star Wars Episode Four said: “I find your lack of faith disturbing.” That’s my favorite quote in English.

In French my favorite quote is famous but anonymous: La plus grande faillite d’un être humain, c’est de perdre son enthousiasme. S’il sait le conserver, peu importe que tout le reste l’abandonne; le succès le favorisera sûrement de nouveau.

Q: When did your love for Star Wars begin? Are you raising your sons to be fans?

I started to be fan of Star Wars quite late, I was 14 years old, but as soon as I discovered the movies, it became an obsession. I managed to adapt the visioning of the movies so my five year-old Arthur can watch them with me. I couldn’t wait to share that with him so I had to review all the sequences with my wife so it gets approved and now it’s his favorite story as well. I am super proud to share this passion with him. And he only saw one small part of my collection. Edouard is too young to see Star Wars yet but he still has his lightsaber and his Anakin Skywalker costume.

Q: If you could be any Star Wars character, who would it be and why?

Not original here but I would be Obi-Wan Kenobi, the Jedi knight has convictions, plays by the rules, is loyal to the jedi council, tries really hard to be a good teacher, is aware of his limits and remains a threat to the dark side. The coolest character remains Darth Vader though. I wish I could bring balance to the force but I can’t sorry guys.

Every day in the Financial District, businessmen can be seen carrying briefcases to work. But, last Thursday, vente-privee’s Antoine ventured uptown and returned to the office with a peculiar kind of case: the White Castle “Crave Case.” What occasion warranted this tasty treat? Our weekly all-hands meeting, of course! Every Thursday, a different vp department hosts this company-wide gathering. Creativity is encouraged, and often times refreshments are selected in accordance with a particular theme. With the Fourth of July right around the corner, the CX team chose to spark excitement with a patriotic palette. Some people were thrilled about the White Castle sliders, while others were thankful for the holiday barbecues yet to be had. Nevertheless, everyone had a blast!

vente-privee recently celebrated the birthday of Sydney, one of our Customer Experience whizzes. In the toast that follows - albeit slightly “roasty” - fellow CX extraordinaire Kristen shares her insight into Sydney’s colorful character…

“Sydney is a tiny ball of brightness that radiates from the CX section — on the days she wears her gold sandals and armful of gold bangles, she shines even brighter! Only Sydney could have a man change his commute because she politely declined his invitation to dinner. Only Sydney can remember and answer to all the nicknames she has been given since her first day (i.e., ‘Hey Sydface! Spicy Icy! Sanswering Salls Sydney! SUUUUPIIIII!’). Interested in learning how to make the most delicious smushed bean burrito? Ask Syd for “her” secret recipe. No one is more amazed by time passing than this recent Temple University grad, who often exclaims, ‘Oh my gosh, is it 11 AM already?’. Equal parts talented and fun, Sydney can light up any room.”

And now, a Q&A with the birthday girl herself!

Q: If you could only stock your fridge with one food item for the rest of the year, what would it be?

A: “I’m gonna have to say…I need buffalo sauce. I need it on a lot of things. I definitely need buffalo sauce.”

Q: If you had a soundtrack to your life what would it be?

A: Love Today by Mika

Q: What’s your favorite part about working at vente-privee?

A: “The wonderful people that I work with every day. We have a fabulous time. Everyone is just really thoughtful and caring, and I feel like I’ve made really good friends even though everyone is always working really hard.”

Q: Who is your style inspiration?

A: “I’m obsessed with Miroslava Duma, the editor for Harper’s Bazaar in Russia. She’s amazing. Her style is fabulous.”

Q: Who is your favorite Disney princess and why?

“This isn’t a princess but my favorite Disney character is Nala from The Lion King. Why? Because she is a fierce feline. And she is a strong female character in the jungle. If I had to choose a princess it would be Jasmine because she has great fashion sense – love the turquoise – and who wouldn’t want to be swept away on a magic carpet?!”

Q: What is your favorite quote?

A: “‘The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.’ - Coco Chanel”