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The Uncommon Life

Uncommon Personalities: Meet Tawana Chung

August 21, 2013

Customer Service Team Lead Tawana Chung- UncommonGoods

Tawana Chung, UncommonGoods Customer Service Supervisor

My hometown is…
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. However, I grew up in East Flatbush, Brooklyn.

The best customer interaction I’ve had at UncommonGoods was…
When I returned a package to a customer that was mistakenly delivered here for the holiday season. It was a box filled with handmade gifts by her grandchildren. Although it was 5 months after Christmas, she was so happy that she cried. That made me feel really good.

I’m inspired by…
A host of people and things! Children–because they are so blunt yet carefree. My aunt Michelle, who is simply AMAZING in every aspect!

My guilty pleasure is…
Cake and ice cream!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

An uncommon fact about me…
I play the piano, clarinet, saxophone, snare drums, bongo drums, steelpan and a little flute.

My favorite place to hang out in New York City is…
Food/farmer markets! Any and all!

My style is…
Whatever is clean! Haha! Seriously I have no clue.

Working at UncommonGoods, I’ve learned…
A lot about repurposing, reclaimed, and recycled items and their programs and benefits.

Would you rather…Be able to teleport to and from work every day OR have any car you choose and never have to pay for gas?
Oh, I’d much rather teleport! Ooooh and scare the wits out of someone!

The Uncommon Life

Uncommon Personalities: Meet Matthew Disla

August 19, 2013

Matthew Disla, UncommonGoods Merchant AssistantMy hometown is…
Brooklyn, NY

My favorite process in the UncommonGoods warehouse is…
I love auditing!! I get first-hand knowledge from receiving and handling the merchandise. Plus I get to see new merchandise that comes in so I know what I want to buy!

I’m inspired by…
Art. I’m an artist so any illustrations and lots of colors send me on a creative binge!

The best gift anyone has given me was…
My ex-girlfriend gave me a vintage 1984 Soundwave figure from Transformers. We broke up shortly after, but I got to keep Soundwave.

An uncommon fact about me…
I used to have a lip ring, but took it out after I found a job in advertising. It’s okay, I still have my tongue and left nipple pierced.

When I’m not working, I’m probably…
Drawing. I can’t stop. If there is paper around, I must draw on it!!

The word that best describes me…
Easy-going.

Working at UncommonGoods, I’ve learned…
That there is a company that actually cares about its customers and workers, not just about making money. I feel like this is my second family, and it’s a reunion that takes place five days a week and I get paid to attend.

Would you rather … Relive every year of the ’80s or be a band member of The Smiths?
I would give anything to say I wrote the song “I Won’t Share You” by The Smiths. Definitely a band member… preferably, the lead singer.

The Uncommon Life

6 Heatmaps: Beer Guzzlers, Baby Makers, Hipsters & More!

August 16, 2013

Bryan, our Business and Analytics Associate (aka the guy who’s computer screen always looks like The Matrix to most of us) recently stumbled upon a Gothamist article regarding Yelp creating a hipster heat map. (Yes. You read that right. A map tracking hipsters. You probably haven’t heard of it.) It’s a map where a digital inkblot pops up and becomes deeper in color on a certain location where reviewers would mention the word “hipster.” Williamsburg was, of course, the deepest and biggest blob Yelp found. But to their surprise, there was a pretty hefty dot on 28th and Broadway, not the most hipster-esque place one would think of. To see if he’d run into any surprises himself, Bryan decided to have a little fun and create his very own UncommonGoods heat maps using items purchases in select product categories. The topics he touched on were baby makers (baby), beer guzzlers (beer), lovely newlyweds (wedding gifts), and of course he wasn’t about to skip the holy hipsters (hipster).

BEER GUZZLERS: Beer products for our beer lovers.

It’s no surprise that Hoboken and Turtle Bay are full of dudes (and dudettes) who love to chug the brew. They’re prime places for up-and-comers in the business world to start their commute to the financial district. Who doesn’t need a cold one after a long day in finance?

Fargo-Moorhead is also home to a bunch of beer lovers. We figure the extreme temperatures in NoDak and MN are to blame. Hot in the summer? Cool off with a frosty mug of ice cold beer. Freezing in the winter? Enjoy the magical warming properties of alcohol.

LOVELY NEWLYWEDS: Wedding gifts for the lovebirds out there.

Philly sure knows how to put a ring on it. The city of Brotherly Love has couples falling in love left and right.

BABY MAKERS: Baby gifts for the lil’ ones.

San Francisco: the land of love, or just a whole lotta lovin’?

For all its remoteness, there’s a lot of baby makin’ (or gift-buying) going on in North Pole, Alaska.

HOLY HIPSTERS: Gifts bought under our “hipster gifts” category.

Williamsburg loses the hipster crown and hands it over to the Fort Greene & Park Slope area. Want to tell them or shall we?

This post was, appropriately, written by Emily (an “I’m not a hipster” hipster), Bryan (a newlywed), and Cassie (a beer lover originally from Fargo-Moorhead.)

The Uncommon Life

Uncommon Personalities: Meet Shah Murshed

August 16, 2013

Shah Murshed, UncommonGoods Software QA Analyst

My hometown is…
Sylhet, Bangladesh, a very small and humid town which was perfect for my very own orchid garden.

The tech project I most enjoyed working on at UncommonGoods was…
Working on checkout redesign, email and home page, and shipping software projects have given me insight in ecommerce and I also gained a better understanding of how customers are widely related with every aspect of the retail business. It was a whole new experience for me and I enjoyed it a lot.

I’m inspired by…
Great people who lived very simple lives but were able to change people around them and the society through peaceful means.

My favorite place to visit in New York City is…
Too many! I love this city. I just love to stroll around in the city. Sometimes, I just walk from Wall Street to Times Square. People, colors, the life of this city attract me and have become a part of me.

An uncommon fact about me…
I have a certificate in Quantum Meditation.

When I’m not working, I’m probably…
Playing with my daughter or walking around the city

The word that best describes me…
Random …

Working at UncommonGoods, I’ve learned…
I am learning everyday and each day about technology and the people around UncommonGoods, including employees, employers, vendors and the customers.

Would you rather… Swim in a pool filled with goldfish or walk barefoot in worm-ridden dirt?
Maybe both. Reason: I am very random.

The Uncommon Life

Enter the Picture Your Pet Photo Contest on Facebook

August 14, 2013

Does the family poodle have dreams of sailing the open seas, chasing seagulls and splashing around? Is your cat the queen of the castle? Share your pet’s personality for a chance to win a custom art piece celebrating their unique spirit.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT
Upload a photo on our Facebook contest page or submit via Twitter or Instagram with #PictureYourPet. (If you submit with the hashtag, you will need to come back here and claim your photo.)

Share with your friends and family to get them to vote for your photo.

THE PRIZE
The top 3 photos with the most votes will win a custom Picture Your Pet portrait.

Contest deadline: Friday, August 23, 2013 11:59pm EST

The Uncommon Life

Uncommon Personalities: Meet Mary Catherine Halfpenny

August 13, 2013

Mary Catherine Halfpenny, UncommonGoods Senior Manager – Operations

My hometown is…
Technically, I’m from Staten Island, the last borough to get dug out when blizzards happen. New Yorkers think I’m not really a New Yorker, but everyone else thinks I’m legitimately from here.

When I was 9, my family moved to Warwick, NY. I was raised to be capable of building my own chicken coop, by parents who always took home the class pet. We had an assortment of creatures at home at all times.

My favorite process in the UncommonGoods warehouse is…
I think creativity is really important in the warehouse, especially in terms of process design. I’m excited when I can take the innovations of my team and transform them into improvements to our processes, and benefit both the customers and those of us who work here at UncommonGoods.

I’m inspired by…
The idea that all great movements start as seemingly small acts.

The best gift anyone has given me was…
I want to tell the story of a memorable gift that, unbeknownst to the giver or receiver, I was a part of putting together. We had paper roses that were made from paper from elephant dung. It was a bouquet of twelve roses, and I packed it in with a card that said, “I know you’re going through a tough situation right now, but be assured that good things can come from a sh*tty situation.” This combination of humor with genuine care and creativity is one of the reasons I love our customers.

An uncommon fact about me…
I started at Uncommon Goods as a picker in the warehouse on December 4, 2009, and expected to be seasonally employed for 3 weeks.

When I’m not working, I’m probably…
Watching Rachel Maddow online.

The word that best describes me…
Queer.

Working at UncommonGoods I’ve learned…
That staying up until midnight running correlations on datasets is really fun.

With a pile of stuff in front of me I would build…
You’re given paint, some scraps of wood, an old t-shirt, rubber cement, cotton swabs, and 36 cents (in whatever combination of coins you choose).

I would build my net worth! Considering I’m a Halfpenny, I would have just increased it by 7200%!

The Uncommon Life

Uncommon Personalities: Meet Jen Grim

August 12, 2013

Meet Jen Grim, UncommonGoods Director of Customer Service

My hometown is…
Hamburg, NYThe best customer interaction I’ve had at UncommonGoods was…
This one is hard – there are a lot of memorable experiences. The ones that stick out the most are the ones where the customer went out of their way to thank me for doing something extra for them. It’s our job to make our customers happy and it’s always heartwarming to hear that our efforts are appreciated. One customer sent a photo of him and his friend holding a ‘thank you’ sign. It’s hanging up in the customer service room right now.

I’m inspired by…
New experiences. Trying something new and allowing yourself to sometimes be uncomfortable is the best way to truly experience life.

When I’m not working, I’m probably…
Planning something – the next vacation, my budget, a to-do list. I’m a planner; I just can’t help it.

An uncommon fact about me…
I’m a licensed skydiver but not a licensed driver. Does it also count that during one of my trips I used the following modes of transportation in one day? Taxi, bus, large plane, horse, small plane, boat, bike and walking.

My favorite place to hang out in New York City is…
Sunset Park. It’s a great tiny neighborhood full of multi-generational families who spend all day at the community park playing together and socializing. Sunset Park has a great community feeling to it. Plus, the best tacos EVER can be found here. Trust me – they’re amazing.

My style is…
Style? Not sure you can call what I have going on ‘style’. The rules are: I don’t iron, I don’t hand-wash, I don’t use a hair dryer, I won’t polish shoes. My clothes, shoes, and accessories need to be able to handle the rough treatment I dole out. I can always be dressed and out the door in 10 minutes.

Working at UncommonGoods I’ve learned…
That it’s OK to make mistakes. Really, it is. As long as you always make new mistakes. I’ve also learned that it’s OK to fail now and then. (‘Fail’ is not a bad 4-letter word around here.)

With a pile of stuff in front of me I would make…
(You’re given a carpet square, a box of nails, an empty milk crate, ribbon, a small recycling bag of empty soup cans, and a houseplant of any variety you choose.)

An awesome cat tree for my two cats to play on, complete with cat grass as the reward at the top of the tree.

The Uncommon Life

Uncommon Personalities: Meet Orlando Geronimo

August 7, 2013

Orlando Geronimo, UncommonGoods Senior Software Architect

My hometown is…
Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija Philippines–but living in Sayreville, New Jersey.

The tech project I most enjoyed working on at UncommonGoods was…
Website redesign.

I’m inspired by…
Young people who have overcome incredible challenges to gain their education. They take a leap of faith and begin their pursuit of college without any guarantee that they will be able to pay for it and survive. Along the way, they seek out any and all opportunities and resources that can support them. And nothing should stop them. Whatever obstacles they may reach in their lives, they shouldn’t give up on what they want to do. Nothing should keep them away from their dreams or their goals, whatever they might be. God bless them.

My favorite place to visit in New York City is…
The top of the Empire State Building.

An uncommon fact about me…
I eat code every day!

When I’m not working, I’m probably…
Working in my yard! I like to make different things all the time. I love to see my plants grow and I enjoy the beauty of it. They are a constant reminder of growth, re-birth, persistence and determination.

The word that best describes me…
Technical. I’ve always had a hunger for knowledge. Some people may find it weird, but it’s actually true. It’s fun to have passion for learning stuff you’re interested in.

Working at UncommonGoods, I’ve learned…
Always be a part of the solutions and start being vocal about what’s right! Set a goal for every day and never be tired.

Would you rather… sing a full song in front of the entire company OR work in silence for an entire week, without talking to anyone?
Sing. I can play guitar and sing!

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