Janice Ang has travelled to many places, but one thing is for sure - she lives firmly outside of her comfort zone. A Senior Marketing Executive at Waterway Point, she has worked in the logistics and hospitality industries before switching to retail in search of “something more dynamic”.
Nearly two years later, Janice has grown into her role as a Senior Marketing Executive. While she has gained more confidence and experience, each day still brings new surprises.
A day in life
A typical day for Janice involves conceptualising campaigns, as well as planning and liaising with different agencies and partners. “Organising an event involves a lot of different partners. A lot of co-ordination work is required.” she elaborates.
Janice also oversees the mall’s Facebook and Instagram pages, which means that she has to respond to online feedback in a timely fashion. “At times, responding to a shopper’s query is not so straightforward as I may have to get input from other departments before I can respond.”
Janice and her trusted team
Janice collaborates with her marketing team of three on a day-to-day basis, to get things going. She relishes the support that her team brings, sharing that their co-operation enables them to explore different ideas. “We take turns to lead each campaign. We would get together and brainstorm ideas months before the start of a campaign to explore new themes and activities that we can bring to our shoppers.”
Small things with great joy
Janice also finds inspiration from her life and brings that passion to her work. Whether it’s browsing marketing collateral from other malls or travelling to far-flung countries, she is always on the lookout for new ways to attract shoppers to Waterway Point.
She puts her best foot forward, knowing that the difference between good work and great work is the amount of effort she puts in.
“I love traveling and learning fun facts about other cultures. I often return to cities I’ve been before but with a different perspective. There is always something new for me to see and try. Who knows - the new knowledge I pick up along the way might even give me new ideas for work.”
The calm amidst the storm
As the job requires Janice to wear many hats and deal with ad-hoc crises, it’s no surprise that her hobbies include yoga and travelling. She practices yoga twice a week and makes it a point to travel to a new destination every year. This year, Janice has plans to travel to Finland to expand her horizons.
Janice ticking Santorini, Greece off her bucket list
She shares that these hobbies keep her mind and body fit, which in turn keeps her calm during stressful situations.
A perpetual optimist, she constantly thinks about new ways to improve the shopping experience for customers.
For example, Janice speaks enthusiastically about the new possibilities for physical retail spaces, even as e-commerce becomes more popular with consumers. As the line between offline and online shopping becomes blurred, she recognises a mutually beneficial relationship between the two domains.
“These days, you can purchase something online, and arrange to collect your item at the mall. You can also try on clothes at the mall before going back to purchase them online. Technology has really changed the way we shop. I’m excited to see how the retail landscape will continue to evolve.”
Smooth operator
She sees herself as a people-person and enjoys conversations with others. Janice prides herself on her ability to keep cool under pressure, an important skill when it comes to managing irate shoppers. As the marketing team also manages the customer service team, Janice has handled a fair share of shoppers.
Yet, whether it’s at home or high altitudes, Janice doesn’t buckle under pressure. The most important part is enjoying the journey, turbulence and all.