Our People : Manny TAILOR

Introduce yourself...When and why did you join Safic-Alcan? What made you consider joining us?

I became a part of Safic-Alcan in 2019, marking six years with the company. This position was my initial foray into the industry, and I have no intention of looking back. Safic is a prominent distributor known for its excellent reputation. The Cosmetics division in the UK was established in 2015, and I was eager to contribute to its anticipated growth and success, recognising it as a valuable opportunity. I began my journey in the Cosmetics division as an R&D Chemist in our UK laboratory, where I supported the sales team with various prototype formulations, sales kits, presentations, and provided troubleshooting and technical assistance. After 18 months in this role, I transitioned to the position of Personal Care Account Manager, overseeing the North of England and Ireland. Initially, this role presented significant challenges, as I had no prior experience in sales. However, I now find great satisfaction in this position, as I play a key role in driving growth for both my region and the overall business.

How do experience your relationship with other collaborators, partners, principals or customers?

I truly believe in the importance of building strong connections with both our customers and partners, as this is essential for successful business interactions. Often, people choose to work with individuals rather than just companies, which highlights the need to cultivate trust and meaningful relationships. Being honest and providing dependable information is crucial in my position, and I strive to embody these values consistently. One of the first pieces of advice I received when I joined the sales team was that honesty with customers and following through on my commitments would lead to success in my role, a lesson that has stayed with me.

Our customers frequently look to us for inspiration or ideas related to their projects, so it's vital for me to have a solid understanding of our offerings and the materials we provide, enabling me to respond promptly and accurately. I believe my background as a Chemist greatly supports me in this endeavor.

What is something curious or funny we should know about you? (your hobbies, passions, etc)

I love staying active and playing sports outside of work. I've been playing Rugby Union for Bolton for about 20 years, but I might need to hang up my boots soon because of frequent injuries. I hold a level 1 coaching qualification, so I plan to stay involved with the club by coaching the development teams. Additionally, I often play 5-a-side football with friends and in a mini league. If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm quite the competitive spirit!

How do you try to incorporate Safic values of Entrepreneurship, Responsibility, Expertise and Trust​​ in your day-to-day work. 

I believe that the Safic values are deeply integrated into my everyday work and influence my attitude and approach. I enjoy treating our suppliers and customers as true partners, collaborating to reach shared objectives. Trust and reliability play crucial roles in this relationship, as I aim to work together on both short-term and long-term projects. I strive to be the person my customers turn to when they need assistance. My customers are aware of this, and I take pride in my quick responses and dedication to supporting them. This commitment is a key reason why I successfully cultivate strong relationships across various departments.

Do you have any illustrative fun/light stories to share from your time at Safic-Alcan? 

One of my proudest moments will always be winning the Laura Marshall Memorial Award for Innovation during my first year at Safic. This award is presented to the most innovative formulation at SCS Formulate and is determined by votes from conference attendees. Considering I had only been with the company for a short time, this felt like a significant accomplishment.

A more amusing story from my early days at Safic takes me back to my first week. I was quickly thrown into the deep end and had to attend In-Cosmetics in Paris. It was a bit intimidating, but my colleagues were mostly very encouraging. Two of my coworkers and a supplier, who shall remain nameless, thought it would be hilarious to look up my rugby profile online since I played for my local team. During a meeting at the supplier's booth, I started receiving some rather odd questions. At first, I didn’t think much of it and answered them casually. It wasn’t until the third or fourth question that I realized something was up; all the questions were pulled straight from my rugby profile! I had to laugh it off, but that moment made it clear to me that working at Safic was going to be a lot of fun!

What is the one main takeaway candidates wanting to join Safic-Alcan should know and look forward to?

Safic boasts an excellent company culture characterised by great teamwork and strong leadership. As a prominent player in the global market, Safic continues to expand its reach. The professional work environment ensures that every employee feels appreciated. As a distributor of raw materials, Safic provides opportunities for extensive training to enhance your expertise, which is crucial for engaging with our customers. The Safic Group fosters close relationships, allowing for collaboration with colleagues from various countries to exchange best practices and insights on industry trends. Given the fast-paced nature of the industry, there's always something new to learn, which I find incredibly rewarding. It's also not all about work; we definitely know how to have fun when we come together!