Meet Vivi – Sales Trainee in Outdoor Sales Nordic

"I had often dreamed of working in sales, but I didn’t know how to get started." That’s how Vivi Kalisz Hansen describes the beginning of her career journey. In August 2024, she joined Schou as a Sales Trainee. With a professional bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Health and five years of experience managing food services in an institution, Vivi made a bold move into a completely new industry.

"I saw a trainee position at Schou and seized the opportunity to change direction and take on a new two-year education, most of which takes place on the job – like an apprenticeship."

From Kitchen to Customer Meetings

Vivi is part of Outdoor Sales Nordic, where she works with garden furniture and Living products for the Danish market. A typical day starts at the office with tasks like preparing offers, registering products, and handling sales orders – but there’s also time for customer meetings in the showroom and occasionally assembling garden furniture for photoshoots.

"My colleagues are great at giving me both secure and challenging tasks," says Vivi, who enjoys learning new things and taking on responsibility.

Well-being You Can Feel

When asked what makes Schou special, Vivi answers without hesitation:
"It’s the way employees are taken care of – like when a hot dog stand, popcorn cart, or burger truck suddenly shows up on a random Tuesday."
At Schou, we believe that well-being is also about the little things in everyday life. Vivi experiences this in both the atmosphere and the social events – from mud races to Christmas parties and activity days – which have helped her quickly connect with colleagues from across the company.

"As a trainee, I receive great support from both HR and my mentor, who follow my development closely. There's also a strong effort to create a social network among all trainees, with trainee days and lunches," Vivi explains.

A Strong Start

Shortly after joining, Vivi participated in an introduction day for all new employees:
"We were introduced to all departments, their roles, responsibilities, and how they collaborate across teams. We got insights into everything – from what our CEO does, to how sales and purchasing operate, and how logistics works in the warehouse. It gave me a really good understanding of the company," she says.

Vivi especially highlights the Buddy Program as an important part of her positive start. Every new employee is paired with a buddy – a go-to colleague who helps them navigate both the professional and social aspects of their onboarding.

"It meant a lot to know who I could turn to and to have someone who looked out for me from the very beginning," says Vivi.

A Place Where You Grow

From day one, Vivi has experienced that responsibility and development go hand in hand at Schou:
"I was quickly entrusted with my first solo customer meeting – a big milestone for me," she says proudly.

We’re proud to have Vivi on the team – and we look forward to following her continued journey with us!