Watson Story – Ly Tran

I started working at Watson Gloves 17 years ago, back in the original Vancouver building on Main and 2nd. Before joining Watson Gloves, I was working in retail sales and found that I really enjoyed the customer service aspect and wanted to find a path where I could help people. A recruiting agency paired me up with Watson Gloves and that’s how it all started!

I did my research and what initially sold me was how long the company had been around. I remember thinking, “It’s been around for so long; it’s going to withstand anything!” Especially now, I think it’s very rare for a family-owned business to have such longevity.

Eighteen years is a long time! Tell us the whole story!

For sure! As I said, when I started, we were still in the old building, and it was really tiny compared to the two buildings we’re in now. I was the Receptionist at the time, and my desk was right in the front lobby, so I would greet people as they came in. I greeted lots of long-term customers!

We had so many great memories in the old building. It’s shocking to think how we managed in such a small building, but the location had so much history, and it felt so cozy.

Ly packing up at the old Main & 2nd location.

When we moved to the new building in Burnaby, I was helping a lot more with inside sales and working as a Customer Service Rep. I would receive calls from super long-term customers, many who bought gloves back when we had a storefront on Main, and they would tell me; “You know, I’ve been buying gloves from Watson for 20-30 years.” It was great to hear that!

I was later promoted to Lead CSR and then a few years later, started assisting with our National Accounts Team. As of Dec. 2021 my position was officially National Sales Assistant.

The freedom to explore is exactly what I love about Watson. Regardless of the position you started in, your career path is allowed to change with you, and the managers are always there to support you with training and guidance! It’s all about continuous improvement.

What’s your most memorable moment at Watson Gloves?

hmmm I don’t think I can pick one! Many of the most memorable moments are from our AGMs because all the branches would come together in one location. It’s always fun to see people face-to-face. We would have a lot of meetings, but we’d also have a lot of fun together.

Ly and Dat Nguyen at the 2014 AGM Boat Cruise

What are some of the things you’re working on right now?

There are so many big projects being completed! Out East, I’ve been working closely with that team as they’ve been getting a lot of end-user interest, especially in our TRP gloves which are very popular right now. Closer to home, things have blown up big with the LNG project up in Kitimat; it’s so great!

What has the pandemic been like for you?

The pandemic has been a dramatic and challenging time for so many of us.

At the start of the pandemic, I was still doing a lot of CSR work and starting to transition into my new role. So I was juggling a job transition while learning to work from home and taking care of four kids! It was a real test, but not just for me; it tested the whole company. We all had to band together and work through so many challenges. Challenges like selling out of a year’s worth of disposables within three months!

Oh wow! What was that like for you?

At that time, I was not comfortable working from home yet, so it was a lot to handle! We kept getting these waves of backorders for disposables; it was challenging to manage things. As soon as we got stock, we were out of stock!

On top of the disposable glove issues, I was balancing childcare and figuring out homeschooling. It took a while to get the hang of things, but once I got in the groove, it was a breeze!

A breeze!? That doesn’t sound like a breeze! Did you have support?

Hahaha, yes, for sure; Watson worked with me to figure it all out. It was just about finding the balance and adjusting to the sudden changes. I was so used to that face-to-face interaction, and then suddenly it was like “what’s (Microsoft) Teams?”

It was awesome that we all managed to stay connected, and in a way, we really grew closer as a company!

After 17 years at Watson, what are you most proud of?

For me, the last two years during the pandemic were my proudest moments. Finding that work-life balance as I transitioned into this new job was rewarding. It was a lot of hard work, but since December 2021, I’ve been solely in the National Sales Assistant role!

Ly and the Watson Family in front of the old Watson Gloves building before it was demolished

What does the future look like?

I know that there will be many opportunities for me at Watson. I know this because the company is constantly growing year over year! I know I still have much to learn, which is why I am so excited about my new role. I’m going to soak it all in, and I’ll keep growing and learning from my colleagues, and taking advantage of the training and courses provided by Watson.

Watson is always investing in their employees, and I think with that mentality, the sky is the limit!

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