A Conversation with...Sheldon Benson

For our January edition of "A Conversation with...", we spoke with Direct Packing Supervisor Sheldon Benson to hear more about his role and the path that lead him to supporting our Distribution Center in Tilton, NH.

Read on to get to know Sheldon and our Tilton office a bit better. Want to join Sheldon and his team? Check out our latest roles here.

J.Jill: You have an important job within our Distribution Center. Tell us more about it!

Sheldon: As the Direct Packing Supervisor in the Distribution Center, my role is to coordinate workflow through the department and ensure that all customer orders are fulfilled. Within the Put-To-Order process, Packing is the last department that handles the merchandise that goes directly to customers. We as a team are responsible for sorting each unit individually to build the customer’s complete order as accurately as possible, and then create the box or bag that the orders are shipped in. Given the various types of orders that we see, there are many different types of sorting and packing processes that I coordinate. Each day, our goal is to ship all units and keep the team working efficiently from start to finish.

J.Jill: As the last point of contact before our products are shipped to customers, your role is so important to ensuring things continue to run smoothly from start to finish. Have you always held this position with us?

Sheldon: Actually, I’ve had quite the eclectic path at J. Jill. I started working here in June 2012. I originally was a Seasonal Returns Associate for the summer because I was still in college at the time. I returned as a Seasonal Direct Stock Associate the following two summers before I became a regular Part-Time associate in November. For a short time, I was promoted to the Direct Autobagger Lead until the Weekend Shift started in 2016, when at that point I became Supervisor of Packing and Returns. In 2019, I was moved to Direct Stock Supervisor of the Weekend Shift for a year before splitting my responsibilities between Packing Supervisor and Direct Stock Supervisor to ensure there was adequate leadership between both departments while we had a split-shift implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. November 2020 is when I took the permanent role I’m currently in as Direct Packing Supervisor.

J.Jill: That’s an impressive path that showcases both your dedication to the business but also the opportunities you’ve had to learn different facets of how our Distribution Center operates! With such a diverse set of experiences you’ve had at J.Jill, what attracted you to join the company, and what do you love most about working here?

Sheldon: In all honesty, this was the first place I have worked other than college Work Study jobs and my Barbering Apprenticeship, but as time went on this became the one place I chose to work and stepped away from cutting hair. Since I started there has been a phenomenal core group of leaders and associates that have helped me develop as a professional and an individual. Everyone does a great deal for one another. It’s the people I am around every day that are most enjoyable and the comradery that goes into achieving a common goal.

J.Jill: We love hearing this! We can imagine during the holiday season this sense of comradery is important in helping everyone achieve their goals. With that in mind, if you could share one word to describe what it’s like working within our Distribution Center during that time of year, what would it be and why?

Sheldon: Rewarding. The reason I say this is because of months of preparations that go into the actual 3-5 weeks of our Holiday season and seeing all of it come together to achieve our goals and fulfill every customer’s order. It’s easy to take for granted how simple it is to place an order and receive it in the mail but knowing what goes on behind the scenes to process that order from start to finish, all the moving pieces necessary to get one person their merchandise, and then taking a step back to realize how much volume is processed, is quite a feat.

J.Jill: We couldn’t deliver for our customers without you and the hard work of your team. On that topic, what advice would you offer someone interested in joining the Tilton team?

Sheldon: Patience and an open mind are key. With so many moving pieces and a fluctuating volume of work, it takes time to become well-versed in multiple functions and departments. But once those things start to fall into place, it makes for a great experience, not just because you become more versatile within the workplace, but because of all you can learn and develop as an individual while you do so.