Luise Dalhoff on error culture, fashion and family

Luise, you are Leader Category Management Lifestyle - what is behind this title?
My job is to drive the Sport & Fashion, Beauty & Health, and Baby & Toys categories for the European market. We are a small team here in Hamburg and draw on the resources in Switzerland. So we have a hybrid setup and work very closely together across countries. I try to connect the teams, find synergies and see where we can turn which screws to get the best possible result.

What does that look like in concrete terms in your day-to-day work?
I always start the day the same way: I look at what has happened. Did a mishap or something cool happen? For example, we sold 200 limited edition Barbies in one day. I actually do that to identify outliers or to hand out praise. Three times a week we have a team check-in where we chatter and strengthen our team spirit. Otherwise, there are various meetings where we exchange information, discuss new projects or localize problems. I am also involved in negotiations with partners for the Galaxus EU store. At the moment we are massively busy with the development and expansion of our area, so I invest a lot of time in recruiting in order to find great people.

Sounds varied. What challenges do you face?
As a small team, we are like a gnat when we go into talks with potential partners, because they are elephants in each case. This requires a lot of persuasion and negotiating skills, as well as our Galaxus spirit, which we also like to bring across externally. In addition, we have our large Swiss parent and considerable growth figures behind us, which are attracting more and more attention. On the one hand, that's cool to see, but on the other hand, being considered the underdog is one of the biggest challenges.

I heard that you previously worked in Zurich. How did that come about and how did you become aware of Digitec Galaxus?
I went to Zurich with my boyfriend because he was drawn to Switzerland for work. I first became a mom and then looked for a job. Originally, I come from the retail sector and have gained different experiences at the Otto Group and working with Amazon. So it was clear to me that I would return to e-commerce after my baby break. But in Switzerland, I had to realize that the Amazon I know from Germany doesn't exist. Our Swiss friends then said: "We have Digitec Galaxus". So I took a look at Digitec Galaxus and it was immediately clear to me: I have to go there, it's a 100% fit! When a suitable position was advertised, I applied immediately - and luckily it worked out.

And how is it that you're in Hamburg now?
I started in Zurich in April 2020, in the middle of the pandemic, and since then I've changed jobs internally every six months. I started in the Fashion division, where I was responsible for purchasing. Then I took on a new challenge and moved to Portfolio Development within the division. There I integrated new partners and expanded the marketplace. I was then promoted to my current position and returned to Hamburg in the course of this. That was a win-win situation for me: I was able to return to my hometown and seize an incredible professional opportunity.

What surprised you the most about Galaxus?
Galaxus has many advantages and a mentality that I underestimated: the personal, the edgy character, and the culture of making mistakes. If something goes wrong, then something goes wrong. We are not glossy, but we are honest, loud and different. And both Swiss and Hanseatic. I find all that very cool.

Are you also passionate about lifestyle topics outside of work?
I burn for fashion and am actually a fourth-generation fashionista, because my great-grandfather already had a sewing factory - I was sort of born into it. And I have to confess: I've used most of my employee discounts in fashion so far, which actually shows that I personally have a great affinity for it (laughs). In general, I'm definitely a lifestyle enthusiast: I'm very interested in beauty topics and I love to do sports. I also think it's cool to get involved with the Baby & Toys category. My daughter will be surprised what I know (laughs).

And what else do you do to balance out your job?
There's my child, so my private schedule is already pretty full (laughs). As a family, we love taking trips in our camper van. When we lived in Switzerland, we went to the mountains almost every weekend, either for skiing or hiking, depending on the season. Here in Hamburg we have to see where we go with the camper, maybe we change to mudflat hiking (laughs).

You say that with a child, the schedule is pretty full. Do you find it difficult to balance family life with your job?
I never felt like I couldn't do justice to my child through my work at Galaxus. I work full time and full power because I enjoy what I do tremendously. I firmly believe that happy moms also have happy kids. I have always received enough trust, flexibility and understanding from Galaxus as an employer to organize my private life. For example, during the pandemic we also had to go through the odd quarantine - a child on my lap or Peppa Pig music in the background was never a problem. Or the fact that I get off work early on certain days to pick up my daughter from daycare and work longer on other days - I really appreciate that. I think it's good to be able to adjust your workload to your circumstances and to be able to take on a management position even with a 4-day week.

Thank you for the interview.
Click herefor the Galaxus job vacancies in Germany.