“The wants and needs of German and Austrian customers are quite different.”

Meet Anna H?sler , Inventory Manager Austria, and learn about how she and her colleagues are working on idealo becoming Austria’s number one comparison platform.

What is your name and in which area do you work at idealo??

I’m Anna and I work as an Inventory Manager at idealo International for the Austrian market.?

How would you explain your job to your parents/friends???

I am working on our catalogue expansion. This means that I look for offers that are offered on the internet, that people are interested in and that dealers who are already under contract with us offer and then place them in our catalogue. Thus, I ensure that idealo Austria can offer a wide range of products.?

What is your story and how did you come to idealo??

I am originally from Warsaw and have lived in Germany for 20 years. I worked for a large clothing manufacturer as a visual merchandiser for 17 years, setting up and expanding shops all over the world. Then in 2018, when many shops closed, I knew that if I wanted to change something, I had to do it now. I wanted to continue working with products but online and decided to do a dual apprenticeship as an eCommerce merchandiser in Berlin. That’s how I started at idealo. During this time I joined the Austria team and was able to gain experience in various departments such as B2B, Brand & Communication and Country Management. After the end of the internship, a position was created for me and since July I am a full-time employee.??

What was your experience of working as an intern after your many years of experience??

I was a fresh starter in this business, so I've had an immense growth curve. I also got to participate in the training camp of all idealo trainees, who were all just 21 years old. That was an unusual but also fun and cool experience. I also remember my start at idealo: The office building seemed so intimidating! But I liked what was hidden behind it from day one: The colleagues were all open and we as employees, no matter what level, were trusted. I had never experienced that before in my previous positions and I knew from the beginning that this was what I wanted.??

What is your goal and how does your work helps us as a company to achieve our goals??

idealo ranks second among comparison platforms in Austria and our goal is to become number one. We already have more and better offers in Austria and many local retailers than other platforms. We therefore have great potential, which is great for idealo as a whole and the German market can also benefit from the offers we bring to the platform in Austria.?

What do you think makes your work at idealo so exciting??

idealo is a company with a future because online commerce offers great potential. We constantly adapt to the market and are therefore very flexible. It's not always easy and changes can also be difficult, but that's how we continue to develop and things always move forward. I also have a special private connection to Austria, I like the country, and to be able to work for the Austrian market now is great. And it's also the team, of course: all my colleagues are great, there is no elbow mentality, and I have the best and most supportive boss I've had in my entire career so far.?

Is there anything about you that has been particularly formative for your personal development at idealo??

I had to give a presentation about my Austria project in front of all the team members of the content department. I was so nervous and had never spoken in front of so many people! But I mastered it and got great feedback. It was a great opportunity to jump over my shadow and develop myself and you should always take such chances.?

Do you have any tips for career changers??

Always try it out, it's worth leaving your comfort zone because it will take you further.?

Thank you, Anna!

Ready to start your own journey at idealo? Check out our open positions here.?