People of Power Adhesives Michelle Swinge – Sales Support Coordinator

Next up in our People of Power spotlight: Michelle Swinge, one of our brilliant Sales Support Coordinators.

Michelle joined Power Adhesives in late 2024, and brought a wealth of customer service experience to the team. Responsible for looking after customers in the EMEA & APAC regions, Michelle reflected on her first few years at Power, her progression during that time, and where she sees Power in the future.

Background & Journey

1. How did your journey with Power Adhesives begin?

I came from the publishing industry where I worked in international sales.  So having been made redundant, I wanted another role within sales support and the role at Power Adhesives was ideal.  I work with mainly our European customers, along with our customers in Australia, NZ, India, Asia, South Africa and UAE.

2. What made you choose to stay with the company for so long?

I’ve just completed 2 years with the company.  I work with a great team and there’s a friendly culture at Power Adhesives.  Staff wellbeing is really important here and I enjoy the various activities that are organised throughout the year.  I also work with great customers from across the globe.

3. How has your role evolved over the years?

Within a year I was training and mentoring new team members.  Supporting other departments, which has been great for training and getting to know other colleagues throughout the business.  I now carry out audits within the company.

4. How would you describe the company culture in three words?

Friendly, supportive, ambitious.

Innovation & Leadership

5. What’s one innovation or project you’ve worked on that you’re most proud of?

One of things I’m most proud of is developing and maintaining a centralised system to closely monitor our international orders from the point of order through to dispatch. It gives me a clear overview of open orders and their progress, helping me stay organised and ensure nothing gets missed.

With international customers, there can be a lot of moving parts, so having a clear overview allows me to stay proactive rather than simply reacting when something goes wrong. It helps me identify potential delays early, coordinate with the relevant teams and keep our distributors updated with accurate, real-time information.

Although it’s something that happens behind the scenes, I’m proud of the difference it makes to our customer service. Our distributors know where their orders stand, what they can expect and that their orders are being actively monitored. For me, it’s about making the whole process as smooth and reliable as possible.

6. How does Power Adhesives stay ahead in the industry?

Putting our customers first and listening to them.  Continuing to develop our products and be the best at what we do.

7. How have you seen technology or processes change since you started?

The development of new applicators and adhesives, in particular biodegradable adhesives.  We have also implemented a new CRM.

People & Teamwork

8. What do you enjoy most about working with your team?

Everyone is friendly here and we get on really well.  We support and help each other and we have a really supportive manager.

9. Are there any mentors or colleagues who have had a big impact on your career?

Yes, when I joined the team I had a great mentor who had 20 years experience in the industry.  I was able to gain valuable knowledge of the customers and our products.

Future

10. Where do you see Power Adhesives heading in the next 5–10 years?

Continuing to grow and be at the forefront of biodegradable adhesives.