Viking Trophies’ Official Store Greeter is a Furry Feline Named Charlie
Recognition is a quality that everyone appreciates. Whether it be for a job well done, or years of dedication to an organization.
And for more than 50 years, Viking Trophies has helped to provide that service.
“We service everyone, from an individual looking to update a fantasy football trophy, to large corporate clients,” said Zenon Dawydowycz, the owner of Viking Trophies.
In this digital age, Dawydowycz says many of those clients want to physically see what sort of awards and recognition products they offer before making a purchase.
When he’s not sleeping in a box, Charlie provides entertainment to customers and employees alike at Viking Trophies.
“We do get a lot of traffic indoors,” he said. “People want to see and feel and kind of meet us, and then after that they can kind of place their orders online or via phone.”
When those customers make their way inside the Brooklyn Park shop, that’s when they meet the company’s mischievous and furry 10-year-old employee, Charlie.
Charlie is a rescue cat who made his way to Viking Trophies about eight years ago. A year later, he earned the title of official store greeter.
“It’s a positive presence,” Dawydowycz said. “He’s kind of a natural stress reliever, having him around.”
Staff members say he’s amassed quite the following over the years, with customers asking to see him when they come in.
“Usually you see an immediate change in their demeanor where they’re from business to like, oh it’s playtime,” said Brandon Newberg, a Viking Trophies employee.
A comfort animal
Yet aside from being an entertaining sideshow, Charlie’s role has evolved. Since the start of the pandemic, business at Viking trophies has taken a hit, and Charlie has become their unofficial comfort animal.
“He visits everyone through the course of the day and it’s just a nice break where it’s not work, it’s not this, you can just take a minute and interact with an animal and just kind of brings you back down a little bit,” Dawydowycz said.
Much like recognition, people also need distractions from everyday life. Even if it’s just for a brief moment, this furry feline earns his keep.
“He’s a great perk. He’s a great addition here,” Dawydowycz said.
