Piia Vaehaesalo
Entrepreneur, lead designer
An inexhaustible source of creativity, the spirit and soul of Utua. Piia is inspired by anything and everything, and as a skilled artistic personality, she gets to work immediately, and soon a new project is underway. And they don't get left unfinished; reaching the finish line is more the rule than the exception. Utua grows and develops under Piia's firm leadership: new collections are created, the online store is developed, and the sky's the limit!
Marja-Kaisa Linna
Collection Coordinator
There's nothing in Utua's shop or office that this industrious and efficient jack-of-all-trades can't handle. And if she can't, just wait a minute and she'll have it sorted. "Maika" is a girl from Kokkola who has traveled the world in her previous jobs. She has solid expertise in both purchasing and sales. The world of bags has captivated her, and she has a firm grasp of leather types and properties. Maika is skilled in Excel, Canva, and Shopify, and as a powerhouse, she keeps the entire Utua operation running smoothly.
under control.
Merja Hammar
Sales and Marketing Coordinator
Most often, this former advertising agency entrepreneur can be found at the computer working on graphic design and content creation, but sometimes also...
from the store side. Blogs, newsletters, social media updates and other necessary texts are a pleasant task, but also newspaper advertisements, brochures, labels and other printable leaflets and flyers that require a graphic designer's touch are part of the job description. Utua needs a wide range of skills and versatility is Merja's trump card. It is pulled out of the sleeve whenever a suitable wordsmith or a stylish advertisement is needed.
Katja Mattila
Growth Manager
Listing Katja's portfolio would take up far too much space in this personal description! Not that her extensive expertise wouldn't deserve it. But the former competitive gymnast and fitness entrepreneur has now, through many twists and turns, found herself accelerating Utua's international growth through digital marketing. Creativity, vision, and planning are her favorite areas of work, and these are exactly what the handbag business needs, in addition to brilliant technical expertise.
Timo Juntunen
E-commerce Specialist
Growing things big is Timo's passion. Whether it's assembling a greenhouse from old office cubicle windows or building an e-commerce store. At Utua, he's building our digital sales channel like a childhood Lego city: stacking new worlds on an already good foundation, where people beyond Finland can discover Utua's bags.
KATI KASTELL
Salesperson
Kati's gentle voice is recognized both from Utua's store and from the Langin Kauppahuone telephone. This sovereign charmer of the service industry tells Utua's story with constant enthusiasm to both new and old customers. Among her favorite encounters are chatting with admiring tourists and showcasing the sights of Old Raahe. Hearty laughter often echoes from the store when Kati engages visitors in interesting conversations. And when there are no customers, she effortlessly creates captivating social media updates about life at Lang.
Oona Simila
Chief Operating Officer / Langin Kauppahuone
Piia's daughter has inherited a busy nature and organizational skills. Oona juggles dozens of things a day.
I run between Lang's kitchen, café, event spaces, and office. Utua's bags are as familiar to me as the recipe for cinnamon buns, and I fill in for the Utua staff in the shop when needed. Oona has also served admirably as a mannequin for Utua. No task is foreign to her in managing this manor complex. Sometimes she throws on an 1800s-style shop assistant's dress and presents Lang's history to groups. A real powerhouse, but she's young and has the energy!
Pasi Siipola - photo coming soon
The master and the farmhand
If something is broken or a hinge needs oiling, or if a sleeping nook needs to be built for Santa's elf by the window, or if the captain's adventure sauna needs heating for the guests of Langin Kauppahuone, Pasi is already on his way. Piia's husband's job description includes all repair, restoration, construction, and entertainment work. He stops by daily to crack a joke or two for the amusement of the women of Utua, and there is no situation for which the witty Pasi cannot come up with a suitable proverb or lighthearted comment.
Here we are.
We all work in Raahe, in the heart of the old town. Here in the blue building, we also wrap the bag you order through our online store in tissue paper and gently hand it over to the courier.
See here where our bags are for sale everywhere besides Raahe!
