March 18, 2025 Women’s History Month Employee Spotlight: Mary Lou
For Women’s History Month, we’re sharing stories from some of the women leaders at Crossroads who have played key roles in the company’s 33-year history.
Today, we’re excited to introduce you to Mary Lou Bagatan, our District Buyer Trainer for the Sacramento/Central Valley who is celebrating 16 years with the company next month!
Meet Mary Lou
Please tell us a little about your career journey at Crossroads.
I tell everyone that my career in fashion really started when my mom took me to my first Crossroads. I was in middle school, and it really ignited my love for Crossroads and shopping secondhand.
In 2009, I was hired on as a part-time Floor Supervisor at our outlet store in Stockton. I grew into an Assistant Manager position and transferred to our Sacramento store in 2012, where I continued to develop my management skills and became the Store Manager. I stayed in that role until January of 2023, when I took on my current role of District Buyer Trainer.
Which part of your Crossroads career makes you most proud?
The work in my current role as a District Buyer Trainer is what I’m most proud of. I love that I get to train and develop future buyers for Crossroads. It’s what I’ve found to be the most rewarding, and it’s something that I’m passionate about.
What’s your favorite part of the job?
The people I work with, and the relationships and connections I’ve made over the years with our Crossroads community.
What do you love to do on your day off?
I love spending quality time with my family – reading, thrifting/antiquing, and coffee dates are some of my favorite pastimes.
What advice would you give to people who want to start a career in fashion?
Working in fashion is like finding your own personal style; you might have to try on several different looks until you find the fit that feels right for you. And like the fashion cycle, sometimes that style changes over time as you grow. It’s never too late to try something new!
