Supporting HR Teams Through the Hiring Process

HR Teams Do a Lot. The Right Recruiting Partner Can Help.

HR teams are responsible for so much more than hiring. On any given day, they may be supporting employees, navigating benefits, managing performance, strengthening company culture, handling compliance, and thinking about what their teams need next.

Talent acquisition is an important part of that work, but when hiring picks up or a particularly challenging role opens, recruiting can quickly become another priority competing for time.

With HR Appreciation Day coming up on September 26th, we wanted to recognize the teams behind so much of what keeps a company moving and highlight how the right recruiting partnership can provide additional support when needed.

At EB, we don’t see ourselves as a replacement for an internal HR or talent acquisition team. We’re here to be an extension of the team, stepping in where extra support can make the biggest difference.

Creating More Room for Other Priorities

Hiring can take a significant amount of time, especially when several roles are open at once. Sourcing candidates, reviewing resumes, scheduling interviews, following up, checking references, and working through offers all require attention.

Taking on some of the recruiting workload can give internal teams more room to focus on the other priorities that need their attention. The level of support can look different for every organization, whether EB is managing an entire search or helping with specific parts of the hiring process.

Our goal is to make the process easier while working alongside the internal team already doing the work.

Extra Support for the Searches That Need It

Some roles are simply harder to fill than others. A niche skill set, competitive market, senior-level position, or particularly specific brand fit can make a search more challenging.

An outside recruiting partner can bring another perspective and a wider talent network into the process. Many of our recruiters at EB come from the industries we recruit for, giving our team firsthand knowledge of the roles, brands, and talent within them.

Our recruiters also spend every day building relationships with candidates, including people who may not be actively applying to jobs. When an internal team has already explored its usual channels, a broader network can help connect the search with talent they may not have reached otherwise.

A Partner for Confidential Searches

Certain searches also require an added level of discretion. A sensitive transition, leadership position, or organizational change may call for a hiring process that stays confidential during the early stages.

Working with a recruiting partner can create some separation between the company and the initial search. EB can handle outreach and early conversations discreetly while keeping the internal team involved at the right points throughout the process.

Flexibility When the Team Needs It

Not every hiring need has an immediate permanent solution. A team may need additional support now while taking the time to find the right long-term hire.

Temporary talent can help bridge the gap during a busy season, while a permanent search is underway, or when an existing team simply needs additional support.

Recruiting partnerships can offer that same flexibility. Working with an agency doesn’t always mean handing over every open role. Extra support may be helpful for one difficult search, a period of rapid growth, or a particularly busy stretch when the internal team has more on its plate.

Helping With the Details, Too

Smaller pieces of the hiring process can often take up more time than expected. Writing or refining job descriptions, coordinating interviews, keeping candidates updated, checking references, and supporting offer negotiations can quickly add to an already full workload.

EB can step in to help manage those details and keep the process moving while staying aligned with the internal team.

Working closely with HR also gives our recruiters a better understanding of the company’s culture, team, and brand DNA. Over time, that context allows us to approach future searches with a clearer understanding of both the experience needed and the kind of person who can thrive within the organization.

An Extension of the Team

Some of our strongest recruiting relationships are built through ongoing partnership.

Internal HR teams bring a deep understanding of their people, culture, and business. EB brings additional recruiting resources, industry experience, candidate relationships, and the ability to step in when hiring requires more time or reach than the internal team has available.

Bringing those strengths together allows both teams to work toward the same goal: finding the right people while creating a thoughtful hiring experience along the way.

This HR Appreciation Day, we’re celebrating the people balancing so many of the moving pieces behind great teams. When recruiting adds another priority to an already full plate, EB is here to work alongside HR teams and help make the process a little easier.

Now Hiring: Sr. Accountant

We’re looking for a Sr. Accountant to join our client in the apparel industry and support the day-to-day accounting behind a fast-moving business.

This role is a great fit for someone with a strong accounting background who’s comfortable taking ownership of everything from journal entries and reconciliations to fixed assets and multi-state sales tax. SAP experience is required, along with 10+ years of accounting experience.

If you’re detail-oriented, analytical, and looking to bring your accounting experience to the apparel industry, we’d love to connect!

Now Hiring: Senior Manager of Merchandising - Home Decor

We’re looking for a Senior Manager of Merchandising to lead the Home Décor category and help shape what’s next for the business.

This role is for someone who really knows the home space, has a strong eye for product, and knows how to balance creative instincts with the numbers behind the business. You’ll lead assortment strategy, identify new product opportunities, and help expand categories across décor, seasonal, faux florals, pillows, throws, and more.

If you’ve built your career in home décor merchandising and are ready for your next opportunity, we’d love to connect!

Now Hiring: Sr. Brand Manager

If golf is already a big part of your life, this might be the role for you.

We’re looking for a Senior Brand Manager to join a fast-growing brand in the golf industry. You’ll help bring the brand to life across social, ecommerce, retail, partnerships, and athlete and ambassador programs, making sure everything feels consistent and true to the brand.

We’re looking for someone with strong brand marketing experience and a great creative eye, but there’s one thing that really matters for this role: you have to love golf. You play it, watch it, follow it, and genuinely understand the culture around it.

If you know brand marketing and golf is already all over your social feed, we’d love to connect!

What Caught Our Eye at NYFW: Spring/Summer 2027

New York Fashion Week has officially wrapped, giving us a first look at what designers have been working on for Spring/Summer 2027.

Last week, we shared a few of the EB clients we were especially looking forward to following this season. Now that the week has come to a close, we wanted to look back at some of the collections, presentations, and moments that stood out to us.

From seeing familiar brands return to the schedule to following some of the people in attendance, there was plenty that caught our attention throughout the week.

A Few We Were Already Watching

SIMKHAI, 7 For All Mankind, and Alice + Olivia were three brands we were looking forward to seeing heading into NYFW, and each brought a different perspective to Spring/Summer 2027.

SIMKHAI took a less expected approach to spring, experimenting with materials like leather, knits, and lace while finding new ways to work with elements that have long been part of the brand’s identity. 7 For All Mankind brought an early-2000s influence to its collection, with denim at the center alongside low-rise silhouettes, short shorts, silk scarves, and an overall more undone approach to styling. Alice + Olivia leaned into the color, print, embellishment, and personality we’ve come to associate with the brand, bringing its Spring/Summer collection to life through a presentation inspired by “Alice in Wonderland.”

After looking forward to these three brands ahead of Fashion Week, it was exciting to see how each approached the season while still maintaining a clear sense of identity.

Derek Lam

Derek Lam was another EB client we enjoyed following during Fashion Week.

The brand is continuing a new creative chapter under Robert Rodriguez, who joined Derek Lam in 2025 and presented his first collection for the brand during NYFW in February. For Spring/Summer 2027, the collection introduced more color, print, and embellishment while continuing some of the utilitarian details and architectural shapes associated with Derek Lam.

There’s something interesting about watching an established brand evolve while still maintaining the perspective people have come to recognize. This season gave us another look at where Derek Lam is headed and how that direction is continuing to take shape.

Beyond the Collections

Part of what makes Fashion Week interesting to follow is everything happening around the collections themselves, including the familiar faces showing up to support the brands.

Alice + Olivia brought out Paris Hilton, Jessica Alba, Nicky Hilton, Nikki Glaser, Tiffany Haddish, and Kate Walsh for its Spring/Summer 2027 presentation. SIMKHAI also had some familiar faces in attendance, including Simone Biles, François Arnaud, Minka Kelly, and Jesse Metcalfe, while Gavin Casalegno and Supriya Ganesh joined the brand’s pre-show reception.

Seeing who shows up is always another fun part of following Fashion Week. The front row, styling, and people surrounding a show can become an extension of the collection itself and add another layer to how we experience a brand during the week.

Another Fashion Moment We Loved: Rookie Kids

While it took place earlier this summer rather than during September’s NYFW, Haddad Brands’ Rookie Kids show was another recent fashion moment that caught our attention.

The 17th Annual Amazon Kids Back-to-School Fashion Show presented by Rookie Kids brought childrenswear to the runway in New York, featuring collections from Nike, Levi’s, Lacoste, Converse, and Hurley.

The event has become known for bringing together fashion, family, and entertainment, with professional child models walking alongside children of celebrity guests. This year’s guest list included familiar faces from across entertainment, sports, and fashion, including Ice-T and Coco, Lil’ Kim, Angela Simmons, Busta Rhymes, Jenni “JWoww” Farley, and more.

It was a fun look at another side of the industry and a reminder of just how many different categories, brands, and teams make up the larger fashion landscape.

Looking Back at Spring/Summer 2027

One of the things we enjoyed most about this season was seeing how differently each brand approached Spring/Summer 2027.

Some leaned further into the elements they’re already known for, while others introduced new ideas or continued moving in a different creative direction. Together, those collections gave us a look at where brands are headed and some of the ideas we may continue to see in the seasons ahead.

Working within the industry gives us an appreciation for everything that goes into bringing these moments together. From the creative teams developing the collections to the production, merchandising, marketing, and retail teams supporting the brand beyond Fashion Week, there are so many people behind what we eventually see.

For us at EB, it makes the week even more meaningful when some of those brands are ones we’ve had the opportunity to partner with. We loved following along with Spring/Summer 2027 and seeing what our clients, and the industry as a whole, brought to New York.

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Now Hiring: Retail Sales Associate

We’re looking for Pop-Up Retail Associates to join a long-term retail experience and help create a welcoming, engaging environment for every customer who walks through the door.

This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys connecting with people, staying active, and working as part of a team. A love of baking is definitely a plus!

If you’re looking for a fun, customer-focused retail opportunity, there’s room at the table for you. We’d love to connect!

Now Hiring: Controller

We’re looking for a hands-on Controller to take ownership of the accounting function for a rapidly growing apparel business with international manufacturing operations.

This is a great fit for someone who understands both apparel and manufacturing accounting, has experience with cost accounting and inventory, and is comfortable building processes as a business grows. Fluent Spanish is required for ongoing collaboration with the company’s South American operations team.

If you’re ready to take on a high-impact finance role within the apparel industry, we’d love to connect!

Now Hiring: Sr. Technical Designer- Women's Denim

We’re looking for a Senior Technical Designer – Women’s Denim to own fit and technical development across a growing denim category.

This role is for someone who truly knows denim, from fabric behavior and wash to construction, pattern making, and fit. You’ll have the opportunity to shape fit standards, solve technical challenges, and help create a better product and customer experience.

If women’s denim is your specialty and you’re ready for your next opportunity, we’d love to connect!

Now Hiring: Store Director

We’re looking for a Store Director to lead a new store opening in Atlanta, GA and help bring a premium outdoor lifestyle brand to life in a new city.

This is an exciting opportunity to build the store experience from the ground up, develop a strong team, and create genuine connections with customers and the Atlanta community.

If you’re an experienced retail leader who’s excited to make your mark on a new store, we’d love to connect!

EB Clients We’re Looking Forward to Seeing at NYFW

EB Clients We’re Looking Forward to Seeing at NYFW

New York Fashion Week is always an exciting time for the industry. It’s a chance to see what brands have been working on, where creative direction is headed, and some of the ideas that will shape the seasons ahead.

This September, there are a few names on the schedule that we’re especially excited to follow.

At EB, we’ve had the opportunity to partner with brands across different areas of the fashion industry, and it’s always exciting to see those relationships extend beyond the hiring process. This season, SIMKHAI, 7 For All Mankind, and Alice + Olivia are among the EB clients taking part in New York Fashion Week.

SIMKHAI

SIMKHAI has built a recognizable point of view around modern femininity, balancing structure with softer details and bringing a strong attention to craftsmanship to each collection.

The brand returns to the official NYFW schedule this September, and we’re looking forward to seeing how that perspective evolves for Spring/Summer 2027.

Fashion Week gives brands an opportunity to tell a larger story around a collection, and SIMKHAI is one we’re always interested to watch. The brand’s ability to evolve while maintaining a clear identity is part of what continues to make its collections feel distinctly SIMKHAI.

7 For All Mankind

For a brand with such a longstanding place in premium denim, there’s something particularly exciting about seeing 7 For All Mankind enter a new creative chapter.

This season brings another opportunity to see how the brand continues to build beyond the denim it has been known for since its start. With ready-to-wear becoming a bigger part of that story, its NYFW presentation offers a look at where the brand is headed next.

There’s a balance between honoring what people already know about an established brand and continuing to give them something new. We’re excited to see how 7 For All Mankind brings those two sides together this season.

Alice + Olivia

Alice + Olivia has never been a brand that shies away from personality. Color, print, texture, and playful styling have long been part of its identity, and its Fashion Week presentations tend to bring all of those elements together.

The brand returns to NYFW this September with its Spring/Summer 2027 presentation.

For us, part of the fun of following Alice + Olivia each season is seeing how a recognizable brand identity can take on something new. The collections may change, but there’s usually a sense of personality that makes them immediately feel connected to the brand.

Looking Ahead to Fashion Week

NYFW offers a snapshot of what’s happening across the industry at a particular moment. New ideas emerge; familiar brands evolve, and months of work across design, production, merchandising, marketing, and so many other teams finally come together.

Working within the industry gives us an appreciation for how many people are behind those moments.

We’re excited to follow along this September and see what SIMKHAI, 7 For All Mankind, Alice + Olivia, and the rest of this season’s designers bring to New York.

For us at EB, it’s especially meaningful to see brands we’ve had the opportunity to partner with be part of the week.

More on this topic:

Now Hiring: Store Manager

We’re looking for a Store Manager to lead a team focused on creating a welcoming, elevated experience while building strong relationships with customers and the local community.

This is a great opportunity for someone with a strong sales background, an entrepreneurial mindset, and a passion for developing both people and business. If that sounds like your next move, we’d love to connect!

Now Hiring: Ecommerce Manager

We’re looking for an Ecommerce Manager to help shape the online experience for a growing consumer brand, from how products are merchandised to how customers move through the site.

This role is a great fit for someone with Shopify Plus experience who enjoys digging into performance, testing new ideas, and finding ways to improve conversion and customer experience.

If ecommerce is your space and you’re ready for your next opportunity, we’d love to connect!

AI As Part of the Hiring Conversation

AI As Part of the Hiring Conversation

AI has quickly become part of the way many teams work, and naturally, it’s starting to come up more often in hiring conversations, too.

As recruiters, we’re seeing employers take an interest in candidates who have some familiarity with AI and understand how it can support their work. This doesn’t necessarily mean being an AI expert or having a technical background. In many cases, employers are looking for candidates who are comfortable with the tools available and understand when they can make a process more efficient.

For candidates thinking about their next move, AI experience is becoming another skill worth developing and, when relevant, talking about during the hiring process.

AI Experience Can Look Different Across Roles

There isn’t one definition of “AI experience,” especially across creative and consumer industries. How someone uses AI in a marketing role will look very different from how it might support someone working in design, ecommerce, recruiting, finance, or operations.

A marketer might use AI to help organize research or analyze campaign insights, while someone in ecommerce could use it to work through product data or identify patterns. Creative teams may explore AI during early research and ideation, while other functions might use it to simplify repetitive administrative work.

The value comes from understanding how the technology can support the work while still relying on the experience, judgment, and creativity behind it.

Employers Are Interested in How It’s Being Used

Simply listing an AI platform under the skills section of a resume doesn’t say much on its own. Sharing how that platform has actually been used can give employers a much better sense of someone’s experience with AI.

If an AI tool helped streamline a process, organize information, support research, or save time on a repetitive task, that context tells a much stronger story. Candidates can include relevant examples on a resume, but these experiences can also come up naturally during an interview.

There’s a difference between knowing the name of an AI tool and understanding how to use it thoughtfully. As AI becomes more common in the workplace, that distinction is becoming more important.

Curiosity Goes a Long Way

AI is changing quickly, which means there will always be something new to learn. Candidates don’t need experience with every platform or the latest tool to show that they’re comfortable with the technology.

Taking the time to explore the tools that are relevant to a particular field can be a good place to start. This could mean learning how AI is already being used within a current role, experimenting with a new platform, or simply staying informed about how the technology is changing the industry.

For someone early in their AI experience, talking about what they’ve learned and where they see opportunities to use it can be just as meaningful as having a long list of tools on a resume.

The Human Side Still Matters

With so much conversation around AI, it can be easy to assume that every employer is looking for someone who can automate more of their work. What we’re seeing is more nuanced, with employers showing interest in AI skills while continuing to value the human experience behind the work.

The skills that have always mattered still matter. Creativity, communication, industry knowledge, problem-solving, leadership, and good judgment don’t become less valuable when AI enters the picture. If anything, knowing how to pair those skills with new technology can make them even stronger.

In industries built around brands and people, the human perspective remains a big part of the work.

Adding AI to the Career Story

For candidates already using AI, it may be worth taking another look at how that experience is represented professionally. Rather than adding “AI” as a standalone skill, think about where it has actually made a difference in the work.

A resume bullet can mention a process that became more efficient. A portfolio might show how AI supported research or ideation while still making the candidate’s own contribution clear. During an interview, a real example can help explain not only which tools were used, but why they were useful.

As recruiters, we’re always paying attention to the skills employers are asking about and how those needs are changing. AI is becoming part of that conversation, but it’s still one piece of a much bigger picture when evaluating talent.

The goal isn’t to become an AI expert overnight. Staying curious, continuing to learn, and understanding how these tools can complement existing skills and experience can help candidates feel more prepared as AI becomes a bigger part of the workplace.

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Whether you’re growing your technical design career or bringing years of experience to the table, these roles offer the chance to work hands-on with fit, construction, and product development.

If technical design is your specialty and you’re looking for your next opportunity, we’d love to connect!

Now Hiring: High Point Showroom Support

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If you’re reliable, enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, and are looking for temporary work during the Market, we’d love to connect. High Point University students are encouraged to apply!

Now Hiring: General Manager

We’re looking for a General Manager for our menswear client in Nashville. This is an exciting opportunity for a sales-driven leader to oversee the day-to-day, grow the business, and create an environment where both the team and customers feel connected to the brand.

If this sounds like the right fit for you, we’d love to connect!