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Now Hiring: Freelance Production Manager

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Our client is an emerging luxury casual wear brand dedicated to crafting high-quality, sophisticated, and fashion-forward pieces for Gen Z and Millennial women who embrace creativity and boldness. They are looking for a highly skilled Freelance Production Manager with a deep understanding of luxury fashion to join their team. $60-100/hr. Reach out if interested!

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Your Guide to Social Media Careers: Job Hiring or Hunting

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Social media is more than just an extension of a brand’s marketing strategy—it’s where connection, creativity, and commerce intersect. For fashion, home, and beauty brands, having the right social media team is essential to stand out in today’s crowded digital landscape.

Whether you’re a candidate looking to make your mark in the industry or a brand seeking the right talent, here’s what’s shaping the most sought-after social media professionals.

1. Industry Knowledge is Key: Social media professionals who thrive in these industries know the audience, the trends, and the nuances of the market. Hiring managers are looking for candidates who can:

  • Stay in sync with industry trends: Whether it’s the rise of dopamine dressing in fashion, sustainable homeware, or multi-functional skincare, being informed adds immediate value.

  • Adapt to brand tone and personality: Social media strategies must reflect the brand’s identity. Knowing how to create content that aligns with an audience’s expectations—be it for a luxury home goods brand or a bold beauty startup—is critical.

2. Proven Skills in Influencer Marketing and Community Engagement: Relationships are at the heart of successful social media strategies. Candidates who can demonstrate expertise in:

  • Influencer marketing: Familiarity with platforms like LTK (formerly LIKEtoKNOW.it), AspireIQ, or other influencer management tools is highly valued. Hiring managers want candidates who know how to identify influencers, nurture partnerships, and measure the impact of these collaborations.

  • Community building: Beyond managing comments or DMs, brands need professionals who know how to cultivate a loyal audience, encourage meaningful conversations, and strengthen customer relationships through social platforms.

3. Content That’s Both Creative and Strategic: Content is the foundation of any social media strategy. Hiring managers are looking for candidates who can:

  • Create standout campaigns: From high-performing Instagram Reels to curated TikTok trends, having a portfolio that demonstrates creativity and measurable success is a must.

  • Leverage planning and analytics tools: Experience with tools like Sprout Social, Hootsuite, or Later shows the ability to manage campaigns effectively and use data to inform future strategies.

  • Track results: Brands want to see how your efforts translate into real growth—whether that’s engagement, audience expansion, or conversions.

4. A Blend of Creative and Technical Skills: Strong candidates know how to bring ideas to life while understanding the tools and strategies that make those ideas impactful. This includes:

  • Design and editing capabilities: Experience with platforms like Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, or CapCut can make a candidate stand out.

  • SEO and paid strategies: The ability to optimize content for search or create effective paid campaigns helps extend a brand’s reach and influence.

Our Role in Social Media Hiring

If you are looking for your next role, our team partners with some of the biggest names in fashion, home, and beauty. Whether you’re interested in startups or established brands, we’ll connect your expertise with roles that match your strengths.

For growing brands, we understand the industry and its unique challenges. From influencer marketing to analytics expertise, we help you find social media professionals who can elevate your digital presence and bring value to your team.

Looking Ahead

As the importance of social media grows, so does the need for professionals who can create impactful strategies, build strong communities, and deliver measurable results. Let’s connect!

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Now Hiring: Associate Designer

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Our client, a women’s swim and lifestyle brand, is looking for an Associate Designer to join their team and focus on their knits and soft wovens business. Working alongside the Design Director and cross functionally with tech and production, this is an exciting opportunity to grow with a team in a fast-paced and lively environment. Salary: $75-85K. Apply today!

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Finding the Perfect Fit: Where Creative Vision & Values Align

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Finding the right talent for your design and development teams can be challenging, as it requires identifying the perfect balance of both skillset and brand alignment. This challenge is even more pronounced in industries like fashion and retail, where creativity, innovation, and culture play pivotal roles.

As a specialized recruitment agency with expertise in the design and development space, our team takes a transformative approach to sourcing top talent. Our recruiters don’t just focus on technical skills; we also prioritize candidates who align with your brand’s vision and DNA. Whether you’re building innovative new technical gear or designing the next iconic fashion line, our brand-focused, industry specialized approach ensures that your team will have the talent it needs to succeed.

The Value of Industry Experience

When you’re hiring for Design and Merchandising roles, you need professionals who understand the nuances of your industry. Individuals who can navigate trends, anticipate consumer needs, and bring fresh ideas to life.

For brands like One Jeanswear Group, Everlane, and Haddad, industry-specific knowledge is essential. Our team of specialized recruiters have immersed ourselves in these industries, allowing us to identify and attract candidates who understand and align with your brand. Whether you need a designer who can anticipate the next big fashion wave, or a merchandiser who understands how to craft compelling product assortments that drive sales, our team’s extensive industry expertise ensures that we find talent who can help you lead the market, not just follow it.

A Brand-Focused Approach to Recruitment

In the design and merchandising space, creativity isn’t just about technical skills—it’s about aligning with a brand’s vision and understanding its DNA. A designer or merchandiser who resonates with your brand’s ethos can help shape collections and strategies that authentically represent your brand while also driving growth.

For example, Everlane's commitment to transparency and sustainable fashion requires designers who are not only skilled but also passionate about ethical production practices. One Jeanswear Group, with its rich history of iconic denim collections, needs talent who can balance innovation with heritage, creating designs that speak to both contemporary and traditional tastes. And for Haddad, which brings iconic children’s brands to life, merchandising teams need a deep understanding of the unique demands of kids’ apparel while staying on top of industry trends.

At EB, we take the time to understand what makes your brand unique. We work closely with you to ensure that every candidate we present doesn’t just fit the technical criteria but also embodies your brand’s values and vision. Our personalized approach ensures that the talent we deliver is the perfect brand and creative fit for your team.

Preparing to build your dream creative team in 2025? Let’s connect!

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Celebrating Retail Store Leaders

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It all starts long before the first holiday shopper walks through the door.

The months leading up to the holiday season demand a level of preparation, precision, and leadership that often goes unnoticed, yet is critical to ensuring success. From perfecting the visuals to orchestrating seamless operations and delivering outstanding customer service, retail leaders play a crucial role in translating the holiday magic from the digital world to physical reality.

The Execution: Logistics and Team Building

The execution of a successful holiday season relies on more than just product and visuals; it’s about people. It’s about anticipating the needs of your team and empowering them with the right tools, training, and leadership to handle the intensity of a bustling store environment.

Retail store leaders balance operational efficiency with customer-centric service, and it all begins with building a dynamic, best-in-class team.

Casey Elofson, Senior Store Brand Leader at Anthropologie (URBN) shared,

“For me, it’s all about the right people in the right places and planning ahead to make that happen.

I start in September/October with hiring, role development, and any timely team promotions. I prioritize giving my team the time and space needed to assimilate and grow confident prior to the stresses that the busy holiday workload will inevitably bring.

Setting up your team for success by starting early is key!” 

The Reward: A Seamless Customer Experience

This is where the magic happens: when highly trained associates are able to anticipate customer needs, engage meaningfully with shoppers, and offer personalized suggestions.

The result is a team who works seamlessly to create an atmosphere that feels authentic. Where customers can make meaningful connections with the brand and product which creates a standout shopping experience in an increasingly competitive landscape.

Industry Trends and the Future of Retail

The trends that have shaped retail in recent years, such as the integration of e-commerce with brick-and-mortar experiences and the rise of AI in personalization, have only added more layers to the complexity of managing retail stores. In fact, according to a McKinsey & Company report, 75% of consumers say they want a seamless shopping experience across digital and physical platforms. Retail leaders today need to be agile and adaptable, constantly refining their strategies to meet changing customer expectations and being omni present in an omni channel world.

Brands like Amazon have raised the bar in terms of operational efficiency, offering innovations like cashier-less checkout and drone delivery. While these innovations may not be available to every retailer, they provide valuable insight into the direction the industry is heading. Retail leaders are embracing these technologies where they can, but they also understand that the human element—exemplified by their own leadership and their teams—remains the driving force behind extraordinary customer experiences and strong KPI’s.

Honoring the Unsung Heroes

Retail store leaders are the unsung heroes who make the magic of the holiday season possible. Their meticulous planning, dedication to their teams, and customer service focus ensures that the most wonderful time of the year is also one of the most successful for their stores.

This holiday season let’s take a moment to celebrate these leaders who, through hard work, dedication, and unwavering commitment to excellence, provide the kind of experience that keeps customers coming back long after the holidays are over.

In the coming weeks as you find yourself in a store with a team ready to assist you, share a smile and some grace with the team. If you need something, ask! If you have a standout encounter with an employee, vocalize it! A little kindness and acknowledgement of their hard work goes a long way.

Looking for leaders to drive success for your brand?

At Emerging Blue, we specialize in helping brands identify and hire industry all-stars for their retail spaces. With a team of professionals who have led successful retail operations, we understand the intricacies of delivering exceptional in-store experiences. Our deep industry network and insider knowledge allow us to connect brands with top-tier talent—individuals who will elevate your team and set you apart during peak seasons. Let us help you build a dynamic workforce that’s not only skilled but passionate about delivering best-in-class service, ensuring your brand thrives in today’s competitive retail landscape.

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New Job: Sr. Manager, Digital Designer

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#NewJobAlert! We are hiring a Sr. Manager, Digital Designer for our client, a children’s brand based in SF. In this role, you will work closely with the creative team to develop and produce the brand’s e-commerce website, email campaigns, social, and online marketing initiatives. Salary: $135K

Interested? Learn more today!

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Now Hiring: Digital Graphic Designer

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We are seeking a highly talented and experienced Digital Graphic Designer to join our client’s Creative team. In this role, you will work with the Art Director to create innovative, high-quality designs aligned with our client’s brand standards, fostering creative excellence within the team. Hybrid (3 days in office) in Acton, MA. Salary: $58-75K.

Learn more today.