Kara Arnold

Makeup Artist/Event Support (Estee Lauder Companies)

• Estee Lauder, Smashbox, Bobbi Brown, Too Faced

Brand Ambassador/ FT market influencer (Beauty Barrage)

• Brands serviced: Proactiv, Perricone MD, Meaningful Beauty, Dermablend, Covergirl, It’s a 10 Haircare, Clairol, and Sally Hansen.
• Multi-unit sales and training: up to 9 locations serviced weekly/monthly

Freelance Makeup Artistry (Freelance/Contracted)

• Schedule on-site and off-site makeup appointments for clientele, including travel and overnight accommodation.
• Consultations focused on understanding clients’ desired outcomes while creating a girlfriend experience through customer service and follow-up.
• Provide clients with personalized skincare recommendations to support the maintenance of healthy skin.
• Keep up-to-date with style industry standards, trends, and techniques to provide optimal aesthetic services to every client.
• Assist clients in achieving desired looks for routine wear and special events by crafting ideal makeup strategies.
• Areas of expertise include weddings, prom, tutorial-based/education, and Halloween looks.
• Short-term Q1 (2020) with W3ll People Cosmetics: Brand Influencer/Educational Sales (position eliminated due to covid-19)

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Vendor/brand experience within Ulta Beauty, Sephora, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Dillard’s, Elder-Beerman, and Whole Foods.
• Sephora Education Certificate (Perricone MD :Beauty Barrage, January 2019).
• Lead Artist for Nordstrom anniversary event (Bobbi Brown: Estee Lauder, July 2019).

• Coached 4 legacy employees who were performing at sub-par levels, bringing up performance levels in all associates amongst the impact of the 2020 pandemic.
• Successfully closed store location, including removal of products, materials, and fixtures, and team member management of severance and company policies: store closure in Jan. '21.
• Maintained communication and support during 2020 Covid-19 Pandemic closure, holding weekly cosmetics artistry contests and store team training calls.
• Fostered environment that empowered and encouraged relationship-building and innovation by actively networking and involving associates and management in community outreaching and sourcing.
• Consistently focused on networking, recruiting, and interviewing to grow talent pipeline. including hiring, termination, and promotion of 7 employees.
• Identified opportunities to build clientele through events (including virtual) and new product launches, and championed customer loyalty program through vigorous sampling and follow-up.
• Responsible for schedule management based on business needs, and managing payroll budget. Experience includes payroll approval, timecard correction, and PTO requests.
• Fostered a comfortable learning environment with company POS updates, implementation of new payroll database (kronos to ADP), and company initiatives to reduce costs.
• Consistently reviewed business trends through Shoppertrak, increasing conversion amidst low traffic trends during the pandemic by outsourcing clients through care calls and marketing campaigns to increase revenue.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Raised store from #27 to #3 outlet in company for overall 2020 YTD performance, within 7 months, amidst global pandemic.
• Consistently recognized as top outlet performer during company KPI contests, including swing, sales goals, SGR, ADS, and UPT.
• Achieved #1 Outlet sales performance on Black Friday, 2020.
• Reduced shrink in high-risk location to under 2% within six months.
• Launched and implemented SGR (Self-Generated Revenue) program, consistently exceeding company’s objective of 15% of total sales.
• Implemented Afterpay program, consistently earning company recognition for top outlet sales penetration, using form of pay.
• Managed multiple district projects, including presentations, policy update and communication, working directly with over 10 store locations.

• Responsible and accountable for business sales, performance, customer service, personnel management and development, visual presentation, operations, and inventory management of onsite and offsite storage.
• Created work schedules according to sales volume and number of employees, and approved regular payroll submissions.
• Applied performance data to evaluate and improve operations, target current business conditions, and forecast needs.
• Scheduled and led weekly store meetings for all employees to discuss sales promotions and new inventory while providing a platform for all to voice concerns.
• Implemented new services, including hot towel facials, to promote cosmetics and skincare category to drive additional revenue.
• Generated outstanding client recruiting and conversion by accurately organizing and executing vendor partnerships and events, initiated at store level and approved by company executives.
• Ensured outstanding service by creating an environment that is focused on providing personalized experiences that exceeds customer expectations, prioritizing superior standards.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Devised, deployed, and monitored processes to boost long-term business success and increase sales performance from -$4,000 to over $7,000 within first three months of position, increasing quarterly sales target by over 10%.
• Received company recognition for 2017 Holiday sales performance to LY and KPI growth, including national highlight on employee dashboard.
• Consistently in top performance of district for sales and KPI’s: specializing in growth of ADS/UPT/CONVERSION and loyalty penetration.

• Responsible and accountable for all operational and sales aspects of store location, plus additional location inside of Macy's department store.
• Coached sales associates in product specifications, sales incentives and selling techniques, significantly increasing customer satisfaction ratings.
• Generated client retention by accurately organizing and executing clientele program to drive additional business beyond maternity needs.
• Created work schedules according to sales volume and number of employees, and monitored payroll for maximum profitability and performance.
• Applied performance data to evaluate and improve operations, target current business conditions, and forecast needs.
• Scheduled and led weekly store meetings for all employees to discuss sales promotions and new inventory while providing a platform for all to voice concerns.
• Rotated merchandise and displays to feature new products and promotions, including window, wall, table and t-rack displays.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Devised, deployed, and monitored processes to boost long-term business success and increase yearly performance over LY by 10% and target by 3% within first 4 months.
• Reduced turnover in a high-risk location, maintaining full-staff and filling open positions within 2 weeks of need.

• Assisted with training and development of ten employees in $1 million annual revenue company while promoting model of legendary service within store and salon.
• Supervised sales floors, performing Manager on Duty shifts, driving retail and salon performance by addressing guest concerns, coaching associates, and maintaining loss prevention standards.
• Led weekly shipment load, processing to ensure productivity goals; managed all roll-around carts and bunkers and completed inventory processes, such as out-of-stocks, RTVs, RTDCs, damages, and cycle counts.
• Planned and coordinated product availability for advertising and promotion purposes, including management of weekly and monthly promotional changes
• Removed damaged, out-of-code, not-in-set and discontinued items from displays.

• Responsible for all educational goals and team training certifications of 5 Sephora staff members including beauty trends, application techniques, brand/product knowledge, and selling skills.
• Effectively implemented adult learning principles through monthly hands-on educational experiences to specific groups, such as beauty advisors, management, and store employees.
• Performed continuous evaluations of content and plans, individualizing educational goals for consultants in order to enhance delivery and improve effectiveness.
• Researched and incorporated current trends and data into standard curriculum for makeup, skincare, and cosmetic knowledge.
• Collaborated with subject matter experts in evaluation and revision of training tools in order to continually improve learning platforms.
• Cultivated and nurtured relationships with customers in strategic vertical markets to support ongoing definition of differentiated product value.
• Implemented up-selling strategies, such as recommending accessories and complementary purchases to boost revenue, maintaining top performance in the store location for KPIs.
• Top store performer for KPI’s, booking events, and client recruiting.

• Managed cosmetics counter business to acquire outstanding client retention rates, by implementing clientele program and capitalizing on store merchandising and partnership events.
• Improved service quality, resulted in shift of $14,000 deficit to $2,000 surplus within six months in 2012.
• Developed strong knowledge of company's products and services, driving counter business by educating customers and neighboring counters, to share clientele, when applicable.
• Managed day-to-day tactical and long-term strategic activities within business, developed department procedures and implemented company policies to maximize cosmetics sales.
• Offered feedback to executive-level management on effectiveness of strategies, selling programs, and initiatives.

• Improved service quality and increased sales by developing a strong knowledge of company's products and services and selling techniques.
• Assisted customers in finding out-of-stock items, including special orders both in person and via telecommunication, to accommodate requests and acquire additional revenue.
• Strengthened merchandising and promotional strategies to drive customer engagement and boost sales.
• Developed product research and coordinated individual marketing tasks via social media; launched and managed social media marketing for company (Facebook).