Kara Mcclurg Email & Phone Number

Serving up high-quality graphic design, copywriting, branding, communications, illustrations, and marketing strategy for small businesses here, there, and everywhere.

North Carolina, United States

I was promoted to this role after Blue Moon Estate Sales was acquired by the global private equity firm behind Best Life Brands, a family of companies focused on the continuum of care. The Best Life Brands roster included Blue Moon Estate Sales, ComForCare Home Care, At Your Side Home Care, CarePatrol Senior Placement, and Boost Home Healthcare. • Provided creative solutions, editorial direction, graphic design, and large-scale marketing and communication strategies that drove profitability, engagement, and value for four nationally franchised brands • Promoted brand awareness, B2B relationships, franchise development, and B2C initiatives via the creation of drip campaigns, pitch decks, digital ads, newsletters, direct mail campaigns, blogs, ebooks, and traditional print marketing assets• Controlled internal, B2B, B2C, and social media communications in a 400+ unit portfolio company• Redesigned weekly events newsletter, driving subscriber revenue, unique clicks, and web traffic to repeated all-time highs• Managed contractors, suppliers, and in-house content specialist to elevate outcomes and ensure deadlines were met while maintaining brand standards• Led effective webinars, training, and national conference sessions with original decks and deliverables• Created and orchestrated a national program connecting isolated seniors to individuals across the country via handwritten letters and cards during COVID-19 quarantines

North Carolina

Professional Swiss Army knife for Blue Moon Estate Sales HQ• Shaped the BMES identity and experience to increase event revenue, B2B partnerships, and franchise owner conversions• Increased revenue and website traffic via popular weekly 40K+ subscriber newsletters, daily social media posts, paid ads, print collateral, and web content• Controlled corporate social media accounts, communications, and advertisements• Created decks, guides, and manuals to support and amplify the brand's identity and missions throughout the franchise system• Developed comprehensive self-guided and instructor-led new owner training curriculums, distilling complex information into decks, graphics, guides, and ebooks• Led webinars, training courses, and national conference sessions with original decks, graphics, and assets• Identified, authenticated, and assessed fine art, high-end fashion items, vintage treasures, antiques, and collectibles• Shook hands. Petted dogs. Kissed babies. (No, really.)

• Responsible for editorial oversight of brand's $8M+ Fashion category, helping to drive segment to a top earner status• Created and upheld brand cataloging and formatting standards• Edited large quantities of product listings for accuracy, grammar, spelling and tone• Analyzed, reviewed and implemented keywords to improve the searchability of items• Helped manage and mentor teams of catalogers and attribution specialists via ongoing education, expert support and effective communication of constructive criticism and strengths• Wrote educational guides and trained employees nationwide• Acted as company-wide contact for authentication and value assessment across 27 national markets• Implemented processes that streamlined workflows, increased revenue and minimized returns• Managed time and prioritized tasks to successfully balance heavy workflow and communications• Worked with IT specialists to optimize merchandising of items through proper categorization• Quickly adapted to ever-changing structures and processes common within a start-up environment

Indianapolis, Indiana Area

• Completed and oversaw consignment events from start to finish including curation and lotting of items based on accurately researched market values, detailed copywriting, professional product photography, staging of auction previews and customer communications• Assisted with sales consultations, management, project logistics and marketing in new market• Trained and coached new hires• Processed payments and handled invoices for concurrent estate and consignment sales• Coordinated with out-of-state logistics director and third-party suppliers regarding shipments• Organized and safeguarded large quantities of consignment items, including delicate, sizable, high-end, antique and collectible piece• Effectively managed time to ensure that deadlines were met in a hectic environment

Indianapolis, Indiana Area

• First hire in new market• Single handedly processed successful online auctions of entire estates and curated consignment sales in fast-paced, hectic environments• Supported sellers who were often in the midst of major life changes• Provided professional product photography, staging and well-researched, detailed copy • Acted as primary contact for sellers, interested parties and winning bidders• Handled closing of sales including processing payments• Trained new employees

Bloomington, Indiana Area

• Owned and operated an online vintage shop with continuous profitability and 100% positive customer feedback• Sourced gainful inventory from estates, private sellers, wholesalers and retail establishments• Worked with select consignors to sell personal collections and estates• Drove traffic via search engine-optimized keywords, strategic copywriting and creative marketing • Created high-quality product photos, designs and marketing collateral with professional photography equipment and Adobe Creative Suite• Researched items to present detailed, accurate copy and content • Provided excellent customer service to both domestic and international buyers• Prepared and shipped orders while maintaining a detailed inventory system

Bloomington, Indiana Area

• Acted as first contact for company by greeting and directing walk-in traffic at main lobby• Processed daily mail by signing for packages, scanning materials and inputting data• Coordinated and problem solved with overseas brand associates• Developed main procedural guidelines for incoming materials of newly incorporated brand• Trained new employee and department manager on brand methods and practices

Bloomington, Indiana Area

Surpassed monthly sales quotas by providing friendly, prompt, personalized service. Responsible for visual merchandising of inventory. Executed daily financial tasks. Trained and supervised new personnel. Assisted in scheduling staff and vetting applicants. Helped foster positive, supportive work environment by developing and maintaining good working relationships with fellow team members.

Graphic And Digital Design

Art Education, 4.0

Bachelor Of Arts With High Distinction, Studio Art & History Of Art, 3.98

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, Fine And Studio Arts, 3.98

Graduated with concentrations in both Textiles and Printmaking