Collette Smutny

Shipment and Stock: Trained how to process shipment every week and sort the new product and the replenishment product. Helps with in-stock audits where we audit through racks in our BOH and confirm that the product that is scanned in is actually there editing as we go Visuals: Trained under our visual manager how to assist with new product rollout every month sometimes twice a month depending on product work load. Learned how to read the visual presentation guides and build them into our store and our allocation levels. Alongside product visuals, I also learned how BR dresses the mannequins and the BR details that go into each mannequin on the sales floor and in the window boxes. During big rollouts, I’ve assisted with dressing the mannequins and placing them in the windows following the window elevations. For a few days our Visual manager was away I set half of women’s side by myself using my knowledge of BR visuals Sales Floor and Client Relations: Basic sales floor tasks of cashiering, being a fitting room attendant, connecting with customers on both the women’s and men’s side which means keeping my knowledge of both sides product up to date. Adding clients to my client book and doing monthly outreach to keep the connection and inform them of different sales and store events. I have regulars I know very well that seek my advice out and because I know them well it keeps transactions quick but meaningful still following our 4 pillars of selling.

Operations lead while the main operations manager was on maternity leave

Acting Lead Assignment: While our GM was on a sudden leave of absence I was asked by my GM to become a temporary lead and key-holder for the store alongside our other 3 managers. My duties stayed almost the same but I did have Experience Lead hours during my shift where I would be the lead in charge and would take the hourly read of the sales floor numbers, chat in coworkers just starting their shifts, answered phone calls and used my varied knowledge about the store to answer customer questions.

Managed the social media presence of an up-and-coming author. Platforms included the social app; Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X. And also building her a website for her to use. Still advises client occasionally when specialized questions come up.

Trained as a coach through the Girls On The Run program at the Bellingham YMCA. Learned GOTR curriculum and prepared lessons each week with fellow coaches. Empowered young girls and taught them valuable life lessons along with physical health lessons. Helped problem solve when difficulties presented themselves within the group.

Worked in a group of three to research Coal Creek Park and learn about the conservation efforts being done by the city to preserve the land from developers. Used our research to create small documentaries about the history and current information of the park for non-profit organizations to use.

Worked with a small group of my peers to help revitalize our schools social media presence. We created different post formats to help future interns have a starting point within color schemes and cohesiveness. We were invited to speak in a teams meeting to prospective parents and students about our experiences at Big Picture and what we had learned and gained specifically from attending Big Picture versus other schools. Around that same time we were also asked to present to a group of 8th graders specifically about the internship program and what we loved about it.

Worked virtually with my mentor to branch out from portrait photography and find a style of photography I could do outside away from other people due to the pandemic. Eventually I found a real knack for bird photography specifically. I created a bird portfolio based off of the birds I could see within walking distance of my home. I edited all of the images in adobe lightroom and then assembled them into a photo album I designed. There was no official walkthrough at foundry10 but copies of my photo albums were shared with both foundry10 and my mentor.

Supported the staff with their day-to-day work responsibilities while managing their social media presence. On their instagram I made a series called “Art of the Day” where every Thursday I would create an instagram post featuring a piece of art that they worked with and shared a small amount about the artist and the art piece. I was also shown their website and how the used SEO to optimize client acquisition and would check their inbox inquiries. In-between the more technical aspects of my time I was also shown how to use the different equipment they used and the process different art pieces go through depending on the service required. Unfortunately my time there was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown that occurred.

Worked with my mentor to further learn and develop my skills with portrait photography. Split my internship time into 3 key stages. I first got inspiration pictures from Google and Pinterest and studied the different camera angles and colors. From there I outreached to a few different subjects and planned out 3 creative portrait sessions each focusing on the elements of portrait photography I wanted to improve upon. After that, I edited all of the images in adobe lightroom, then assembled them all into a photo album I designed. At the end of the internship my work was part of a gallery walkthrough at foundry10 alongside other interns final projects.

Was enrolled for 2 years with plans of being a film and business major but then I made the decision to take some time off and focus on working and attend film school to focus on the specifics of film I am most interested in. While attending I was apart of the photography club and was active in the photography scene at WWU and took a variety of classes.