Our Week With Gracie

Earlier this summer, Gracie, a rising senior at a local high school, joined us for a week as part of her school’s internship program. 

Monday:

Christina: We were so excited for Gracie to start today. When a client shoot was canceled at the last minute, Gracie jumped right in to help with a brainstorming session.

Gracie:  Today was my first day and I was so impressed with everything Christina does.  She was able to make so many connections for Tom Farrell’s salmon event at the Jefferson and also was very fast to come up with ideas to help Emilie Kiristis.  I learned a lot about views and followers on Instagram and Facebook like what impressions are, engagements, etc. I thought today was so much fun because in the morning Christina was meeting with a fitness client and then a couple hours later she was planning an event at the Jefferson for Scottish salmon.  I was able to learn different tools and marketing techniques and also learn more about salmon, working out, and nutrition. A few questions I have is if you do a great amount of research before you meet with a new client, and if so; how do you find it? I am very interested in learning how Christina has made all of these connections with her clients and what all she has to do in the planning of help marketing for them or event planning (like reaching out to the food bloggers or restaurant people for the Jefferson event).

Tuesday:

Gracie: Today we went to a human trafficking meeting that women from Bon Secours put on.  I found it very interesting because I have done a lot of volunteer work with human trafficking and the women seemed to care so much about it.  They raise a lot of money to put on an event called Wine, Women, and Shoes, and all the proceeds go to human trafficking victims or those who have been sexually assaulted.  I was able to talk with one of the women and at St. Catherine’s I will talk to our lead teacher for community service and make bags (inside will include: clothes, $10 gift card, a drink, toothbrush/toothpaste) for the victims which I think will be great.  We also went to two of the ECPI locations to take pictures and they provided a raffle for a chance for the students to win google home items and more. After that, we went to my Uncle’s distillery and met with Mr. Farrell who is CEO of Scottish Salmon and they both were very interested in partnering up with each other.

I thought it was really fascinating to see the two brought together that would have otherwise been strangers, and bond well together and create a partnership. I would like to see what happens with the two of them and how the Jefferson event turns out. We have been working for a dermatology company, and I have been looking through other dermatology accounts and saving the pictures that look put together or get the most responses to help the dermatology company with their Instagram.  I want to know where that will go and how Christina will help create a look for them.

Christina: Community involvement is something that’s always been important to me. For the past three years, I’ve served on a committee that raises money to benefit Bon Secours Forensic Nursing Unit. We have an annual fundraiser in October (Wine, Women & Shoes) that we plan in monthly committee meetings. It was important for me to bring Emily and Gracie to see how giving back is part of being in business. Later in the day, we stopped by our McDonald’s client’s event at ECPI and met with Reservoir Distillery to talk about being a part of our Scottish Salmon launch event.

Wednesday:
Gracie: Today I went to the office and worked with Emily on the Dermatology presentation and lookbook. We went to get our nails done in Greengate, Short Pump with Christina, they used a special dip for them, and they look great.  Once we were finished we headed back to the office and worked more on the Dermatology presentation.

I learned more today about how Christina and Emily create presentations for the clients and what applications they use for them, along with research on the company.  I am curious on how the meeting will go tomorrow.

Christina: I’d read about a special at a new, woman-owned nail place, Buffed and Polished, in the Boss Babes RVA Facebook group. So, I decided to treat the girls to manicures. Back at the office, Gracie was a HUGE help with the social audit we were working on for Richmond Dermatology. The first step in our client process includes a complete audit of our client’s communications and an analysis of their industry and competitors. Gracie searched Instagram for other dermatologists, skincare brands and plastic surgeons for inspiration and ideas to share with our clients. She worked with Emily to incorporate them into the presentation.

Thursday:

Gracie: We started today at a meeting in Carytown for Clementine’s pop-up shop.  It was very interesting. After the meeting, we went to the Daily and ate lunch and worked more on the Dermatology account.

We went to the meeting for them at 1 and they were very pleased with everything! I would really like to see by using all the advice and tips if their social accounts will get more action and draw in more clients.

Christina: Gracie sat in on her third client meeting Thursday afternoon and got to see her research presented to the client.

Friday:

Gracie: Today we had a meeting at the Jefferson with Mr. Farrell from the Scottish Salmon Company. The event seems like its going to be and I hope the outcome is great. After the meeting, I went back to Christina’s office and she and Emily wrote me really sweet notes and gave me a drawing of her office, and this is because I was talking about how stunning it was before.

Christina: We loved having Gracie this week!