About Hester & Cook

ABOUT HESTER & COOK DESIGN GROUP, INC. 

Hester & Cook is a design company based in Nashville, Tennessee best known for our line of paper placemats and table runners. Hester & Cook placemats are hand-illustrated in our Nashville studio, and assortments of our products can be found in more than 3,500 stores worldwide. Hester & Cook exists to serve our customers by reimagining tradition, providing attainable beauty, and believing that there is always a moment to celebrate! 

POSITION SUMMARY 

The Staff Photographer at Hester & Cook Design Group, Inc. is a key role within the company, supporting the Wholesale and Retail divisions of the business. This team member is a creative professional who produces beautiful product imagery, has strong organizational skills, and is an excellent communicator. Additionally, this individual is passionate about upholding and enhancing visual standards for the Hester & Cook brand.  

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES  

• Work with Hester & Cook Stylist to photograph new and existing product for twice annual wholesale catalog, and weekly retail photography needs
• Editing, retouching and resizing images
• Upload finished images to company retail and wholesale online platforms 
• Organizing and maintaining photo database
• Assist with setting up and coordinating off-site photoshoots
• Manage and maintain photography equipment 
• Communicate with Merchandise, Marketing and Design Teams to determine photographic needs for special projects and promotions

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, Photography, or a related field preferred 
• 2 Years of experience as a product photographer, photographer, or similar role in a commercial industry
• High-level knowledge of Canon DSLR systems
• Experience in videography and video editing a plus 
• Capable of operating studio lighting equipment
• Proficient in Lightroom/Adobe Creative Suite 
• Ability to stand for long periods of time
• Comfortable with ladder use 
• Strong communication skills-both verbal and written 
• Ability to excel in a high volume, quick turn product studio environment
• Proactive, self-motivated attitude
• Ability to work autonomously, and also as part of a team
• Some travel required (less than 3%)

WORKING LOCATION

Employee reports to Hester & Cook Corporate Office at 2728 Eugenia Avenue Suite 106, Nashville, TN 37211

Hester & Cook provides access to healthcare benefits upon hire.  

EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL EMPLOYEES 

Supports the organization’s mission, vision, and guiding principles.  

Email cover letter, portfolio (link for digital portfolio accepted) and resume with references to [email protected], using subject line: “Staff Photographer”. Interviews will be scheduled beginning immediately.

ABOUT HESTER & COOK DESIGN GROUP, INC. 

Hester & Cook started in the home of husband-and-wife team Robbie and Angie Hester Cook. What  began as Robbie’s inspired idea of crafting a vintage doorknob into a bottle stopper soon became the  company’s first product, KnobStoppers. Within months, Angie and Robbie introduced the product to the  wholesale market. 

From there, Hester & Cook rapidly grew into offering everything from hand-crafted chandeliers to #2 pencils. Today we are best known for our paper placemat pads and table runners. Assortments of our  products can be found at over 3000 stores worldwide. You can also see some of our creations at  Anthropologie, Sur La Table, Dillard’s, Paper Source and Barnes & Noble. The full collection is available  on our website as well as our three Nashville, TN area retail locations found at White Bridge Road,  Hillsboro Village and Franklin, TN. 

Hester & Cook also acquired Nashville based Bang Candy Company in early 2023. You can find Bang  Candy Stores within all Hester & Cook locations as well as the Bang Candy Store located in Marathon  Village in Nashville, TN.  

POSITION SUMMARY 

The Customer Success Specialist at Hester & Cook Design Group, Inc. is a key role within the company,  supporting the Visual & Design team as well as Customer Success. This highly relational individual is comfortable building relationships, has strong project management skills, is detail and solution-oriented, and comfortable with technology. Additionally, this individual is passionate about delivering best in class support to the entire Hester & Cook team.  

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Customer Success Team Duties 

Primary point of contact for all incoming calls to Hester & Cook Wholesale 

Order fulfillment for all Hester & Cook Wholesale Customers 

• Input all orders and check for accuracy 
• Mange credit card declines, holds, & release orders for shipping in a timely manner 
• Import orders from all platforms for fulfillment
• Monitor weekly AR reports and make calls as needed on net 30 customers
• Clear all orders for inventory (as needed)

Respond & manage all new customer inquiries

Manage zip conflicts for wholesales customers

Create call tags for wholesale customer orders

Process all claims 

Ability to trouble-shoot and solve online ordering issues with Wholesale & Online  Customers. 

Assist in order fulfillment for all Territory Reps

Rep samples 

• Assist as needed for market season prep 
• Provide reporting of Wholesale Customers as needed (SoloVue & Track Via)
• Provide support for Customer Success Manager & Customer Success Manger-Key Accounts as needed.  

Platform and Infrastructure Support

• Provide support to the wholesale infrastructure through management of all wholesale  platforms including SoloVue, Faire, Ribbon & MarketTime.
• Work within all third-party platform to help support shipping and billing process for all  Major Accounts. 
• Wholesale Market Support
• Work with internal team to provide support for Wholesales markets
• Work in the Wholesale markets as needed in a sales capacity during market season (January, February, June, July). 
• Ability to work collaboratively across multiple departments to help execute an overall cohesive  strategy and plan for customers. 
• Attend Hester & Cook Design Group, Inc. team meetings and training as required.
• Other duties as assigned. 

Qualified individuals will possess the following attributes: 

• 2-5 years of inside sales or customer service experience 
• Strong communication skills-both verbal and written 
• Technically oriented thinker 
• Preferred experience working in Enterprise Resource Planning platforms (ERP); specifically with  managing order fulfillment processes through a third-party EDI Platform would be considered ideal 
• Expert proficiency in using all Office 365 products with an emphasis in Excel 
• Experience in data base management is a plus 
• Comfortable with conflict resolution 
• Self-motivated and independent thinker 
• Strategic thinker 
• Positive Attitude 
• Passionate for retail accounts & effective merchandising strategies 
• Passion for Hester & Cook products 
• Ability to ask open-ended questions, listen, and understand customer needs
• Problem solve and be a resource to our customers. 
• Provide industry trends and product knowledge to help our customers grow
• Comfortable in a creative culture 

SUPERVISION RECEIVED 

Works under the general direction of the Customer Success Team Manager with a dotted line to the Chief Strategy Officer. 

REQUIRED TRAINING 

Ability to demonstrate the competencies as outlined in this job description pertaining to Microsoft Office products. 

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Understanding of the retail industry 
• Comfortable with large and small group presentations. 
• Critical thinker with dynamic relationship building and negotiation skills. 
• Ability to persuade and influence others. 
• Corporate level proficiency in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and computer skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
• A Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience.  
• Minimum of two years of inside sales experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.  

WORKING CONDITIONS 

Employee reports to Hester & Cook Corporate Office at 2728 Eugenia Avenue Suite 106, Nashville, TN 37211

Hester & Cook provides access to healthcare benefits upon hire.  

EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL EMPLOYEES 

Supports the organization’s mission, vision, and guiding principles.  

Email cover letter and resume with references to [email protected], using subject line: “Customer Success Specialist”. Interviews will be scheduled beginning immediately.

The retail store sales associate is a critical player on our growing team. Associates are the face of Hester & Cook as well as Bang Candy and are the key to a positive customer experience. We have full and part time positions available.  Both are during retail hours, and are for our Downtown Franklin location and our 3 Nashville locations, including our Bang Candy Shop in Marathon Village. Weekend availability required.

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Genuinely enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the Hester & Cook brand as well as etiquette of gift-giving and entertaining
• Interested in trends as relevant to our store environment
• A natural leader with personal accountability
• Outgoing with a positive disposition and warm, engaging personality

Qualifications:

• At least one year experience in a retail sales environment
• Strong verbal/written communication
• Excellent problem solving skills
• Ability to add on sales and make appropriate product suggestions   
• Strong customer service skills
• Developed interpersonal relationship skills and professional yet warm demeanor
• Visual merchandising skills a plus

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Helping customers with any needs
• Engaging with customers, making them feel welcome, assisted, and appreciated
• Processing sales transactions
• Providing top notch customer service and increasing sales through direct customer interaction
• Providing gift wrapping services
• Ensuring tidy and pleasing appearance of store and merchandise
• Perform opening/closing routines including counting till and receipt of shipments
• Going above and beyond in providing a positive customer experience
• Helping to coordinate and execute events to brand standards
• Providing manager with updates as needed
• Maintaining positive company culture
• Embodying Hester & Cook’s core values in all interactions

To apply: Email resume and cover letter to [email protected]. Use subject line “Retail Store Sales Associate,” and indicate whether you are interested in full or part time. 

Hester & Cook is seeking to hire a full-time entry level warehouse production/shipping employee.

Work hours are Monday through Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm CST. Pay starts at $15/hr + based on experience.

Qualifications:

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Basic computer skills
• Able to work in warehouse temperatures
• Ability to grab, reach, push, pull, bend, stoop, kneel, twist, and crouch in order to retrieve and/or replenish merchandise
• Ability to manually assemble intricate products
• Ability to communicate verbally and work cooperatively with employees
• Ability to adapt to change and work in a fast-paced warehouse environment.
• Ability to regularly lift and/or move merchandise weighing up to 35 lbs.; occasionally up to 50 lbs.
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy, and problem-solving skills
• Basic math calculations for selecting, counting, and checking work
• Ability to accurately complete all required department documentation

If you are interested in applying, we hold open interviews every Wednesday and Thursday from 10:00am until 1:00pm CST. The address is 2728 Eugenia Ave. Suite 106 Nashville, TN 37211.