We’re Hiring!

Posted on December 28, 2011 by amanda

Just a few of our fab staff members!

UPDATE (1/27/2012): we have hired our new employees for each of these positions! If you would like us to keep your resume on file, please send in an application to jobs [at] urbangirlsquad.com.

Do you love Urban Girl Squad as much as we do?  If so, join our team!  We are currently hiring for the following positions.

Sales Associate

The Position
The Sales Associate will sell sponsorships to local businesses by engaging them in Urban Girl Squad’s mission and member base.  The Sales Associate will conduct in-person and over the phone sales meetings and will develop creative new ideas for our sponsorship packages.  Sponsorship of Urban Girl Squad could mean several things for a business, including hosting events, branding our cocktail parties or other events, offering raffle prizes to our member base, or reaching out with special offers to our social media base.

This position is part time and will be paid on commission.

Who We’re Looking For
You should be energetic, friendly, creative, and confident and be adept at thinking on your feet.

How to Apply
Send a cover letter telling us why you’re right for this position, including your history with and interest in Urban Girl Squad, and your resume to jobs @ urbangirlsquad.com (delete the spaces).  Please include a description of why you would make a good representative and salesperson for Urban Girl Squad, a short description of previous sales experience, and your online profile (Facebook page, blog, Twitter feed, etc.).  Be creative!

Get Involved as a Volunteer!

Do you love the Urban Girl Squad community and want to volunteer to help us spread the word?  There are a few ways to help us out.  First, tell your friends about us!  Have them to join our mailing list, follow our Twitter feed, and like our Facebook page.  Second, volunteer with us!  Please email us at volunteer @ urbangirlsquad.com (delete the spaces) with specific ideas for ways you want to get more involved.  The more information you can give us about the kind of tasks you would like to do, the better.

Freelance Writer

The Position
The Freelance Writer will compose Urban Girl Squad’s marketing emails and the event descriptions on the Events page.  Event descriptions and emails each go live one to two times per week.  We estimate that this position will take approximately two to four hours per week, and we ask for a 48-hour turnaround period on this work.

The person in this role will also be responsible for one-off writing projects and editing, including press releases, website updates, and occasional blog posts.

Who We’re Looking For
You should be able to write in Urban Girl Squad’s voice and “UGS-ify” the basic details of an event into a playful, exciting, and engaging description.

How to Apply
Send a cover letter telling us why you’re right for this position, including your history with and interest in Urban Girl Squad, and your resume to jobs @ urbangirlsquad.com (delete the spaces).  Please include writing samples, preferably of direct-response emails and website writing (we prefer to see more than just blog posts), your online profile (Facebook page, blog, Twitter feed, etc.), and salary requirements (including whether you charge by the hour, project, or monthly retainer).

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Happy Holidays Giveaway, Featuring the Andean Collection

Posted on December 4, 2011 by mary

Amazon Necklace Grand PrizeUrban Girl Squad is hoping your holidays will be extra happy if you’re the winner of our latest giveaway, featuring the Andean Collection. Read more to learn about a great cause, and then enter the giveaway today!

Andean Collection was founded to bring sustainable change to impoverished communities in South America, offering artisans the opportunity to participate in the global market while inspiring their customers with the elusive world of the rural Andes. The collection is designed locally in Brooklyn and uses bright colors and soft hues, combining natural materials with rustic metals — and the results are truly beautiful designs. The company’s nonprofit arm, Andean Project, addresses other poverty-related social issues, all funded through sales and private donations.

Amazon Necklace Giveaway

One Grand Prize: Amazon Necklace (available in 3 colors)

Riverbed Bracelet Giveaway

One Runner Up: Riverbed Bracelet (available in 16 colors)

 

 

Riverbed Bracelet: stacked

Creat a Look: Multiple Riverbed Bracelets

 

 

 

 

 

 

ONE GRAND PRIZE: One Amazon necklace in any color. A combination of açaí, jaboncillo and tagua discs in bright colors come together with a twist in this bold necklace. 20 inches long, worth $125!

ONE RUNNER-UP: One Riverbed bracelet in any color. This bracelet style features tagua that is so finely polished it resembles the stones found in the riverbeds of roaring rapids. One size fits all, worth $26.

Because everyone deserves a gift this holiday season, everyone wins with a discount! Take 20 percent off your Andean Collection purchase Dec. 4, 2011, through Dec. 19, 2011, with code UGS2011X. And by joining their mailing list, you have access to VIP discounts and free shipping specials.

Giveaway starts Mon., Dec. 5, 2011, and ends 11:59 pm Monday, Dec. 12, 2011. Enter to win! Winners will be notified by Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011. Duplicate entries will be disqualified. Good luck, and Happy Holidays!

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Member Profile: Jenny MacAndrew

Posted on December 1, 2011 by robyn

As the saying goes, there are eight million tales in NYC… and thousands of strollers on the Upper West Side. You’ll find Urban Girl Squader Jenny MacAndrew behind one of them, touring around her park-filled neighborhood with a six-month old “baby girl squader.” Jenny filled us in on how Urban Girl Squad helps her make the most of her precious me time.

UGS: Are you a recent New York transplant?
I moved to New York 3 ½ years ago from Florida; I’d previously lived in Palm Beach and Gainesville. I came because I wanted a big change!

UGS: What’s your favorite thing to eat or drink in New York?
One of the best things about New York is that any type of food is always on offer—that’s not the case in many other places. When we have guests visiting, we can take them to our go-to Malaysian place or Tunisian place or Turkish place. There are so many amazing, authentic cuisines right in our neighborhood.

UGS: How did you find your way to Urban Girl Squad?
A friend took me to the spa event at Trump SoHo. It was one of my first nights out with friends since I had my baby. It was a really big deal to go out and to have pamper time.

UGS: As opposed to Pampers time! We’re guessing that life in New York City changes a lot after you have a child.

That’s the understatement of the day! The biggest thing is that you have a lot less time and a lot less sleep. You really want to make sure that you’re optimizing the free time you do have with really cool activities. Urban Girl Squad helps me streamline all those things during the few nights out I can take.

UGS: What other events have you checked out?
I went to Spa Primp & Prep for Fashion’s Night Out—got my nails done and a scalp massage. Afterwards, I checked out the stores with a bunch of girls that I met there. I also joined the Running Group with Athleta. My educational and professional background is in wellness programs, nutrition, and personal training, so I’ve always been athletic. But I really hadn’t run since the beginning of my pregnancy. The run really challenged me and pushed me outside my comfort zone!

UGS: Alright, you’ve got a stroller…so what’s your favorite walk?

We took the baby out on her first walk when she was three days old. It’s great to walk down Broadway and stop for a coffee and continue on. We’re in a great location, right between Central and Riverside Parks—two amazing walks.

Urban Girl Squad is certain that everyone’s spent at least a little bit of time in Central Park. But what about Riverside, Jenny’s other local fave? Whether strolling solo, en famille, or with your bestie, we’re sure you’ll love the waterside view as much as she does!

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Give Back This Thanksgiving

Posted on November 19, 2011 by kiva

Volunteer with UGS this Thanksgiving!

Giving back is big at Urban Girl Squad. Our volunteer events are some of our most popular events during the year, and at Thanksgiving, we are think of others and ways to give back even more. As a way to show our thanks for your participation in our volunteer programs, we have created a list of a few of our favorite organizations in NYC where you can volunteer this holiday season.

Happy Holidays!

 

DELIVERING: God’s Love We Deliver & Nourishing NYC
GLWDGod’s Love We Deliver needs extra help delivering hand-decorated bags and Thanksgiving baskets to homebound New Yorkers.
Contact: Sign up at godslovewedeliver.org
166 Sixth Ave @ Spring St, (212) 294-8100

Be a part of Nourishing NYC‘s Thanksgiving Back campaign from November 21-23 by distributing 1,000 turkeys to families in need throughout Harlem and the Bronx.
Contact: Sign up at nourishingnyc.org

SERVING: Yorkville Common Pantry
Yorkville Common Pantry needs volunteers to serve food and hand out groceries from the pantry at their Thanksgiving meal for low-income families on Wednesday, November 23 from 4–7pm.
Contact: Liz Nellis, lnellis@ycp.org
8 East 109th St between Fifth & Madison Aves
(212) 410-2264, ycp.org

DONATING: Bowery Mission & City Harvest
Bowery Mission needs food donations, such as yams, sweet potatoes, cranberries and stuffing, to assist in creating over 3,700 Thanksgiving Day meals. Dinner guests will also receive personal care packages, so also donate individually wrapped healthy snacks, personal-size toiletries (toothbrushes, soap, razors) and winter clothing (socks, hats, gloves).
Contact: Matt Krivich, info@bowery.org
227 Bowery between Rivington & Stanton Streets
(212) 674-3456, bowery.org

City Harvest needs canned goods donations, such as canned fruit and vegetables, plastic jars of peanut butter, packaged macaroni and cheese, and family-sized hot and cold cereal. Bring donations to any FDNY or NYPD station, any New York City Modell’s Sporting Goods store or MCU branch locations, or to the Daily News building lobby at 4 New York Plaza.
Contact: Jenny Waxberg
(917) 351-8735, cityharvest.org

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Going to Our Singles Event? Hit Drybar First, for a Blowout with a Discount!

Posted on October 12, 2011 by mary

Singles Party Oct. 20/Drybar DiscountIf you’ve already signed up for our Friend-of-a-Friend Singles Party: Speakeasy Edition on Oct. 20, why not meet all those potential Mr. Rights with sexy hair?

Urban Girl Squad has teamed up with Drybar for a fantastic deal: Book your appointment for a Drybar blowout for Oct. 19 or 20, and mention that you’re going to an Urban Girl Squad event. Like magic, you’ll receive 20% off, making the total price just $32!

The offer is good anytime Wed., Oct. 19, through 7 pm Thurs., Oct. 20 (the night of the singles party).

Game on, ladies!

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Enter Our Jewelry & Clutch Boticca Giveaway — Ending Soon!

Posted on October 3, 2011 by mary

At Urban Girl Squad, we enjoyed every moment of falling down the wondrous rabbit hole of Boticca’s website. One click, and then another, and before we knew it we had filled our (imaginary) shopping cart with gorgeous jewelry and accessories. Seriously, every click elicited an “oooh” or an “ahhh,” sometimes both at once (“ooowahhh”).

Boticca features emerging designers, so if you’re looking for a real showstopper, this is the place to find it.  And if you want to get the inside story, follow their blog, which features interviews with the designers and highlights new jewelry and accessories.

You have just a few days left to enter our Boticca necklace and clutch giveaway.

Win this necklace from BoticcaWin the necklace! The winner will receive the bold, beautiful, one-of-a-kind Gemma Redux necklace, which has been featured in Gossip Girl, Harper’s Bazaar, and WWD.

Win this clutch from BoticcaWin the clutch! The winner will receive Le Icon Coal Clutch by Dareen Hakim– with a bronze clasp inscribed with “wisdom and strength” and made from the finest black coal cowhide.

The contest ends at 11:59 pm Thurs., Oct. 6, 2011. Winners will be notified by Tues., Oct 11, 2011. Duplicate entries will be disqualified.

Good luck!

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From CEO Amanda Hofman: Drag Queen Bingo

Posted on September 19, 2011 by mary

LipsOne of the things I love about Urban Girl Squad is meeting interesting people in my search for new and fun events. I have a lot of meetings every week, and occasionally someone really stands out.

Take Yvonne. I met Yvonne recently at Lips, a club on E. 56th that features drag queen entertainment, including bingo.

Yvonne was a nice guy. Yvonne was not dressed in drag for our meeting (oh well), but Yvonne assured me that drag queen bingo at Lips was hosted by serious drag queens.

We’re not talking about a few dangly earrings and high heels. Oh, no.

We’re talking feather boas. Pink. Glitter. Las Vegas-style costumes with huge headdresses.

“Done up,” you might say.

Will we have a drag queen bingo night for Urban Girl Squad? Not sure yet. What I do know is that Lips is a hot spot for bachelorette parties. There were three going on the weeknight I was there.

So if you’re looking for a different kind of venue for your bachelorette party … Bingo!

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Enter our huge Pure Yoga giveaway! Ends Sept. 20, 2011

Posted on September 13, 2011 by mary

Sometimes, it actually does pay to wear the proper clothing to do a sport. Let’s talk yoga, for instance. We could wear our cut-off sweats and a T-shirt. But anyone who has ever done downward dog in a T-shirt knows what happens: You reach for the floor and look back toward your feet, the shirt falls down over your face, and it’s all over. Forget breathing steadily and calmly. You just want to breathe, period. 

Yoga clothes are sort of a luxury, but they make a difference. Which is why we’re so happy Pure Yoga is offering a $100 gift certificate to their store as part of this amazing giveaway.  Our favorite yoga studio in NYC, Pure Yoga is not only an excellent place to learn yoga, with teachers that guide you to your best practice, but it’s also a space in which to be inspired. The surroundings are so peaceful and serene, you can’t help but relax.

Here’s the scoop on our Pure Yoga giveaway:

GRAND PRIZE: A free month of classes at Pure Yoga at either NYC location, a $100 gift certificate to the Pure Yoga in-studio shop, and a private yoga lesson.

4 RUNNERS-UP: One week-long pass to classes at Pure Yoga, at either NYC location, for the runner-up plus one friend!

Enter to win today! Giveaway ends 11:59 pm Tues., Sept. 20, 2011.

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Our Ideal Fashion’s Night Out Schedule

Posted on September 4, 2011 by mary

Fashion's Night Out Sept. 8Fashion’s Night Out is coming up fast — it’s this Thurs., Sept. 8. Have you mapped out your evening yet? Here’s our ideal Fashion’s Night Out itinerary:

  • We’ll start with our event at Caudalie Spa, of course! Primp and prep with a 15-minute massage and something fun from the Beauty Bar, like a gorgeous patterned manicure by Incoco, lips and cheeks by Warren-Tricomi or a brow-shaping session by the spa pros.
  • Then we’ll head over to Saks and catch an event on every floor, including personal appearances by Prabal Gurung and Frederic Fekkai.
  • At Coach, they’re re-releasing the classic Coach Duffle Sac exclusively for FNO. Might have to have a look-see …
  • And Cole Haan is having a raffle for a gorgeous pair of shoes — every month for a YEAR! Gotta go there.
  • Stop at Crumbs for refreshments, then …
  • Head down to SoHo for 7 for All Mankind’s fall season must-haves, like the super-cool Flare jeans (can we pull off that look?) …
  • Then show off our talents at the talent show — really! — at Alexander Wang, followed by …
  • Continued prowling of the streets of SoHo for the most happening parties, while keeping our eye out for celebs. Cameras ready, ladies!

FNO has events happening in all five boroughs. So wherever you are, make it a night out to remember. What’s your FNO itinerary?

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From CEO Amanda Hofman: A Lesson from Turning 30 — “If you don’t feel it, fake it.”

Posted on August 25, 2011 by mary
Amanda's 30th Birthday

Amanda, far right, with friends on her 30th birthday

I’m turning 30 this week, and since it’s typically a time when you’re meant to be older and wiser, I thought I’d share a life-reflecting thought with you guys.

By now, I’ve learned to be more confident in asking for what I deserve and want, and I wish all women could learn to do this … starting now, whatever your age.

I have learned this lesson through lots of trial and error (usually more “error” than “trial”). This lesson applies to your dating life, your personal life, your career, and all of your relationships. If you go into the world with confidence, the people around you will reflect it back and reinforce it.

It was hardest for me to learn this lesson in the context of my career. Back at the test prep company, when it was time for annual evaluations and salary raises, I would panic. I mean, I’d count my breathing to try to stay calm.  I spent hours strategizing what I would and would not ask for. I was determined to ask for more money and a promotion, but I fretted over the outcome of the meeting.

In contrast, a friend and colleague at the company, Andrew, told me regularly about his plans to become the CEO (laughable from his entry-level position, in my opinion). In his review, he planned to chart out his five-year career path and ambitious salary goals, including earning several times his current salary by the end of that five years. Andrew had a strong sense of what he was worth and respectfully and confidently asked for these increases.

Andrew and I were equally qualified for raises and promotions. But I was plagued with worry and self-doubt, while for Andrew, the meeting was purely about his qualifications for a raise and promotion, and not about his personal value.  He shot high and his confidence made the people around him believe in him.

While this lesson may sound like it applies only to career turning points, it also applies to dating, friends, everything: If you believe in yourself, other people will, too.  (And if you don’t feel it, fake it.)  I like to tell the story that when I met my husband Jake, I essentially threw my arms around him and said, “You’re coming with me.” I mean, not really, but I was aggressive.  (He’ll corroborate.)

I knew what I wanted and I went, with purpose and confidence, to get it.  If you act and feel smart, interesting and valuable, it will come out in everything you do – and you’ll receive it back tenfold. Or in my case, thirtyfold.

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