About Me
Professional Experience
Nathan Piper Photography & Marketing — Freelance Marketer & Photographer, 02/2016 – Present
Multi-dimensional marketer, writer, and photographer with diverse on-site and remote contracted content creation, marketing, and photography work experience.
++ Indy Photo Studio/Indy Sport Pics, 08/2023 – Present: Currently work as a part-time freelance Photographer, assigned to a variety of on-location sports photography photoshoots, in-studio portrait sessions, and eCommerce product photography projects. Assist with photoshoot preparation, planning, and execution, from capturing high-quality images to assisting with equipment and lighting setups to editing and post-production duties.
++ Surf Office, 08/2018 – 02/2019: Provided short-term contracted content marketing services for Surf Office, a European-based remote working retreat facilitator for startups and Fortune 500 companies. Created engaging digital content to drive growth across multiple platforms, improve SEO, and enhance brand storytelling.
Howl + Hide Supply Company — Retail Operations & Sales Lead, 11/2024 – Present
Currently serve as Retail Operations and Sales Lead at Howl + Hide, an independent Indianapolis-based fashion brand known for exclusive, handcrafted leather goods made in the USA. Co-lead and manage key retail operations at Howl + Hide's flagship store, including retail sales, merchandising, inventory management, eCommerce operations, and in-store experience, as well as hold responsibility for helping drive brand awareness, sales leads, and customer acquisition through various online and offline channels.
++ Leveraged experience and expertise in direct-to-consumer (DTC) retail sales, marketing, brand storytelling, and merchandising to achieve the top retail sales performance on the team during Q4 of 2024, generating $65k+ in individual sales.
++ Co-develop, implement, and optimize retail sales strategies and online eCommerce operations to meet goals and quotas across critical KPIs, such as average order value (AOV), units per transaction (UPT), net sales revenue (NSR), shrinkage rate (SR), inventory accuracy rate (IAR), order picking accuracy rate (OPAR), perfect order rate (POR), and internal order cycle time (OCT).
++ Deliver key impact as a brand storyteller, seamlessly connecting online and offline touchpoints to ensure consistent messaging and a cohesive brand experience throughout the customer journey.
++ Contribute to the growth and operations of Howl + Hide’s wholesale and private label channels by supporting sales lead qualification, facilitating sales cycle processes, and streamlining operations between sales and production teams to ensure accurate orders and timely fulfillment.
++ Assist with onboarding and training new sales associates, fostering a high-performing team culture focused on achieving individual and team sales quotas.
North American Hardware & Paint Association (NHPA) — Marketing Coordinator, 10/2023 – 10/2024
Served as Marketing Coordinator at NHPA, North America’s leading association for independent home improvement retailers. Developed, coordinated, and executed marketing operations and strategies across media brands and initiatives, including Hardware Retailing and Paint & Decorating Retailer magazine publications, the Independent Home Improvement (IHI) Conference, and other NHPA events, training, education, and research programs. Additionally, contributed to NHPA as a Lead Photographer assigned to photograph NHPA events and programs and execute on-location retailer photoshoots at diverse hardware and paint stores around the USA.
++ Played a key role in helping develop, launch, and market NHPA's brand-new flagship event, the Independent Home Improvement (IHI) Conference. Contributed to conference launch planning, branding, and creative development, as well as co-planned and executed a robust seven-month multichannel marketing strategy. Co-developed and delivered compelling content and marketing deliverables, including email marketing campaigns, social media content, and various print and digital advertisements, as well as media kits, brochures, and flyers. Contributed to the success of the 2024 IHI Conference, which surpassed first-year registration goals, achieving 700+ conference attendees, 50+ vendor exhibitors, and nine conference sponsorships.
++ Developed and executed multichannel marketing campaigns across digital, print, social media, and email for NHPA's core programs and services, including events, training and education programs, research initiatives, and membership services. Key responsibilities included content creation, coordinating the production of marketing materials (collateral, media kits, etc.), managing campaign schedules, and ensuring the timely execution of all marketing deliverables to drive engagement and growth.
++ Served as Lead Photographer at key NHPA events, including the 2024 IHI Conference and the 2023 Retail Management Certification Program. Collaborated with the NHPA editorial teams to select, edit, and integrate photos into marketing materials, social media content, and event recaps to boost engagement and brand visibility.
++ Completed on-site cover photoshoots and store photoshoot assignments at independent hardware and paint stores in Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, and Virginia. Effectively captured the stories of independent retailers through dynamic photography and furthered NHPA’s mission and connection with retailers in the industry.
Beyond Borders — Marketing & eCommerce Manager, 01/2022 – 07/2023
Led as Marketing and eCommerce Manager at Beyond Borders, a premier fair trade Haitian metal art import company. Managed all Beyond Borders eCommerce systems and DTC and wholesale eCommerce platforms, including their development, maintenance, and active operations. Planned, led, and executed all Beyond Borders marketing operations and go-to-market (GTM) strategies.
++ Spearheaded email marketing campaigns and managed automations through Klaviyo, setting record-high engagement metrics across all email campaigns and company communications. Led photoshoots and captured high-quality product and brand photography for Beyond Borders’ DTC and wholesale eCommerce platforms.
++ Managed and developed website and eCommerce systems through Shopify, as well as managed and maintained all additional Beyond Borders eCommerce platforms on DTC and wholesale marketplaces such as Amazon, Walmart, eBay, Wayfair, Etsy, Faire, Tundra, RangeMe, and Abound. Planned and deployed successful marketing and sales strategies, which helped Beyond Borders produce record-breaking company retail and wholesale eCommerce sales in Q3 and Q4 of 2022.
++ Served in a key B2B trade show sales capacity, organizing trade show marketing efforts and conducting B2B sales for Beyond Borders at large national wholesale trade shows such as Atlanta Market at AmericasMart, Dallas Total Home & Gift Market, and Nashville Home Show.
Haiti Made — Marketing Manager & Lead Photographer, 01/2017 – 02/2023
Served as Marketing Manager and Lead Photographer at Haiti Made, a handmade leather goods store and social enterprise that seeks to empower Haitian artisans by providing sustainable and dignified employment. Managed and directed eCommerce platforms and operations, multichannel marketing strategies and operations, and go-to-market (GTM) strategies and operations.
++ Actively curated and communicated Haiti Made's mission and vision through strategic marketing campaigns, engaging content creation, and brand storytelling. Led product photoshoots and produced high-quality brand content photography that boosted social media engagement, drove new website traffic, and increased eCommerce sales. Click here for samples of my fashion photography for Haiti Made.
++ Delivered substantial results immediately after starting in 2017, driving an 85% YOY increase in total sales revenues, a 20% YOY rise in web traffic, a 15% YOY boost in total orders, and a 75% YOY growth in average order value. This revenue surge directly supported the expansion of the Haiti Made team, leading to the addition of 45+ full-time and part-time employees.
++ Transformed digital marketing and eCommerce strategies, which were pivotal in helping Haiti Made navigate the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn. Spearheaded efforts that led to record-breaking eCommerce sales in 2020, achieving a 245% YOY increase in DTC eCommerce sales.
++ Led product development initiatives and strategies which resulted in the launch of 40+ new Haiti Made leather products, as well as developed partnerships with brands such as Newly, Bridgewater Candle Company, and Singing Rooster Coffee to create new collaborative product releases.
++ Developed and grew wholesale sales at Haiti Made in 2022. Utilized wholesale eCommerce platforms such as Faire to grow Haiti Made’s wholesale customer base by 100% and grow wholesale sales by 265% YOY.
Public Consulting Group (PCG) — Business Analyst, 07/2014 – 03/2016
Served as a Business Analyst on large public sector consulting projects across the U.S. for state and local government agencies in Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Michigan respectively.
++ CT Bureau of Rehabilitative Services (BRS): Analyzed the BRS rate structure and the five core vocational rehabilitation services provided by the Community Rehabilitation providers. Created and distributed survey tools to capture key programmatic and fiscal information. Co-produced a detailed report for BRS, which included an in-depth analysis of survey data and a summary of key survey findings.
++ IN Family & Social Services Administration (FSSA): Provided project management services to FSSA for waiver transitions related to the state’s Home & Community-Based Services (HCBS) transition plan. Maintained FSSA’s compliance with the HCBS rule, as well as assisted FSSA with stakeholder communication and engagement.
++ KY Cabinet for Health & Family Services (CHFS): Aided CHFS' full-scale business process review of their Social Security Insurance Quarterly Title IV-E maintenance and administrative claim. Created new technical business processes for the claim, including redesigning entire databases, spreadsheets, and outputs with tools such as MS Access and Excel. Completed the critical Title IV-E calculations, quality control procedures, and analyses to produce accurate claims.
++ MI Department of Human Services (DHS): Provided project management services to the Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Michigan Child Welfare Partnership Council (CWPC). Facilitated and guided CWPC to develop a performance-based contracting model for all public and private child welfare providers in the state. Project management work included facilitating bi-weekly phone meetings, creating and distributing quarterly newsletters, and executing on-site event organization operations and record-taking at all CWPC conferences.
Alleviating Poverty Through Entrepreneurship (APTE) — Marketing Director, 06/2013 – 05/2014
Co-organizer and Marketing Director for APTE, a social entrepreneurship organization and event at the Ohio State University.
++ Spearheaded APTE's dynamic marketing efforts through a cross-media marketing approach that included social media, email, print, and web advertising.
++ Directed social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, as well as managed email marketing through Mailchimp. Strategically managed a five-member APTE marketing team and delegated tasks through Trello. Created print articles, brochures, flyers, posters, and other promotional materials.
++ Served as the organization’s community outreach point and created numerous strategic partnerships within the greater Columbus, Ohio business community.
Contact Info
To contact me, please visit the contact page at the link below. Sí, tambien hablo Español!
Purchase Prints
To purchase physical prints, wall art, or other artwork featuring my photography, please visit my artwork shop at the link below:
