Work With Us
Paper & Pencil is hiring!
We are looking for an Events Coordinator to join our team to help us develop programming and run our new workshop, meetup, and pop-up space - the Paper & Pencil Creative Studio.
Please read below to learn more about the role of Events Coordinator at Paper & Pencil and use the link at the end of the job posting to apply!
Applications will be accepted until 6:00 PM CT on Wednesday, July 29.
All applicants will be notified of their application status by Friday, August 21.
Please no emails, calls, messages, or visits regarding the role - only applications submitted through the form linked below will be considered!
Paper & Pencil Events Coordinator
Location: 1480 W Berwyn Ave and 5208 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640
Job Type: Part-Time, Hourly, Non-Exempt
Paper & Pencil Mission, Vision, & Values…
MISSION To help our community deepen their connections with themselves and the people they love through thoughtful, unique, and creative stationery and accessories.
VISION We're building a community of people who cherish old-school journaling, letter-writing, note-taking, and birthday card-sending.
VALUES
Welcome Everyone Our customers are welcomed, seen, heard, and valued when shopping at Paper & Pencil.
Do It On Purpose We believe in doing everything on purpose and are intentional with our time and efforts.
Consider The Impact We are conscious of where our products come from, who makes them, how they get to us, and how we present them to our customers. We always consider the impact of our words, choices, and actions.
Figure It Out Problems will always exist; but, we’re here to figure them out! We value ingenuity, initiative, and ownership.
Always Inclusive Everyone is welcomed and invited to be part of our community.
About the Events Coordinator Role…
The Events Coordinator at Paper & Pencil works collaboratively with the business co-owners to cultivate an engaged community of stationery and craft lovers for workshops, meetups, pop-ups, markets, in-shop activations, and external events.
The role blends behind the scenes administrative work, ensuring events are planned and organized well, with in-person management of the Paper & Pencil Creative Studio for all programming, in-person support at the Paper & Pencil retail storefront for in-store events and activations, and management of off-site events.
The Events Coordinator provides 5-star customer service, aiming to create a welcoming environment where every participant, instructor, brand partner, customer, and stakeholder feels valued and supported. They are welcoming, helpful, knowledgeable, warm, friendly, respectful, and understanding of individuals from a variety of backgrounds with a variety of needs. They lead the shop’s programming by taking initiative and ownership of their work and working independently with guidance and strategy created in collaboration with the co-owners. They ensure programming and events go on as planned by being smart, quick to problem solve, attentive, on-time, and eager to help. They work collaboratively with the co-owners to seek out programming opportunities, build out event promotional plans, and recruit workshop instructors and brands for partnership.
About the Paper & Pencil Creative Studio…
The Paper & Pencil Creative Studio is an extension of the Paper & Pencil retail experience, giving our customers space to connect with the tools they find in our shop, learn new creative techniques, and build meaningful relationships through community. The Paper & Pencil Creative Studio does this through paid workshops, topical meetups, open studio hours for gathering to work on creative projects, trunk shows and pop-ups with brand partners, unique activations, and markets for artists and independent brands.
Events Coordinator Responsibilities…
- Working closely with the co-owners, develop and execute programming for the Paper & Pencil Creative Studio including workshops, meetups, open studio hours, pop-ups, trunk shows, and markets.
- Manage the back-end of the programming and events arm of the business including event ticketing software management; communications with attendees, instructors, and vendors; responding to customer service emails for events; pitching instructors and vendors for new events; and serving as the main point of contact for third party vendors, instructors, and brand partners for all events.
- Serve as the on-site employee for all events at the Paper & Pencil Creative Studio as either the host for events like meetups and open studio hours or as the staff person responsible for the studio space during workshops, pop-ups, trunk shows, and markets. Tasks include: arriving prior to events, ensuring the space is set up properly, greeting all event participants including instructors or meetup hosts, remaining on site throughout events to support attendees and troubleshooting as needed, cleaning up after events, and securing the space prior to departure.
- Setup, arrange, organize, and strike/teardown the Paper & Pencil Creative Studio as needed for events and programming.
- Maintain a neat, clean, tidy, and organized studio space including regularly cleaning the studio, organizing all studio equipment and tools, and maintaining stocked supplies for events.
- Receive cross training on retail operations for pop-up events and develop proficiency for operating the Shopify Point of Sale system.
- In collaboration with the co-owners and the retail team, develop and execute in-store activations and events focused on customer appreciation and retention. Events could include, but are not limited to, the shop’s birthday celebration, Stationery Store Day, Hobonichi Day, Fountain Pen Day, and Small Business Saturday.
- In collaboration with the co-owners and retail team, successfully run off-site events like pop-ups, vending opportunities, and external brand activations.
- In collaboration with the co-owners, retail team, and Chicago Stationery Fest Organizing Team, assist with the management of the Paper & Pencil Pop-Up at Chicago Stationery Fest.
Events Coordinator Requirements…
- Previous events coordination, management, or organizing experience required.
- Experience in high-touch customer service preferred.
- Passion for stationery, art supplies, and creative products is a must.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills with an outgoing demeanor.
- A good team player who is a good listener, adaptable, and aware of others.
- Ability to work independently.
- Ability to to see a project through from ideation to completion independently.
- Reliable and punctual with a strong work ethic.
- Flexibility to work a variety of hours including holidays – evenings and weekends required.
- High school diploma or equivalent, college degree preferred.
- Legally authorized to work in the United States.
Events Coordinator Physical Requirements…
- Standing, Walking, and Navigating Stairs: The Events Coordinator is required to stand for extended periods, freely move around to assist customers, and perform tasks such as setting up tables and chairs and moving boxes.
- Lifting and Carrying: The Events Coordinator needs to be able to lift and carry boxes up to 50 pounds.
- Multi-Tasking: The Events Coordinator may have to work on several projects or tasks at the same time requiring multi-tasking and quickly shifting your focus.
- Speech and Listening: You should be able to understand the speech of another person and speak clearly so listeners can understand.
Things That Make Candidates Stand Out…
- Previous experience in education, workshop instruction, or facilitation skills.
- Previous experience in working or managing pop-ups, tradeshows, or markets.
- Previous experience in high-touch, specialty retail at stores that sell stationery, fountain pens, art supplies, jewelry, luxury clothing, handbags, shoes, fragrances, furniture, or home decor.
- Having a regular journaling or creative practice.
- Being involved in the Chicago stationery, journaling, art, or crafty community.
- Knowledge of the specialty brands that we carry (such as TRAVELER’S COMPANY and Hobonichi).
- Knowledge of fine writing items such as fountain pens and inks.
- Bilingual or multilingual candidates who have a working proficiency of Spanish and/or Japanese.
Events Coordinator Benefits…
- Pay starts at $24/hour.
- 40% discount on all merchandise purchased for personal use.
- Paid time off (accrual-based).
- Paid sick leave (accrual-based).
- Paid meal breaks (when working shifts longer than 6.5 hours).
- First access to new stationery goods and supplies.
- Friendly and supportive work environment in a locally-owned business.
- Flexible working schedule for administrative work outside of scheduled events.
- Additional hours are available should the Events Coordinator work to develop additional programming opportunities.
Events Coordinator Schedule, Place of Work, and Onboarding...
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First 30 Days – 10 hours/week – tasks to include:
- Working collaboratively with the co-owners to develop programming strategy, studio quarterly schedule, and event structures.
- Setting up all necessary software for event ticketing.
- Introductions to brand partners for upcoming events.
- Support with Creative Studio setup to include meeting contractors and tradespeople, assembling furniture, and setting up the space for events.
- Ongoing Schedule – 15-20 hours/week (with opportunity for hours to increase with additional programming development)
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Places of Work
- Paper & Pencil Retail Store – 5208 N. Clark Street – the Events Coordinator is expected to report to the Paper & Pencil Retail Store for all scheduled hours for administrative work (5-10 hours/week). The Events Coordinator will work with the co-owners to determine this schedule.
- Paper & Pencil Creative Studio – 1480 W. Berwyn Avenue – the Events Coordinator is expected to report to the Paper & Pencil Creative Studio for all scheduled events (10-15 hours/week).
- Off Site – Chicago – at times, the Events Coordinator is expected to work outside of the Paper & Pencil Retail Store or Paper & Pencil Creative Studio at special events in Chicago (as needed).
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Availability
- Evening and weekend availability required.
- Must be available to work on the following days for pre-planned events: Tuesday, September 1; Sunday-Monday, September 6-7; Friday-Sunday, September 11-13; Tuesday-Wednesday, October 27-28; Thursday-Friday, November 7 - 8; Saturday, November 28;
May 13-16, 2027.