Marketing Intern Retail Business Focus in Long Island City, New York at Hourchildren.org

Marketing Intern (Retail/Business Focus)

Location: Hour Children Thrift Store - Long Island City, NY
Department: Retail Operations / Marketing
Reports To: Store Manager / HR Manager
Status: Internship Part-Time

Position Overview

Hour Children is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Marketing Intern to support the growth and visibility of our thrift store operations. This role is ideal for a student pursuing a degree in Business, Marketing, Retail Management, or a related field who is looking to gain hands-on experience in retail marketing, customer engagement, and nonprofit operations.

The intern will assist in promoting store initiatives, increasing foot traffic, supporting sales campaigns, and enhancing the overall customer experience.

About Hour Children

Hour Children is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting formerly incarcerated women and their families through compassionate and comprehensive services, including housing, employment, and community-based programs. The thrift store plays a vital role in supporting these efforts while providing affordable goods to the community.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in developing and executing marketing strategies to increase store traffic and sales
• Support social media efforts (content creation, posting, engagement, and analytics)
• Help plan and promote in-store events, sales, and seasonal campaigns
• Conduct market research on local retail trends and competitor activity
• Assist with visual merchandising and store presentation to align with promotional efforts
• Create marketing materials (flyers, email content, signage)
• Track and report on marketing performance metrics (foot traffic, sales trends, campaign effectiveness)
• Support community outreach initiatives and partnerships to promote the thrift store
• Maintain brand consistency across all communications

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a degree in Business, Marketing, Retail Management, or related field
• Strong interest in retail, marketing, and nonprofit work
• Basic understanding of social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, etc.)
• Strong communication and organizational skills
• Creative mindset with attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); Canva or similar tools a plus

Preferred Skills

• Previous retail or customer service experience
• Experience with social media content creation or marketing campaigns
• Interest in sustainable fashion or thrift retail
• Photography experience and please provide a portfolio of your work

Learning Outcomes

• Gain hands-on experience in retail marketing and operations
• Exposure to nonprofit retail business models
• Develop skills in campaign planning, customer engagement, and brand promotion
• Strengthening analytical skills through reporting and performance tracking

Compensation

• Unpaid

We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Hour Children is a leading provider of services to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women in New York State. Focused on women and their children, we support families during a mother's incarceration and help families get back on their feet upon release. We do this by providing housing, childcare, job training, and mental health services.