Estera Pawelec-Alvarado
New York,NY
Summary
Entrepreneur with strong background in launching and scaling successful ventures. Skilled in strategic planning, business development, and financial management. Known for fostering team collaboration and consistently achieving high-impact results. Adept at adapting to changing market conditions and driving innovation.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Founder / Creative Director
SIPS + MAKER
01.2017 - 01.2024
- Designed and developed the interior and concept of a unique joint artisan coffee shop and artisan design market.
- Managed all business operations, including serving as the sole buyer for both the market and coffee shop.
- Attended biannual NY Now & Shoppe Object shows to identify trends and purchase inventory for upcoming seasons.
- Sole decision maker for all buying purchases; identifying new vendors with talent and potential appeal to customers while staying within the planned open to buy.
- Artisan Market items were carefully selected with a focus on hand made and fair trade items from the US and around the world.
- Created E-commerce site for the business and uploaded all images, descriptions and maintained inventory in the physical location and fulfilled online orders.
- Recruited, trained, and supervised employees; created work schedules and ensured smooth daily operations.
- Directed all social media marketing, driving brand awareness and customer engagement.
- Organized diverse community events, including book signings, photo art exhibits, yoga & meditation circles, and live music performances.
- Received the 2018 Excellence Award for Interior and Interior Decorating for the Annual Building Awards by the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce.
- Established brand identity and strategic vision for SIPS + MAKER, driving market differentiation.
- Developed and implemented operational processes to enhance product quality and customer satisfaction.
- Led cross-functional teams to launch new product lines, ensuring alignment with consumer trends and preferences.
- Fostered partnerships with local suppliers, optimizing resource allocation and supporting community engagement initiatives.
- Directed financial planning and budgeting efforts, enhancing profitability through cost management strategies.
- Analyzed market data to inform strategic decisions, adapting offerings to meet evolving customer demands effectively.
- Spearheaded marketing campaigns that increased brand awareness and drove sales growth within targeted demographics.
Studio Director / Interior Designer
Intérieurs Design Studio
01.2009 - 01.2015
- Led creative direction for diverse design projects, ensuring alignment with client vision and industry trends.
- Mentored junior designers, fostering skill development and encouraging innovative design solutions.
- Mentored junior designers, fostering skill development and encouraging innovative design solutions.
- Co-designed Showtime Showhouse for United States of Tara.
- Co-designed vignettes for 2013 and 2014 Design on a Dime benefit for Housing Works and 2012 Greenwich Showhouse.
- Implemented strategies to increase project efficiency.
- Traveled to Belgium, France, and throughout the US for design projects.
- Audited projects & recovered lost funds through accounting errors.
- Brought in business generating vendors.
- Single point of contact for client and all third party firms (Architect, GC, Building Manager, Electrician, Movers and other trades).
Project Manager / Design Coordinator
Intérieurs Design Studio
01.2004 - 01.2009
- Oversaw all elements of projects including client & vendor meetings, order placement and follow up, budgeting & invoicing, installation scheduling and coordination, subcontractor hiring and work follow up, punch list creation and review, daily communication with clients, designer, draftsperson and team support, created schedule to complete project on time.
- Worked with designer to create design direction for projects; created mood boards; color stories with textiles, materials and furniture designs; sourced materials & furniture.
- Led project teams to deliver high-quality design solutions within budget and timeline constraints.
- Developed and maintained project schedules using industry-standard software tools.
- Coordinated cross-functional collaboration between designers, clients, and contractors for seamless execution.
- Implemented process improvements that enhanced workflow efficiency and reduced project delivery times.
Public Relations / Branding
Intérieurs Design Studio
01.2004 - 01.2009
- Led company re-branding project for advertising design and business design assets.
- Placed company features in New York Spaces, Elle Décor & CC&G.
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
Showroom Sales, Public Relations / Branding
Intérieurs Design Studio
01.2004 - 01.2009
- Managed all sales accounts with purchasing agents for large-scale projects.
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Custom Furniture - extensive knowledge of pricing, manufacturing and materials.
- Responsible for company re-branding including packaging, stationary, tagging, business cards and advertising.
- Hired and worked with graphic designer to create company press material, tear sheets, newsletters and price lists.
- Managed new website design, provided content & maintained strict deadlines.
- Photo director for all photo shoots for website content and advertising campaigns.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
Production Coordinator
Dune
01.2004 - 2004
- Responsible for daily communication with manufacturer, generated work orders, scheduled shipments and followed up on all custom orders.
- Worked with in-house designers and met their deadlines for product completion and delivery.
- Coordinated production schedules to optimize workflow and enhance efficiency across departments.
Education
B.B.A. - Business Marketing
Laboratory Institute of Merchandising
New York, NYA.A.S. - Visual Merchandising
Laboratory Institute of Merchandising
New York, NYSkills
- Multidisciplinary project leadership
- Strong attention to detail
- Operational efficiency enhancement
- Strategic thinking
- Entrepreneurial and innovative
- Team leadership
- Marketing
- Ethics and integrity
- Client engagement
- Polish language fluency
Accomplishments
- Luxe Interiors + Design 2014 Gold List Honoree - Cover Project August 2013 - East Hampton Project.
- Maintained a perfect record of accuracy, delivering high-quality results on all 24 projects through rigorous attention to detail.
- Managed projects in Tribeca, Soho, Nolita, Battery Park City, Meatpacking District, Flat Iron District, Columbus Circle, Midtown, Upper East Side, Clinton Hill, Brooklyn; East Hampton, Armonk, NY; Lawrence, NY; Darien, CT; Park City, Utah.
- Complete project list of addresses, details and square footage available upon request.
Timeline
Founder / Creative Director
SIPS + MAKER
01.2017 - 01.2024
Studio Director / Interior Designer
Intérieurs Design Studio
01.2009 - 01.2015
Project Manager / Design Coordinator
Intérieurs Design Studio
01.2004 - 01.2009
Public Relations / Branding
Intérieurs Design Studio
01.2004 - 01.2009
Showroom Sales, Public Relations / Branding
Intérieurs Design Studio
01.2004 - 01.2009
Production Coordinator
Dune
01.2004 - 2004
B.B.A. - Business Marketing
Laboratory Institute of Merchandising
A.A.S. - Visual Merchandising
Laboratory Institute of Merchandising