Katie Cruz

About Katie Cruz

It started on a farm in Hawaii. After several months of travel, I decided to volunteer on a coffee farm on the Big Island, near Kona. The days were long, filled with agriculture, rain, and a hut with a bamboo shower that I would call my home for the next few weeks. One day, as I was two buckets into picking coffee cherries, I realized something: I no longer wanted to come home and work specifically in the fashion journalism field I had been in prior. I worked as writer in the fashion industry for seven years and I still love it to this day, but I wanted to venture into new fields. After all, media studies offers vast opportunities.Fast forward to almost three years later, and now I run my own remote business, assisting creative start-ups, content creators, and influencers with, but not limited to, administrative tasks, marketing, social media management, copywriting, public relations, content editing (proofreading/layouts/written and visual work), customer service, event management, and any tasks that may be brand related or unique to the client specifically. Currently, I’m on a mission to work with brands and clients I really love and see potential growth with.I bring something refreshing and hardworking to the table daily. After all, if I can delegate as a camp counselor at an away camp while living with a group of 15 teenagers in one cabin, to staying sane during a seventeen-hour layover in Norway, all while still getting freelance media work done, I can handle anything. I\'m always willing to learn and take on challenging work. It\'s all about perception, staying positive, and wanting to help even when most overwhelmed. As long as I\'m fueled by coffee and binge a little Netflix on the weekends (preferably Stranger Things and Fraiser), I can apply my creative mind and bubbly personality to any form of work culture. I like to say I\'m \"real af and full of sunshine.\"

Experience

1. Assistant Manager, Stores

   The RealReal

   Oct 2025 — Present

   Partner with the Store Manager to reinforce team values and behaviors, delivering exceptional customer experiences while driving key business metrics and store performance goals-Lead and develop a team of Customer Experience Specialists, motivating performance to drive supply and demand, operational efficiency, and overall store results-Achieve supply and demand targets by creating a best-in-class client experience through elevated service, strategic clienteling, and close partnership with Valuation Managers-Manage day-to-day operations and support for Customer Experience Specialists, ensuring consistent execution of service standards and operational excellence-Train and coach team members on product knowledge, sales techniques, consignor education, and customer service best practices to build high-performing teams-Foster a positive, collaborative, and inclusive work environment by prioritizing open communication and teamwork-Lead by example on the sales floor, flexing into all store roles as needed to support business demands and deliver seamless customer experiences-Build long-term brand loyalty by consistently delivering personalized, luxury-level service to clients and consignors-Assume full leadership responsibility for store operations in the absence of the Store Manager-Support the end-to-end consignor journey, including authentication, AI-driven pricing, photography, listing, shipping, and post-sale customer service to ensure a frictionless experience-Streamlined store operations, optimizing workflows to enhance efficiency and achieve measurable improvements in customer satisfaction-Analyzed sales data to identify trends, enabling targeted strategies that drove supply and demand and improved overall store performance.

Education

• UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ

  Associate of Arts - AA, Communication and Media Studies

  2011 — 2014

• Arcadia University

  Bachelor of Arts - BA, Global Media: Fashion Studies

  2014 — 2015

• New York Institute of Art and Design

  Certification, Wedding Planning & Event Management