A seating company that puts purpose before profit: https://nightingalechairs.com/
Strategic Marketing Internship at Nightingale Corp
During my three-month marketing internship at Nightingale Corp (June 2017 - August 2017), I contributed to the brand presence of one of Canada's Best Managed Companies in the contract seating industry. This experience allowed me to apply creative and strategic communication skills while representing a company with nearly a century of heritage in innovative, ergonomic seating design.
Sustainability Storytelling Through Social Media
A significant portion of my role involved creating compelling social media content that highlighted Nightingale's commitment to environmental sustainability, particularly through their partnership with the Urban Beehive Project. This initiative aligned perfectly with the company's "landfill sucks" zero-waste policy and their factory powered by renewable wind and solar energy.
I crafted narrative-driven content that connected Nightingale's sustainable manufacturing practices with their support of bee populations that pollinate 90% of worldwide food crops. This storytelling approach helped transform technical sustainability achievements into engaging content that resonated with architects, designers, and corporate clients concerned with environmental impact.
The social media strategy I developed emphasized the company's unique position at the intersection of design excellence, ergonomic innovation, and environmental responsibility—highlighting how their approach of "purpose before profit" manifested in tangible business practices.
Educational Content Development
I also created comprehensive presentation materials and content for Continuing Educational Units (CEU), which are critical in the architecture and design community. These educational resources needed to balance technical accuracy with engaging delivery while meeting strict industry accreditation requirements.
The CEU materials I developed covered topics including:
Ergonomic principles and their impact on workplace wellness
Sustainable manufacturing processes in the furniture industry
The evolution of workplace seating design since Nightingale's founding in 1928
Material innovation and environmental impact in contract furniture
These educational resources served dual purposes: providing valuable professional development for industry partners while subtly positioning Nightingale as a thought leader in ergonomic and sustainable seating solutions.
Experiential Brand Ambassador
Perhaps the most dynamic aspect of my internship was serving as a brand ambassador at pop-up showroom events in major design centers including New York City, Chicago, and Toronto. These events required me to:
Demonstrate the ergonomic features and benefits of Nightingale's seating products
Articulate the company's commitment to sustainability and zero-waste manufacturing
Engage with architects, designers, and corporate purchasing decision-makers
Communicate the company's century-long heritage of quality and innovation
These showroom events provided valuable face-to-face interaction with industry professionals, allowing me to gather direct feedback about product features and market trends while representing the Nightingale brand philosophy.
Website Content Management
As part of my responsibilities, I maintained Nightingale's Drupal CMS website, ensuring content remained current, engaging, and aligned with broader marketing initiatives. I learned to navigate the Drupal platform efficiently, updating product information, event announcements, and sustainability messaging to maintain a cohesive brand presence across digital channels.
This role taught me the importance of cross-channel consistency in brand messaging, as I worked to ensure that the themes developed for social media and in-person events were reflected appropriately in the company's web presence.