Influencer Research & Outreach

Title: Influencer/Creator Research — Build a Vetted List of 30 Micro-Creators (NJ/NYC + Niche) for Retail Store Launch Description: I'm the founder of a new experiential retail store opening October 1 in Montclair, NJ — a design-forward shop of stationery, books, art, and confectionery, built more like an exhibition than a store. I'm hosting a creator preview before opening day and need a researcher to build a clean, vetted list of creators worth inviting. The task: Find and document 30 creators (Instagram, TikTok, and/or Substack) across four lanes: NJ / North Jersey discovery (10 accounts) — "hidden gems," "things to do in NJ," Montclair/Essex County lifestyle accounts BookTok / stationery / journaling creators (10 accounts) — must be within realistic travel distance of Montclair, NJ (NYC metro, North/Central NJ) Slow-living / analog / digital-detox creators (5 accounts) — same travel constraint preferred; exceptional national accounts OK Gift guide accounts & newsletters (5 accounts) — regional or national fine; these don't need to visit What "vetted" means (this is the actual job): 1,000–100,000 followers. Micro and mid-tier only. I do not want celebrity accounts. Real engagement. Check that recent posts get views/comments proportional to follower count, and that comments are from real people, not bots or pods. If the account looks bought, skip it. Active. Posted within the last 3 weeks. Right sensibility. Their content should suggest their audience would care about a beautiful, analog, take-your-time retail experience. A "NJ deals and freebies" account is a bad fit even if it's local. For each creator, fill in every column of the spreadsheet template I'll provide: account name, platform, handle, profile URL, follower count, engagement notes (2–3 sentences on what you observed), location, best contact method, email if publicly listed, and 1–2 sentences on why they fit. Deliverable: The completed spreadsheet, returned within 7 days. I review in one pass; up to one revision round to replace weak picks (accounts that fail the vetting criteria above). How to win this job: In your proposal, include ONE example account you'd put on this list (any lane) and 2 sentences on why. Proposals without this will not be considered. Please also mention any past influencer list-building or creator outreach work. Follow-on work: If this goes well, there's an immediate second project: managing the outreach itself (DMs and emails from our brand account) through September. I'm looking for someone who could grow into that.