Laura Merkin

Senior Copywriter at Straight North

Naperville, Illinois, United States

About

I am currently the Online Media Copywriter (E-Commerce Department) for OfficeMax (now part of Office Depot, Inc.). In this position, I write and proof email copy for officemax.com, officemaxworkplace.com, and Reliable.com. I also write and proofread headlines, sale and event names, banners, and landing and custom pages for these websites, as needed. I also write and proofread the weekly product offers for officemax.com and Reliable.com. Previously, I was a Copywriter in the Advertising Production Department at OfficeMax, where I wrote, edited, and proofread copy for various catalogs and other merchandising materials. I was the lead copywriter for the large catalogs, training and supervising the work of freelance copywriters. I have experience as a writer and editor for various other organizations, including the American Planning Association, ARS Advertising Group, and United Stationers Supply Company. I excel in writing, editing, and proofreading; in marketing communications; in managing projects; and in overall organization. I am intelligent and learn quickly. I am detail-oriented, a very hard worker, and extremely responsible; I have never missed a deadline or given any effort less than 100 percent. In addition, my diverse background demonstrates my flexibility and makes me valuable on many different projects and in many different industries.

Experience

  • Senior Copywriter at Straight North
    Sep 2014 - Present · 11 yrs 10 mos

  • OfficeMax (Naperville, IL)
    • Online Media Copywriter, E-Commerce
      May 2013 - Sep 2014 · 1 yr 5 mos

      • Write and proofread email copy for officemax.com (B2C), officemaxworkplace.com (B2B), and Reliable.com (B2B, small companies) websites. • Write and proofread headlines, sale and event names, banners, landing pages, custom pages, product/service descriptions, FAQs, surveys, and other copy as needed for officemax.com, officemaxworkplace.com, and Reliable.com websites. • Write and proofread weekly product offers for officemax.com and Reliable.com websites.

    • Copywriter, Advertising Production
      Apr 2010 - May 2013 · 3 yrs 2 mos

      • Researched, wrote, edited, and proofread product copy for various catalogs. As lead copywriter for the 2013 Maxi 1,200-page catalog and for the 2012 Reliable General 800-page catalog, created training manuals, updated the style guides, trained and supervised freelance copywriters, assigned pages, edited copy for the entire catalog, and served as the copy liaison to the merchandising, design, marketing, and proofreading teams. • Wrote and coordinated copy for Reliable.com emails. Proofread copy and released emails to internal customers. • Wrote creative copy for special projects including flyers, letters, inserts, banners, and other corporate material. • Populated and maintained content database with new and updated product descriptions. • Trained new copywriters in copy styles, procedures, and database use.

  • Freelance Content Management Specialist, Content Department at United Stationers Supply Company
    2009 - 2010 · 1 yr

    * Wrote, edited, proofread, and input print and online catalog copy. * Maintained and updated extensive product database as part of a team.

  • Senior Marketing Writer at American Planning Association
    2008 - 2009 · 1 yr

    • Oversaw the creation of and wrote copy for brochures, flyers, catalogs, website, emails, and print and online ads. Managed timelines and production processes, including proofreading and approving printers’ proofs. • Strategized and wrote copy for promotional campaigns to increase subscriptions, membership, and publication sales with other members of the marketing department. • Provided strategic communications advice for members of other APA departments, including translating concepts into viable marketing messages and editing of various electronic subscriber newsletters. • Edited bookstore website, including the creation of feature ads, content, and book descriptions. • Wrote script for one-hour webinar entitled “What is Planning?”

  • Interactive Copywriter at ARS Advertising Group
    Oct 2007 - Oct 2008 · 1 yr 1 mo

    * Wrote email copy for retail clients regarding sales and special promotions. • Wrote copy for client websites, online splash pages, and special projects, such as registration pages, surveys, seasonal flash experiences, onsite banners, and banner ads. Wrote all copy for Searsdrivingschools.com, which is still online today. • Proofread and edited copy for website home and splash pages.