Visual Merchandiser

Job Title

Assistant Visual Merchandising Manager

Minimum Exp

4+ Years (Beauty / Retail Industry)

Job Location

Waterloo (London, United Kingdom).

Job Summary

This role is responsible for managing and executing visual merchandising across key UK retail channels, including new store openings, remodels, product launches and ongoing VM updates.

The role will manage VM projects from a head-office perspective, working closely with retail partners, suppliers, contractors and internal stakeholders to ensure high-quality execution in line with brand guidelines.

The role will also support planogram and space-planning activity and ensure strong brand storytelling across the UK market.

• Principal Accountabilities
• Develop and execute innovative and visually appealing designs for product displays, window displays, in-store signage and other VM touchpoints to enhance brand visibility and customer experience.
• Adapt and localise existing visual merchandising guidelines and assets from global headquarters to meet specific UK retail environments, retailer requirements and market trends.
• Continuously review and refresh VM executions to maintain brand relevance and ensure consistent brand presentation.
• Proactively plan and execute visual merchandising requirements for new product launches, campaigns, new stores, remodels and promotional activity.
• Manage VM execution across key UK retail partners, including Boots, Space NK, Harrods and other relevant retail accounts.
• Work closely with retail partners to understand VM requirements, present concepts, obtain approvals and coordinate installation schedules.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with retail partners and key internal stakeholders to ensure effective and timely VM execution.
• Ensure retailer-specific VM requirements are understood and implemented accurately while maintaining overall brand standards.
• Planogram & Space Planning
• Develop, implement and maintain planograms and retail space plans, ensuring products are positioned effectively and in line with brand guidelines and commercial priorities.
• Review and adapt planograms and VM layouts based on retailer requirements, available space, product launches and commercial priorities.
• Ensure product launches, promotional activity and campaign changes are accurately reflected within relevant planograms and retail environments.
• Manage and maintain strong working relationships with VM suppliers, contractors and external vendors.
• Coordinate the production, delivery and installation of VM materials, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget and to the required quality standards.
• Work closely with suppliers and contractors to resolve issues and ensure accurate implementation of VM guidelines and specifications.
• Lead and execute VM projects while optimising budgets and maintaining appropriate cost control.

Communication and Project Leadership

• Manage VM projects from a head-office perspective, coordinating with Commercial, Marketing, Sales, Product and Global teams.
• Lead project communication with retail partners, including presenting design concepts, obtaining approvals and coordinating implementation timelines.
• Maintain strong knowledge of competitor campaigns, retail trends and changing customer behaviour, communicating relevant insights to key stakeholders.
• Proactively plan for upcoming product releases to ensure excellent in-store representation.
• Deliver VM training and guidance to relevant teams to ensure display, window and merchandising standards are understood and maintained.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams such as Marketing, Sales and Product Development to align visual merchandising strategies with overall brand objectives and product launches.
• Provide guidance and support to store and retail teams on maintaining visual standards and executing merchandising changes effectively.
• Collaborate with Marketing to ensure in-store digital touchpoints are aligned with product drops, campaigns and social media activity.
• Key Experience and Skills
• Qualification and Experience
• Minimum 4 years' Visual Merchandising experience within the beauty industry is mandatory.
• Previous head-office/corporate Visual Merchandising experience is required.
• Experience working with UK beauty retailers such as Boots, Space NK, Harrods and/or Superdrug is highly desirable.
• Strong hands-on experience with planograms, space planning and retail merchandising is required.
• Experience managing suppliers, contractors and external VM partners, with a strong ability to build and maintain supplier relationships.
• Understanding of the beauty industry, competitor brands, treatments, trends and changing customer behaviour.
• College or higher degree in Visual Merchandising, Design, Marketing or a related field is preferred.
• Proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator or other visual design tools is preferred.
• Skill Sets
• Demonstrable visual merchandising skills with a strong retail merchandising portfolio.
• Strong understanding of planograms, space allocation, retail layouts and visual merchandising principles.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to coordinate multiple projects, departments, retailers and suppliers.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively with retail partners and external suppliers.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to ensure VM execution is delivered accurately against brand standards.
• Willingness to learn and study key information and characteristics of existing and new products.
• Willingness to work a flexible schedule and undertake local travel, with occasional international travel where required.
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