Visual Merchandiser & Brand Champion

The Barbour story began in 1894 in South Shields in the North East of England. Founder John Barbour began supplying oilskins and other garments to protect the growing community of sailors, fishermen and dockers. Still family owned and now fifth generation, Barbour HQ remains in South Shields. Under the leadership of Chairman Dame Margaret Barbour, Barbour has grown into a lifestyle brand sold in over 55 countries worldwide including Europe, the US and Asia offering a wardrobe of stylish functional clothing, footwear and accessories inspired by the unique values of the British countryside.

Position Overview: We have an exciting opportunity for a Visual Merchandising Brand Champion to join our Visual Merchandising team. This will be a temporary role, covering a maternity leave. This role will be responsible for consistent high quality VM execution throughout key wholesale accounts, partner stores and Barbour Retail stores within designated area, including window scheme roll outs, instore displays, stock merchandising and online brand presentation.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Maintain constant VM standards across all accounts and doors on area.
• Work in collaboration with the account managers to deliver any key product training or seasonal focuses to all accounts and doors.
• Lead training of instore staff on brand standards, mannequin styling, product display and window execution.
• Work with Marketing on Pop up design and installation and new shopfits to ensure visual standards and brand segmentation are maintained through wholesale and partner store online accounts.
• Work with the retail store managers on supporting with brand specialists instore, ensuring stores are working to VM guideline and money mapping.
• Work with Brand Champions to compile Model Store training at the beginning of the season for Retail and Partner store staff.
• Develop bespoke seasonal brand training programme to support key wholesale accounts, taking lead with one key account as a champion role and supporting other Brand Champions with doors on area.
• Support the setup of the VM guidelines in the mock shop and adapt VM guidelines to align to wholesale account requirements, aligning to key drops throughout the year.
• Support VM Manager with the development of the window design alongside the commercial calendar and created monthly window mocks working with the Global marketing team.
• Complete weekly VM reports outlining visits and online checks completed that week and share with VM Manager/VM team and account manager.
• Assist with the seasonal setup in brand showrooms in South Shields ready for sell in and work with the VM Manager to project manage the London showroom set up and maintenance.
• Support the Marketing & PR teams with event set ups where required.
• Complete competitor shop reports to support business with new ideas and areas for growth.
• Manage own calendar/diary efficiently ensuring business priorities are met accordingly.

Knowledge and Skills Required:

• Must be able to use InDesign to a good standard.
• Be highly creative but able to work within the brand vision.
• Demonstrate a high level of time management and able to work under pressure and under tight deadlines.
• Be flexible when it comes to workload and hours.
• Be willing to travel including overnight stays and occasional night shifts.
• Be comfortable with working collaboratively in a team but also strong independently.
• Pay strong attention to detail and high standard of work.
• Possess essential IT skills including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe Suite and internet packages.
• Be interested and knowledgeable in fashion.

Additional Information: This role will cover the Midlands, Wales & Ireland, with a specific focus on Birmingham, Cardiff & Dublin. The role holder must be based or be prepared to move to the region their role covers. This is a temporary role, covering a maternity leave.