At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead global store design and visual merchandising for a renowned brand.
- Company: Join Clarks, a heritage brand known for innovative shoemaking since 1825.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible working, and comprehensive benefits.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive culture with career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make your mark in a global business with a focus on creativity and collaboration.
- Qualifications: Experience in retail design and visual merchandising is essential.
The predicted salary is between 56700 - 69300 £ per year.
Location: Street, Somerset
The Role: Own the physical expression of the brand across every global store environment. The role sets and cascades global store design, visual merchandising and retail POS direction, develops new concepts and fixtures from sketch through to signed-off production, and partners with regional retail, marketing, properties and procurement teams to land consistent, commercially effective executions in every market.
Key responsibilities:
- Global Store Design and Concept development
- Design new global store formats, fixtures and concepts, including collection and non-footwear requirement
- Produce fixture technical drawings, prototypes and final sign-off for global roll-out
- Develop global store concept principles and landlord pitch decks
- Deliver 2D floor plans for all new stores, relocations and refits, plus 3D renders for landlord requests
- Build store fixture order lists and support global procurement on materials and cost reviews
- Manage a team of 3 Global Store Designers based in Kuala Lumpur
- Global Visual Merchandising
- Create global VM principles documents across all concepts and seasons
- Set and cascade VM direction to regional retail and VM leads
- Build product lists and flow documents using HQ samples
- Support regional new store VM planning, openings and store visits
- Run HQ mock shop window, in-store and showroom set-ups for stakeholder review
- Management of UK based Global Retail and VM Manager
- Global Retail Marketing
- Lead the creation of global seasonal retail marketing guidelines across all brand tiers
- Management of Global retail graphic designer and freelancers
- Cascade POS direction to regional retail and marketing leads
- Support all regions pre-season and in-season planning
- Review regional executions and feed back on brand consistency
- Support new store POS planning, events and pop-up design
What you'll bring:
- Brand guardian: rigorous about consistency of execution across every market
- Highly organised, able to run multiple seasonal and project workstreams in parallel
- Collaborative and diplomatic across regions, functions and external partners
- Hands-on and practical, comfortable in mock shops and stores as well as in design software
- Willing to travel to Street HQ for mock shop set ups/ presentations and seasonal kick off meetings
- Substantial experience in retail store design, brand environments or visual merchandising within a global or multi-market retailer
- Proven record of taking store concepts and fixtures from initial design through prototyping to full roll-out
- Experience setting seasonal VM and POS direction and cascading it to regional teams
- Track record of working with overseas manufacturing and procurement partners, including cost and material sign-off
- Line management experience with a small design team
- Strong understanding of 2D and 3D design: floor plans, renders, technical fixture drawings
- Confident in building Global brand guidelines and pitch documents
- Commercial understanding of how store layout and VM drive conversion and sell-through
- Working knowledge of retail construction, materials, lighting and fixture manufacture
- Excellent presentation skills, including presenting concepts to senior stakeholders
What We Offer:
- Competitive salary
- Flexible/hybrid working options
- Career development and progression opportunities
- Supportive and collaborative culture
- Comprehensive benefits package
Why join us? At Clarks, you’ll be part of a brand with heritage, craftsmanship, and style at its core. We offer great training, career progression, and the chance to make your mark in a global business.
About Clarks: Clarks, based in Somerset, England, has been at the forefront of innovative shoemaking since its foundation in 1825 when brothers James and Cyrus Clark made a slipper from sheepskin off-cuts. At the time, it was ground-breaking: a combination of invention and craftsmanship that has remained at the heart of what the brand does now. In the Clarks archive, more than 22,000 pairs of shoes have sparked revolutions and defined generations. From the original Clarks Desert Boot, first designed by Nathan Clark and launched in 1950, to the iconic Wallabee, each design has an instantly recognisable signature that makes it unmistakably Clarks.
Disclaimer: This document describes the general nature and level of work only. It is not designed to cover an exhaustive list of all skills, activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Other activities, duties, and responsibilities may be added at any time. This description may be changed at the company’s discretion at any time, with or without notice.
Senior Global Store Design and VM Manager in Street employer: Clarks
Clarks in Bracknell offers a dynamic and supportive work environment where employees are encouraged to thrive and grow. With flexible hours and a focus on exceptional customer service, team members can enjoy a fulfilling role that values collaboration and positivity. Join us for a unique adventure in a company with a rich heritage in innovative shoemaking since 1825, where your contributions truly make a difference.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Global Store Design and VM Manager in Street
✨Get Your Retail Game On
Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!
✨Join Retail Networks and Forums
Tap into retail-specific communities and forums, whether online or in-person. Platforms like Retail Week or local retail meetups can provide invaluable insights and connections. You never know who might drop a tip about an upcoming job at companies like Clarks, so don’t miss out on building those relationships!
✨Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities
Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like Clarks!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Global Store Design and VM Manager in Street
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.
Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at Clarks, customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at Clarks and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!
Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show Clarks that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Clarks
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!
✨Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems
Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!
✨Understand Product Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.
✨Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios
Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!
