Are you looking for a Visual/Creative role and the chance to develop your skills with a business on an exciting journey? If yes, then we’d love to hear you!
About the role
Our Visual Merchandising Assistants are responsible for developing, presenting, and maintaining our creative vision across all our store departments. You would also be responsible for vinyl work and ticketing. This will include ordering, the application of vinyl\'s and setting up promotional tickets and maintaining the ticket library, as well as measuring areas for department branding.
With a commercial flair and up-to-date knowledge of current trends and competitors, you will play a key role in the store visual team.
About the candidate
We look for warm and welcoming people, who are adaptable, courageous, innovative, and goal‑orientated to join us on our exciting journey. As well as these key characteristics, this role also requires some specific skills and experience to succeed.
- Previous experience of Visual Merchandising in a retail environment – Essential.
- Passionate about delivering excellent customer service even if indirectly.
- A strong interest in premium and luxury brands and retail
- An excellent communicator with strong interpersonal skills
About Fenwick
Opening our first store in 1882, Fenwick is rich with heritage and history as the UK’s largest family‑owned department store group. We are on an exciting journey, transforming the business to exceed our customers\' expectations, and we are always on the lookout for talent to join us.
We have 8 stores across the UK, differing in size and offering, specific to their local community. We are fortunate enough to say 4 of our stores also house our functional teams, allowing for a truly collaborative approach. In 2018, we launched our first eCommerce website and have been building on this ever since, setting up our historic business for a multichannel future. With exciting growth plans ahead of us, this is indeed a place of innovation, excitement, and opportunity.
We offer a competitive salary and benefits package including:
- 25% Colleague Discount (across most areas)
- 28 days annual leave (including bank holidays) increasing by 1 day each year to a maximum of 33 days (pro‑rata for part‑time colleagues)
- Birthday day – 1 additional day off in the month of your birthday
- Holiday Purchase Scheme option to buy up to 5 days annual leave
- Pension scheme
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Visual Merchandising Assistant in Canterbury
✨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 Fenwick Limited, 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 Fenwick Limited!
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 Fenwick Limited, 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 Fenwick Limited 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 Fenwick Limited that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Fenwick Limited
✨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!
