At a Glance
- Tasks: Inspire customers with creative styling across Fashion, Home, Beauty, and Tech.
- Company: Join the iconic John Lewis team in a vibrant, collaborative environment.
- Benefits: Competitive salary up to £45,000, hybrid working, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for creativity and collaboration across various teams.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on customer experiences through innovative visual merchandising.
- Qualifications: Past styling experience and strong communication skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 45000 £ per year.
About the role
As a VM Stylist you will be responsible for ensuring that all regional John Lewis stores' Fashion, Home, beauty and tech styling look strong and exciting to customers at all times. You will need to be able to inspire customers, focussing on both the trend influencer and our typical customers. Demonstrating a balanced view, focusing on both own brand and 3rd party brands to maintain their individual brand strategies' integrity whilst working as a Styling team to support key business goals.
Expected salary up to - £45,000 depending on experience
Contract type - This position is a 12 month Secondment/Fixed Term contract
Working pattern/flexible working - The Partnership has adopted a hybrid working approach, meaning you'll be able to work a mixture between the office and home based upon your personal needs, whilst balancing the needs of the business. Within the Brand and Store Experience team, we believe in the power of connection, which is why our core office days are Monday and Tuesday. We typically aim for around three days a week in the office or visiting shops to allow for collaboration and attendance of key meetings. Some weekends / late nights may also be required.
Location - This role is based at our London Head Office campus in Pimlico. Please note, any cost incurred as a result of travel to the office is the responsibility of the successful candidate. There is also a responsibility to visit our John Lewis branches when necessary and travel costs will be met in line with the travel policy.
FYI - Physical activities such as lifting and moving of mannequins is required within this role.
Key responsibilities
- Working with the wider VM team to plan and implement mannequin & lifestyle styling training sessions with the VM team in adhoc branches to develop in store partners.
- Regular branch visits and styling refreshes in stores, working with branches to implement latest styling whilst focusing on partner training.
- Providing information on styling/trend interpretation to share at team level, supporting new window scheme launch, working closely with the Design Managers and Window Stylists.
- Supporting key flagships with new window installations, lifestyle and mannequin advice.
- Attending product meetings and working with Buying/Design teams to gain valuable knowledge and insight on trends and brand seasonal expectations to ensure new trends are delivered well in store.
- Working alongside the Stylists & VM Managers to ensure outfit building and storytelling is executed cohesively.
- Exploring new ways to work with Home, Beauty products, tech and small ticket items within a store environment as required. Working closely with the product teams on creative ideation and design to ensure these are allocated in advance.
- Developing style notes on a monthly basis and additional seasonal updates when necessary.
- Supporting creative floor walks with relevant store teams in order to monitor the execution of mannequin styling, creative & lifestyle installations, seasonal launches, product showcases and overall visual appearance of the store.
- Allocating stock ahead of product installations to ensure we are showcasing key newness across all categories.
- Working as a group to come up with new creative solutions following store visits if necessary.
- Supporting other key brand events - press shows, marketing events etc and providing Stylist support.
- Using extensive knowledge from competitive shops, social media and Fashion/ Design weeks to apply to key styling moments and have relevant integral awareness around what is trending from all categories of the business including beauty and tech.
- Working with teams across the business to form product related deals and product placement within windows/internal sites.
- Providing information on styling/trend interpretation to share at team level across all categories of the business, supporting lead stylist on new window schemes launches, working closely with the Design Managers and peers.
- Supporting key flagships with all new installations, lifestyle and mannequin advice. Setting up product showcases in Head Office across Fashion, Home and Christmas.
- Proactive with driving own development and enjoys working in a fast paced, high energy environment.
- Preempts the need for, and manages change - supporting teams throughout the process.
- Regularly spend time in shops/office/suppliers as reasonably required to fulfil the job role to drive Creative proposition and enhance Visual opportunities and working collaboratively across both VM and Styling, ensuring the departments are aligned and the teams are working collectively.
Skills
- Styling and creative skills
- Training and coaching skills
- Teamwork
- Ability to organise and manage your own time effectively
- Creative problem solving
Essential skills/experience you'll need
- Past styling experience
- Able to demonstrate commercial acumen, an excellent understanding of customer requirements
- Ability to work on own initiative and self-motivated
- Experience building strong relationships with key business stakeholders
- Demonstrate the ability to stay positive under pressure and stay focused on goals
- Outstanding styling skills
- Excellent communication and influencing skills, ability to liaise at all levels
- An innovative approach to support business growth
- Experience creating Styling guidelines
Desirable skills/experience you may have
- Working experience in Autocad, Indesign, Sketch up, photoshop or similar
- Experience in training and coaching stylists
VM Stylist Coordinator in London employer: John Lewis & Partners
At John Lewis, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters creativity and collaboration. Our London Head Office in Pimlico provides a dynamic environment where VM Stylists can thrive, with opportunities for professional growth through training and development initiatives. With a hybrid working model and a focus on employee well-being, we ensure our team members feel valued and inspired to deliver their best work.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land VM Stylist Coordinator in London
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research John Lewis, their brand values, and recent trends in fashion, home, beauty, and tech. This will help you tailor your conversations and show that you're genuinely interested in what they do.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events. Building relationships can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral, which is always a bonus!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to styling and visual merchandising. Think about how you can demonstrate your creativity and problem-solving skills through real-life examples from your past experiences.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team and ready to dive into the exciting world of VM styling.
We think you need these skills to ace VM Stylist Coordinator in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Styling Passion:When you're writing your application, let your love for styling shine through! Share specific examples of your past experiences that highlight your creativity and how you've inspired customers in the past.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to reflect the key responsibilities mentioned in the job description. Show us how your skills align with what we're looking for, especially in terms of teamwork and creative problem-solving.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid fluff and focus on showcasing your relevant experience and skills that make you a great fit for the VM Stylist Coordinator role.
Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it makes the whole process smoother for everyone involved.
How to prepare for a job interview at John Lewis & Partners
✨Know Your Trends
Make sure you’re up to date with the latest trends in fashion, home, beauty, and tech. Research current styles and how they relate to both own brand and third-party brands. This will help you demonstrate your commercial acumen and understanding of customer requirements during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Styling Skills
Prepare a portfolio or examples of your past styling work. Be ready to discuss your creative process and how you approach outfit building and storytelling. This will give the interviewers a clear picture of your outstanding styling skills and innovative approach.
✨Emphasise Teamwork and Training Experience
Highlight any experience you have in training or coaching others, especially in a styling context. Discuss how you’ve worked collaboratively with teams to achieve business goals, as this role requires strong teamwork and the ability to inspire others.
✨Be Ready for Creative Problem Solving
Think of examples where you've had to creatively solve problems in a fast-paced environment. Prepare to discuss how you preempt needs and manage change effectively, as these skills are crucial for success in this role.
