At a Glance
- Tasks: Inspire customers with exciting styling across Fashion, Home, Beauty, and Tech.
- Company: Join the iconic John Lewis team in a creative and collaborative environment.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and opportunities for personal development.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities to work creatively and develop your skills.
- 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 45000 - 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.
Position Details
- Expected salary: £45,000 depending on experience
- Contract type: 12 month Secondment/Fixed Term contract
- Working pattern/flexible working: The Partnership has adopted a hybrid working approach, meaning you can work a mix of office and home based on your personal needs, while balancing the business needs. Core office days are Monday and Tuesday, with approximately three days a week in the office or visiting shops for collaboration and key meetings. Some weekends or late nights may also be required.
- Location: London Head Office campus in Pimlico. Travel to the office is the candidate’s responsibility; visits to John Lewis branches are required and travel costs will be covered in line with the travel policy.
- Physical requirement: Lifting and moving of mannequins is required within this role.
Key responsibilities
- Working with the wider VM team to plan and implement mannequin and lifestyle styling training sessions in ad-hoc branches to develop in-store partners.
- Regular branch visits and styling refreshes, working with branches to implement the latest styling while focusing on partner training.
- Providing styling and trend interpretation information to share at the team level, supporting new window scheme launches and working closely with 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 knowledge and insight on trends and brand seasonal expectations, ensuring new trends are delivered well in store.
- Working alongside Stylists and VM Managers to ensure outfit building and storytelling is executed cohesively.
- Exploring new ways to work with Home, Beauty, tech and small ticket items within a store environment, collaborating with product teams on creative ideation and design to ensure early allocation.
- Developing style notes on a monthly basis and additional seasonal updates when necessary.
- Supporting creative floor walks with relevant store teams to monitor the execution of mannequin styling, creative and lifestyle installations, seasonal launches, product showcases and overall visual appearance of the store.
- Allocating stock ahead of product installations to showcase key newness across all categories.
- Working as a group to devise new creative solutions following store visits when required.
- Supporting other key brand events – press shows, marketing events, etc. – and providing Stylist support.
- Using knowledge from competitive shops, social media and Fashion/Design weeks to apply to key styling moments and maintain awareness of current trends across all business categories including beauty and tech.
- Working with teams across the business to form product-related deals and product placement within windows and internal sites.
- Providing styling and trend interpretation information to share at the team level across all categories, supporting the lead Stylist on new window scheme launches, and working closely with Design Managers and peers.
- Supporting key flagships with all new installations, lifestyle and mannequin advice; setting up product showcases at Head Office across Fashion, Home and Christmas.
- Proactively driving own development and thriving in a fast-paced, high-energy environment.
- Anticipating needs, managing change, and supporting teams throughout the process.
- Regularly spending time in shops, office, and suppliers as reasonably required to fulfil the role, driving creative propositions, enhancing visual opportunities and collaborating across both VM and Styling to keep departments aligned.
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 and an excellent understanding of customer requirements
- Ability to work on your own initiative and be 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, SketchUp, Photoshop or similar
- Experience in training and coaching stylists
VM Stylist Coordinator employer: John Lewis Partnership
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 flexible hybrid working options and opportunities for professional growth through training and development. Join us to be part of a team that values innovation and supports your career aspirations while delivering exciting styling experiences to our customers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land VM Stylist Coordinator
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company culture! Before your interview, do a bit of research on John Lewis and their styling approach. This will help you tailor your answers and show that you're genuinely interested in how they operate.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your styling pitch! Think about how you would present your ideas for mannequin and lifestyle styling. Being able to communicate your vision clearly can really set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 3
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees on LinkedIn. They can provide insider tips and maybe even put in a good word for you. Plus, it shows initiative!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step!
We think you need these skills to ace VM Stylist Coordinator
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Styling Passion:When writing your application, let your love for styling shine through! Share specific examples of how you've created exciting visual displays or influenced trends in the past. We want to see your creativity and enthusiasm for the role!
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to reflect the key responsibilities and skills mentioned in the job description. Highlight your experience with both own brand and third-party brands, as well as your ability to work collaboratively with teams. This will show us you’re a perfect fit!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read. Remember, we’re looking for someone who can communicate effectively, so show us your best writing skills!
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’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at John Lewis Partnership
✨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 align with both own brand and third-party brands. This will help you demonstrate your understanding of the market during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Styling Skills
Prepare a portfolio that highlights your past styling work. Include examples that showcase your creativity and ability to interpret trends. Be ready to discuss your thought process behind each piece and how it aligns with customer needs.
✨Practice Your Communication
Since this role requires excellent communication skills, practice articulating your ideas clearly. You might be asked to explain how you would train and coach others, so think about how you can convey your knowledge effectively.
✨Be Ready for Creative Problem Solving
Think of examples where you've had to solve styling challenges creatively. Prepare to discuss how you approached these situations and what the outcomes were. This will show your potential employer that you can thrive in a fast-paced environment.
