At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead visual merchandising and brand storytelling for lululemon's global franchise.
- Company: Join lululemon, a leader in innovative performance apparel.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive culture, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with travel opportunities and a focus on innovation.
- Why this job: Shape the retail experience and inspire teams across diverse markets.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in visual merchandising with a passion for sports apparel.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
lululemon is an innovative performance apparel company for yoga, running, training, and other athletic pursuits. Setting the bar in technical fabrics and functional design, we create transformational products and experiences that support people in moving, growing, connecting, and being well. We owe our success to our innovative product, emphasis on stores, commitment to our people, and the incredible connections we make in every community we're in. As a company, we focus on creating positive change to build a healthier, thriving future. In particular, that includes creating an equitable, inclusive, and growth-focused environment for our people.
The Senior Manager, Visual Merchandising and Retail Brand Experience, Global Franchise, leads the team responsible for delivering best-in-class brand and product storytelling in-store across lululemon’s global franchise fleet. They set the strategic vision for regional brand experience, ensuring global direction is thoughtfully translated into high-impact, market-relevant execution.
Leveraging consumer insights, regional trends, and franchise business needs, they lead their team in creating scalable, innovative solutions across diverse store formats—consistently raising the bar for executional excellence and commercial impact.
Responsibilities
- In-Store Creative Concepts: Develop franchise market insights and trends to influence global and regional (EMEA) product presentation and storytelling strategies. Oversee franchise RBE calendars, ensuring alignment with global and regional priorities, while supporting partners with their long-term business goals. Adapt global and regional RBE campaigns to deliver market-relevant, high-quality executional plans. Develop new creative strategies and pilot initiatives in partnership with franchise business stakeholders. Provide senior-level direction and feedback to franchise partners to ensure consistent, high-quality execution.
- Visual Merchandising and Styling: Collaborate with Marketing, Product and Retail partners to define product priorities and coach the franchise team on executional opportunities. Provide senior-level guidance to franchise teams on how to adapt global and EMEA visual merchandising and styling strategies to their local market. Oversee mannequin styling direction across the franchise fleet, ensuring product presentation reflects brand standards and seasonal priorities. Lead the development of in-market and virtual training strategies. Partner with store design and product teams to define guest journeys, layouts and zoning for new store openings and refurbishments. Influence regional KPIs including sell-through, guest sentiment, educator sentiment and brand familiarity, using insights to guide team priorities.
- Team Leadership: Lead, inspire, and develop a high-performing team, setting a clear vision and ambitious standards that drive the brand forward across all franchise markets. Champion innovation and accountability, fostering deep cross-functional collaboration and empowering the team to challenge norms, unlock new opportunities, and continuously raise the bar for brand expression across the franchise fleet. Strategically prioritise and direct workload, ensuring resources are aligned to the highest-impact initiatives while setting the team up for success in delivering against both commercial goals and brand ambition.
Qualifications
- 10 years+ experience leading visual merchandising within premium retail (sports apparel preferred), driving elevated brand expression across markets.
- Skilled in partnering with and influencing franchise teams, elevating standards and execution globally.
- Proven ability to create and scale VM strategies and tools, enabling consistent, high-impact execution across franchise teams.
- Strong aesthetic and trend leadership, translating brand vision into forward-thinking retail experiences.
- Track record of driving consumer and commercial impact, balancing innovation with brand integrity.
- Experienced people leader, building and inspiring high-performing, accountable teams.
- Highly effective communicator and influencer, aligning stakeholders and driving decisions.
- Global mindset with cultural awareness; able to lead across diverse markets.
- Willingness to travel (domestic and international) and work on the retail floor.
Senior Manager, Retail Brand Experience, Global Franchise in London employer: LULULEMON
At lululemon, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that champions innovation and inclusivity within the vibrant EMEA region. Our commitment to employee growth is reflected in our dynamic work culture, where team members are empowered to lead, inspire, and challenge the status quo while delivering best-in-class brand experiences. With a focus on collaboration and personal development, we offer unique opportunities for meaningful contributions that drive both individual and company success.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Manager, Retail Brand Experience, Global Franchise in London
✨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 LULULEMON, 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 LULULEMON!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Manager, Retail Brand Experience, Global Franchise in London
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 LULULEMON, 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 LULULEMON 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 LULULEMON that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at LULULEMON
✨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!
