Overview
The Visual Merchandising Designer role is to support the VM Lead in the creation and maintenance of merchandising standards and guidelines. Working collaboratively to ensure the delivery of the visual strategy to create commercially driven and visually inspiring store environments through the optimisation of design, buying, planning, space utilisation and cost efficiency. You will need the ability to define the Brand through innovative merchandising and be a key Brand ambassador, managing communication at all levels, providing honest, detailed and well considered feedback following projects. Part of the role is to create, design and develop product based design solutions for all types of store experiences, departments, formats & product displays, ensuring that designs meet the brief, commercial objectives and create a great customer experience from concept through to store execution. Design recommendations are needed to optimise a high number of elements and balance the views of a wide range of stakeholders and have a fundamental impact on the Brand store environment. Provides advice and guidance to Store Design in accordance with their industry/design specialism.
Role details
* Expected salary – The expected salary for this role is up to £53000
* 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. Core office days are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday with typically around three days a week in the office or visiting shops to allow for collaboration and attendance of key meetings.
* Location – This role is based at our London Head Office campus in Pimlico. Travel to the office is the responsibility of the successful candidate. There is also a responsibility to visit John Lewis branches when necessary and travel costs will be met in line with the travel policy.
Key responsibilities
* Create and evolve merchandising guidelines and visual refreshes throughout the season using the latest buying direction and customer profiles for all own brand and third party brands.
* Own the development of designs for permanent and semi-permanent merchandising equipment, including POS.
* Help define the John Lewis look and feel, delivering a consistent approach to the Brand look & feel of shops through merchandising, fixturing, presentation kit and layout guidelines.
* Be responsible for managing the delivery of and communicating Brand merchandising guidelines with knowledge of the market to inspire and engage with our Customers.
* Assist in the planning and delivery of seasonal changes, projects, collaborations and store-specific requests.
* Provide clear merchandising guidelines for new concepts.
* Design with cost in mind, working with our supply chain to develop affordable, effective materials and construction methods. Work with internal and external design resources including design agencies. Ensure all design solutions are in line with John Lewis brand guidelines and sustainability targets.
* Ensure all Health & Safety and DDA requirements are met and the due diligence approval level has been completed.
* Maintain continual BAU design solutions and projects to keep brand standards effective and up to date; meet commercial needs for specialist product presentation.
* Support the wider VM department with planning and implementation of own brand seasonal set-up; work closely with Retail teams on key actions and deliverables; review execution.
* Demonstrate a balanced view, focusing on both Own brand and External brands to maintain their individual strategies and Brand integrity and ensure they show up consistently across the estate. Workstreams - Core Lite/CSI.
* Strategically plan movements to effectively support the goals of the VM department and business needs, remaining agile to Trade.
* Involvement and support of projects to drive the Brand forward and achieve VM department strategy through augmented resources.
* Develop and invest time in trials for new merchandising, fixture and layout ideas in advance of seasonal set ups.
* Ensure Stores are delivering on all aspects of layout, merchandising and latest Brand thinking.
Skills
* Excellent layout and visual merchandising skills.
* Excellent communication and influencing skills, ability to liaise at all levels and reach compromise when needed.
* Strong training and coaching skills.
* Ability to organise and manage your own time effectively.
* Ability to work on own initiative and self-motivation.
* Ability to build strong relationships with key business areas.
* Designing to a budget.
* Ability to create ideation sketches, visuals and mood boards.
* Stakeholder management across all levels within the business.
Essential skills/experience you’ll need
* Strong retail customer knowledge.
* An innovative approach to support business growth
* Creative problem solving with a global mindset of the Brand.
* Strong stakeholder management experience with excellent communication style
* Demonstrate and application of commercial acumen and market awareness with all Visual solutions to maximise sales and potential of stores
* Strong merchandising skills and experience across Fashion and Home
* Demonstrate the ability to work well under pressure
* Strong communication skills
Desirable skills/experience you may have
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About The Partnership
We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.
We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.
As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect.
We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective.
As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.
Important points to note:
Some roles are subject to pre-employment vetting (which may include DBS checks). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process. Any DBS checks will be carried out by a third-party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some roles.
We occasionally close vacancies early in the event we receive a high volume of applications; apply early. If you require a reasonable adjustment due to a disability which may require more time to complete your application, please contact us.
We want all Partners to have a good work-life balance and support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.
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