Visual Merchandising Manager

The Visual Merchandising Manager is responsible for supporting the delivery of the Otter visual proposition within our garden centre and catering facilities in both new and existing markets. The VMM will work alongside the Group Visual Merchandising Manager, Branches Visual Merchandising Manager and the General Manager to ensure the store maintains the strongest visual proposition within the garden centre market.

Location

Otter Garden Centre, Lymington, Hampshire, SO41 0JD

Reporting To

• Mark Bradbury General Manager Lymington

Working with

• Visual Merchandising Manager VMM
• Branch visual merchandising Manager BVMM
• Group visual merchandising Manager GVMM

THE PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

To implement effective visual merchandising in store in order to maximize stores sales and to train and coach the team on delivering brand expectations. The VMM will manage the day-to-day visual activities of the branch and work alongside the GVMM, BVMM and the GM to support the long-term strategy for the company. This is a very hands-on role.

REQUIREMENTS

Brand and Business Focus

• Use commercial acumen and business awareness to make visual decisions in collaboration with GVMM, BVMM and GM.
• Supports the Garden Centre Manager with new season launch, delivering the guidelines planned with or by the GVMM and supporting sign-off with the GVMM.
• Work with the GVMM, BVMM and GM to deliver specific VM strategies in order to support market development.
• Support the garden centre teams with daily to keep updated with visual strategies and VM brand knowledge.
• Produce design ideas and implement these to inspire our customers using the best use of the store's unique space and layout.
• Identify in conjunction with the Garden Centre Manager where the store's sight lines and focal points are located and use these to the best advantage.

Communications

• Supports the communication ensuring they are relevant for the garden center market
• Supports the implementation of Spring/ Summer/Autumn/Christmas campaigns throughout the garden center categories, give feedback on strengths and weakness of these campaigns to head office.
• Support the Garden Centre Manager to implement all of the above and when relevant and react commercially.
• Supports store to maintain good work practice whilst handling Props / storing props/catalogue props at each store with minimum wastage. Liaise with GVMM and BVMM on each stores inventory and catalogue kept up to date.
• Supports storage of props at OSM supporting updating overall business catalogue and inventory of props to make sure it's up to date and all props are recorded with photograph, sizes, osmo, price etc.

Supporting the business

• Works with the Garden Centre Manager with seasonal campaigns from project sign-off to store launch day including photographing recording of seasonal launches and sharing with the group and GVMM.
• The VMM will support the GVMM, BVMM and GM with new modernized store setups and conduct brand-specific training with the implementations.
• Supports the GVMM with buying and marketing teams to influence stock allocations to ensure credible trends are sent to each market.
• Support centre to deliver excellent presentation standards through the accurate and timely implementation of seasonal updates and events in line with brand merchandising and marketing principles.
• Keep up to date with customer trends on social media and local market in gardening centres, supporting the marketing department with professional-looking photographs to support social media campaigns regularly.
• Support GM with store standards throughout the year to achieve consistency across all branches.
• Minimizing losses and work in cost cost-effective and productive manner creating a safe working environment.

Working with People

• Responsible for working and building credible relationships with the Garden Centre Manager and team in-store.
• Supporting the delivery of the VM strategy for each season with a collaborative approach.
• Shares knowledge and experience with Garden Center Manager, and other team members and takes ownership for own personal development.
• Support the GVMM and BVMM to deliver regular upskilling/training sessions on Visual merchandising throughout Otter.
• Supports Garden Centre Manager to deliver the best customer journey for our customers throughout the store to maximize sales.

Graphics and Workflow Management

• Collaborates with the GVMM and the marketing team for Otter to ensure all artwork for in-store use and seasonal campaigns launches in time for Garden Centre Managers to locally produce and implement in-store.
• Feedback on any specific branch requirements to GVMM and marketing regarding required images, and signage needed to support campaigns & events.

Hours

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekend availability

Personal Specification:

• Excellent organization, communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to liaise at all levels
• Currently at a management VM level or equivalent
• Strong visual merchandising and styling experience
• High level of self-motivation
• Strong training and coaching skills, ability to motivate others
• Keen interest in garden centers and knowledge of garden center retail and competitor monitoring
• Computer literate with strong skills in photoshop, InDesign and Microsoft office
• Fully flexible to travel in the UK and internationally
• A valid UK driving license
• Experience working with structured planograms and have a keen eye for detail
• Love 'getting stuck in' and coaching the store managers and the team on Visual merchandising principles
• Have a retail store supervisor experience
• A drive to work alongside fun, inspiring and ambitious colleagues pushing the boundaries across the whole business
• Flexible to work some early and late starts

Benefits

• Employee discount
• On-site parking

Apply

Please send your CV and cover letter to our Branches Visual Merchandising Manager, Helen Robson ***