Visual Merchandiser - Birkenstock - Cape Town at Ares Holdings

Operational duties:

• Responsible for brand visibility in retail and trade marketing environments.
• Analysing own and competitor product offerings, sell-through and customer trends.
• Weekly store visit feedback and analysis.
• Conducting bi-weekly store audits.
• Coach, train, and provide feedback to retail operations, and sales team on what is observed.
• Become the brand product expert.
• Implement and oversee the retail and wholesale training program: create seasonal product training guides. (VM and Product)
• Ensure a national training standard is set for all training sessions conducted and measured accordingly. (VM and Product)
• Work with Merchandise Planner on product flow and storytelling. 

Retail Merchandising:

• Create and implement a creative visual merchandising strategy for seasonal campaigns and product flows.
• Adapt global the VM guidelines to local market’s needs.
• Implement the VM guidelines across all stores: ensure consistency and standardisation.
• Develop and coordinate in-store VM and POS visuals.
• Work with Marketing and Merchandise Planner to align in-store POS with seasonal product and campaigns.
• Create appealing and eye-catching visual displays that lead the customer through the entire store.
• Project management for successful seasonal campaign rollouts.
• Liaise with suppliers to develop and produce POS and displays and ensure all brand guidelines are met in production (creative briefing, quotes, delivery, deadlines).
• Monthly VM and campaign reporting on execution and effectiveness.
• Annual site surveys for retail doors.
• Manage POS inventory an oversee new POS production.
• Brief retail staff to ensure correct product placement in-stores.
• Assist Marketing in promotional events from concept to implementation and post-event reporting.
• Assistance with the co-ordination of the retail roadshow material and operations.
• Ensure seamless monthly campaign communication with retail staff.
• Monitor costs and work within budget given by Marketing Manager.
• Manage design and production for ad-hoc retail sales elements. 

Trade Marketing:

• Work with National Sales Manager, Marketing Manager on trade marketing strategy and key account plans (budgets & priorities).
• Responsible for how the brand is represented in stores.
• Ensure brand visibility on store floors and coach and provide feedback to sales teams.
• Assist with project management of SIS fit-out (design installation & marketing graphics).
• Coordinate in-store branding elements for key accounts: manage logistics, design, and development.
• Create custom VM toolkits for key accounts according to GTM calendar and product intake.
• Product and VM training for sales teams.
• Plan and execute new account launches in-store with relevant POS and VM.

Critical Competencies

• Tertiary education: Marketing/ advertising diploma/ administrative diploma / visual merchandising.
• 1-2 years’ experience in similar role.
• Valid driver’s license and own vehicle essential.
• Ability to travel (locally).
• Knowledge of current visual merchandising trends and best practices.
• Experience in retail environment.
• MS Office proficiency.
• Understanding of retail brands, specifically in the fashion, footwear, and apparel industry.
• Creative and innovative thinker.
• Attention to detail and consistency.
• Be a brand ambassador in terms of communicating the brand personality and attitude in all environments and being passionate about product.
• Enthusiastic, energetic, and confident communicator.
• Ability to analyse sales merchandising reports and survey results.
• Excellent listening, verbal, and written communication skills - ability to take in information for feedback purposes, present and articulate ideas.
• Strong commercial awareness.
• Strong customer-first service focus and flexible in approach.
• Self-motivated and proactive.
• Good time management, multi-tasking, and planning skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a dynamic, diverse team.
• Weekly store visits.