Visual Merch - Store

Williams-Sonoma•Antioch, TN

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Visual Merchandiser focuses on the visual interpretation and direction with cross-functional partners and teammates to deliver an exceptional customer experience in our global businesses and partners. The role supports the execution of visual strategies across the brand by creating visual tools and resources that allow home office + stores to plan and execute flawlessly to drive sales. This role will work closely with the Director of Visual Merchandising on calendars, logistics, process + communications to global and corporate partners.

Requirements

Ability to balance creativity with business acumen
Influencing, problem analysis and decision making skills + ability to inspire
Acts in service to our field global organizations + as a brand ambassador reflective of the company values + aesthetic
Has a strong understanding of trend and style that is reflective of the brand
Strong verbal + written communication skills
Strong proficiency of In-Design, Photoshop + Photography
Knowledge in visual merchandising techniques, standards + practices -- how this translates to the global field teams
Strong understanding of merchandising and its direct impact on sales
Ability to provide significant feedback, ideas and hindsight on current and future floor-sets, windows, marketing tools and seasonal strategies thru filed partnership and assessment process and seasonal hindsight recaps.
Proven creativity with strong aesthetic sensibility and excellent visual merchandising skills
Strong understanding of product position strategies, promotions, inventory across multi-channel store designs
Competition and industry aware with a strong knowledge of the country markets
Ability to act as a resource, trainer and communicator of information to manage and elevate visual consistency
International travel required
Ensures the merchandising processes are collaborative, supported and well-planned
Ability to lift and mobilize medium to large items, up to 75 lbs., while utilizing appropriate equipment and safety techniques.
Ability to be mobile on the sales floor for extended periods of time.

Nice To Haves

Deep understanding of numerous networking protocols such as OSPF, BGP, VRRP, DNS, DHCP, proxy functions (forward and reverse), security protocols (IPSec, SSL, etc.), real-time protocols for voice (Skinny, SIP, H.323, MGCP), in addition to WAN communications protocols including MPLS, DWDM, OC carrier, BRI/PRI
Familiarization with cloud/storage services
Basic scripting skills in Python, Perl, iRules, TCL, Chef/Puppet or Go a plus

Responsibilities

Partner's with merchants, planners, allocations & visual teams to create cohesive and elevated visual merchandising strategy for global stores.
Acts as a business partner to merchant, allocation and country teams during and after seasonal floor sets.
Identifies merchandising updates based on business results and assortment strategies.
Partners with Director of Visual Merchandising on elevated and advanced in-store displays and windows
Creates distinct and differentiated visual merchandising strategies in our franchise, company owned and wholesale businesses.
Market + cultural relevant merchandising + training strategies to drive sales and introduce + expand brand globally
Assists in the mapping and planning of product placement and merchandising of retail presentations and visual floor sets.
Assesses and impacts each shop structure and allocation of space to maximize business focus on selected store locations.
Develop + manage visual merchandising standards + training topics -- quarterly updates, tools + training for global partners to ensure brand integrity globally.
Identify + develop training opportunities to build visual merchandising skills and train + develop country brand managers from corporate office as well as traveling to markets to execute workshops.
Manage the global calendar to ensure all VM guidelines get published and communicated + published on time.
Assist with the development of the corporate visual merchandising presentation for all categories, starting with the conceptual through the execution phases (and post floor set execution, in season updates and on-going sell through strategies) thru filed partnership and assessment process and seasonal hindsight recaps.
Participate in seasonal presentation workshops, meetings and conference calls with corporate + global teams.
Contribute to visual team training and seasonal feedback to support development of teams
Solicits feedback from field visual teams to provide insight for merchant, planning and allocation teams
Facilitates the sharing of inspiration and idea generation
Partners with all functions of visual merchandising department to support a cohesive visual strategy
Provides thoughtful and educational feedback to field visual teams
Strong verbal + written communication skills
Partner with Director of Visual Merchandising + Store Design to ensure new store build outs are flexible in design + functional for markets and cost efficient for corporate as well as global partners
Support visual team budget and be fiscally responsible

Benefits

A generous discount on all Williams Sonoma Inc. brands through multiple shopping channels
A 401(k) plan and other investment opportunities
Paid vacations, holidays and other time-off programs
Health benefits, including health, dental and vision insurance; health and dependent care tax-free spending accounts; medical, family and bereavement leave; same-sex domestic partner benefits; short- and long-term disability programs; life and travel insurance; an employee assistance program
Tax-free commuter benefits
A wellness program that supports your physical, financial and emotional health
In-person and online learning opportunities through WSI University
Cross-brand and cross-function career opportunities
Location specific sample sales
A business casual work environment
San Francisco based bike share program
Time off to volunteer
Matching donations to qualifying nonprofit organizations
Company-sponsored community involvement
Various discounts on local businesses