Visual Merchandising Manager

Balsam Brands•Redwood City, CA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Balsam Brands is seeking a creative, commercially-minded Manager of Visual Merchandising & Marketing to join our Growth team. This role sits at the intersection of visual brand storytelling, retail execution, and retail marketing — bringing the Balsam family of brands to life across a growing portfolio of retail, wholesale, B2B, and international touchpoints. The primary focus of this role is the Balsam Hill Studio retail experience (70%+), supporting a growing fleet of stores, kiosks, and pop-up environments. The balance of the role supports wholesale/indirect retail partners (10–15%), our B2B/Commercial business (10–15%), and international efforts on an as-needed basis. The ideal candidate combines strong visual merchandising expertise with hands-on retail marketing experience — someone who can design a compelling in-store moment and also develop the content and assets that drive conversion across retail partners and B2B sales. This temporary full-time position reports to the VP of Growth and is expected to work in a hybrid model, which currently includes Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in-office. The role is a temporary role that concludes January 2027.

Requirements

7+ years of experience spanning visual merchandising and retail marketing, preferably in premium or experiential retail environments
Corporate visual merchandising (preferred) or multi-level in-store visual leadership experience required
Demonstrated experience building retail marketing plans and programs across multiple channels — including owned retail and wholesale environments
Strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in storefronts, windows, focal displays, perimeter merchandising, customer flow, and retail storytelling
Experience developing visual merchandising standards, SOPs, floor sets, fixture guidelines, and training materials for store teams
Experience working across multiple store formats including inline retail, kiosks, pop-ups, shop-in-shop, or wholesale environments preferred
Experience supporting B2B or commercial sales environments with visual sales tools, mockups, or installation oversight is a plus
Strong commercial instincts and a clear understanding of how visual merchandising and content directly impact customer behavior, conversion, AOV, and sell-through
Deep understanding of how consumers shop in seasonal, impulse-driven categories
Strong aesthetic judgment with the ability to balance creativity, operational practicality, and business goals
Demonstrated AI literacy, enabling effective understanding, interaction, and critical evaluation of AI technologies and applications across diverse business functions
Ability to develop visually compelling mockups and presentations using design tools and AI-assisted platforms
Highly organized with strong project management and prioritization skills; comfortable managing multiple channels and deadlines simultaneously
Excellent communication and collaboration skills with the ability to work cross-functionally and influence teams at multiple levels
Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, retail environment with a test-and-learn mindset
Proficiency in Microsoft Office; experience with design, rendering, space planning, or AI content tools is a strong plus
Comfortable with travel as business needs require
Valid driver’s license and proof of insurance (this job will require driving on company time)

Responsibilities

Develop and execute premium visual merchandising strategies across Balsam Hill Studio retail stores, kiosks, and future retail concepts, ensuring compelling brand storytelling and consistent execution across all locations
Design and maintain storefront windows, perimeter merchandising, displays, fixtures, and in-store moments that align with brand standards and drive commercial performance
Partner with Retail Operations, Merchandising, Marketing, Creative, and Store Teams to translate business priorities into in-store execution
Use store performance metrics, customer behavior insights, and field observations to identify visual merchandising opportunities that improve traffic capture, conversion, average order value (AOV), and units per transaction (UPT)
Develop visual merchandising solutions for clearance, promotional, and end-of-life (EOL) inventory that maintain brand integrity while supporting inventory productivity
Conduct regular store visits and travel to stores to audit visual standards, coach store teams, identify opportunities, and ensure consistent execution
Develop and maintain visual merchandising SOPs, playbooks, floor sets, fixture guidelines, and execution standards for store teams
Train and coach store teams on visual merchandising standards, product placement, styling techniques, customer flow, and premium brand presentation (this will required travel to the BH Studio stores in Hawaii on a quarterly basis)
Turn product features into clear, benefit-led messaging that resonates with holiday shoppers; deliver concise messaging that drives action across mass retail, premium/design, and marketplace channels
Work with account managers to support line reviews, product launches, and ongoing optimization, ensuring content helps win placement and drive sell-through
Continuously improve content using retailer feedback, sales data, and insights
Provide visual merchandising recommendations and support for wholesale partners and shop-in-shop environments to ensure strong brand presentation outside of owned retail
Develop visually compelling mockups and concept presentations that bring large-scale physical installations to life for prospective and existing B2B customers
Leverage AI tools to produce polished sales and marketing assets, including one-pagers, pitch deck visuals, and digital collateral, that support enterprise prospecting and account growth
Collaborate with sales and account teams to translate customer briefs and installation requirements into client-ready visuals

Benefits

Competitive compensation, including a cash-based incentive plan; salary is reviewed yearly and may be adjusted as part of the normal compensation review process
Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage, with 100% of monthly premiums covered for team members, and 85%+ employer-paid premiums for other coverage tiers that include dependents
Up to $2,000 annual funding toward HSA accounts
Medical, transit, dependent care FSA
Infertility coverage offered on all medical plans
Generous parental leave program and flexible return options
Company-paid life and AD&D insurance
Company-paid short and long-term disability insurance
401(k) with dollar-for-dollar company match up to $4,000 per calendar year
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and other mental health and wellness perks
Paid holidays, annual shutdown week, PTO, and volunteer time-off (VTO) packages
Paid 5-week sabbatical leave after 10 years of employment
Annual continuous learning benefit up to $1,000 per person, per fiscal year
Up to $300 flexible reimbursement to support setup of new team member's work-from-home environment
Generous team member merchandise discount
Valuable extras: identity theft protection, subsidized parking, monthly wellness, pet insurance, accident & critical illness insurance