SPECIALIST

JOB ADVERTAn exciting and challenging opportunity for a Visual Merchandising Specialist has become available within our Operations Support team.

We are looking for a self-reliant, efficient and influential individual. Reporting directly to the Visual Merchandising Manager, you will be responsible for the implementation of the Ackermans VM Strategy through effective Visual Merchandising for Ackermans Women stores within Ackermans Women stores as well as the roll-out of VM elements of the Women stores to Top stores.

If you have at least 2 years’ Visual Merchandising role within a Fashion Retail environment, this could be the ideal opportunity for you.
QUALIFICATIONS- A Grade 12 Certificate/Matric
– A tertiary qualification in Visual Communication Design or equivalent.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCEKnowledge required:

– Knowledge of VM best practices and principles, techniques and VM trends as well an excellent grasp of customer behavior.
– Excellent written communication skills.
– An excellent comprehension of the marketing strategies, branding, customer behavior and principles relevant to value retailing, as well as a practical grasp of the South African industry.
– Working knowledge of electronic and print communications

Skills required:

– Project Management
– Excellent organisational, planning, project management, and time management expertise.
– Self-reliant, self-motivated, results orientated and have an ability to achieve goals and meet deadlines.
– Well developed interpersonal skills – the ability to interact and influence effectively at all levels.
– A strong creative flair
– Effective problem solving abilities with the ability to think out of the box.
– Practical thinking style

The ability to:
– Translate VM specifications into the specific store environments and displays
– Evaluate research, market conditions, competitor data and implement marketing plan alternations as needed.
– Work well under pressure and under tight deadlines, as the work environment is often intense.
– Computer literacy (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
– Basic photography

Experience

A minimum of 2 years’ Visual Merchandising role within a Fashion Retail environment is essential

Preferred experience:
– Exposure within a Marketing environment would be advantageous.
– Experience in Fashion photography would be advantageous
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES1. To deliver on the VM Business Plan for Ackermans Women Standalone stores and Ackermans Top stores

• Lead effective merchandising of stock to encourage maximum sales.
• Promote healthy business relationships between operations, marketing & SBU’s through constant alignment
• Executions of relevant interventions to be focused on ease of execution for store staff
• User friendly store communication
• Specifications rather than principals

2. Process development and management of information between marketing, fashion office and stores (Women Standalone and Top Stores)

• Act between VM and the Trend and Design offer to ensure the delivery of business needs.
• Stakeholder Management / User Rating
• Deadlines met
• In line with strategy
• To specification – work meets brief
• Agreed process followed

3. Operations Communications (Women Standalone- and Top Stores)

Manage the Monthly Instructional Manual process through collaborating with the relevant stakeholders, collating of information and briefing the DTP Operators accordingly.
• Stakeholder Management / User Rating
• On time
• Quality of work – work is user friendly with a strong focus on accuracy and the use of appropriate company language.
• In line with Promotional Manual process.
• Cost conscious

4. Training

• Partner with the T&D team to compile relevant training material
• Material is user friendly and easy to implement
• Accuracy
• Up to date
• Identify and training needs/gaps
• Effectively train the Regional Field VM team on the Instructional Manual (Skype, conference calls, etc.)

5. Visual Merchandising photography shoots
• Coordinate photoshoots
• Ensure that relevant photos are taken to compile the Monthly Instructional Manual for stores.
• Stakeholder Management / alignment of all relevant parties
• As per agreed timelines
OTHER