Work with store teams to ensure product layout inspires the customer journey and influences sales. Ensure store product displays are in touch with current trends, whilst being in line with M&S principles and making the most of the environment to promote the best commercial gain.

What you will do: -

Description of Accountability:

DELIVER THE EXECUTION AND MAINTENANCE OF VISUAL STANDARDS ACROSS THE CUSTOMER JOURNEY

• Works with Commercial Team on delivering excellent standards across all areas of Visual Merchandising
• Manages the delivery of excellent styling standards across the store by ensuring all visual basic principles and styling principles are achieved.
• Works with the Commercial Team to ensure the store is ready to open and corporate standards are managed across the day.
• Understands and utilises the visual equipment catalogue and International Visual Manual

LEAD THE SALES PLAN THROUGH THE EXECUTION OF THE M&S BRAND AND IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES AND RISKS

• Regularly reviews and analyses sales figures to identify opportunities to develop and drive sales performance across the store.
• Demonstrates an ability to maximise the sales opportunity through an understanding the key elements of the customer journey e.g., focal points and sightlines.
• Ensures the delivery of the visual proposition that supports the activity calendar including deals and offers and seasonal launches.
• Works with the store management team in identifying opportunities to drive sales through all aspects of Visual Merchandising (VM) e.g., space management, sequential links, product handling, styling, and marketing.
• Delivers the M&S visual principles consistently to maximize footfall by gaining customer loyalty to the brand.
• Has a strong awareness of key competitor trends and activity and is able to complete a comprehensive comparative shop
• Is confident and knowledgeable regarding the seasonal trends for M&S and how they should be interpreted on the sales floor. Ensures all teams are engaged on the principles through workshops and team briefings to enable staff to pick key outfits and sell to customers.

FINANCE

• Helps Head of Visual Merchandising to cost save on budgets below target.
• Challenge store orders on the cost of props and windows
• Helps regular review of suppliers and cost pricing.
• Establish ways of working with suppliers for timely and cost-effective, consistent delivery of materials, and tickets through SLAs.
• Ensure SOPs are in place to deal with visual merchandising material utilized and scrapped at stores.

LEAD A COMMITTED TEAM WHO FEEL FULLY ENGAGED, SUPPORTED AND RECOGNISED FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION

• Communicates effectively and engages team through different communication vehicles e.g., team briefs, management meetings, and conference calls.
• Takes time to ensure your team understands their accountabilities and how they contribute to the store’s performance.
• Provide regular feedback to your direct reports and recognize individuals who perform well in their roles.
• Build a strong working relationship with the Employee Involvement Group across the store

DRIVE INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE

• Agrees stretching targets for their team and takes appropriate action to deal with poor performance in a timely manner.
• Identifies and develops talent through effective store and regional succession planning.
• Sets clear direction and coaches existing visual teams and new starters to achieve the required visual standards.
• Supports the Head of VM in coaching the existing commercial teams and new starters to achieve the required visual merchandising standards.
• Implements company HR policies fairly and consistently across the store to drive improvements e.g., conducting investigations, appeals, grievances.
• Takes ownership for own development.
• Identify training needs in store and supports the visual L&D plan.