Visual Brand Merchandiser

The Visual Brand Merchandiser will be responsible for executing a compelling brand story based on the global visual directive provided to drive brand awareness, meet sales objectives and maximize profitability across both wholesale and retail. This role will manage the maintenance of both store and wholesale environments which promote the VB brand and deliver the ultimate customer experience. They will host all product knowledge, brand and visual merchandising trainings in both wholesale and retail locations.

This person will need to have a well‑developed understanding of the VB visual presentation standards and strong business acumen, effectively balancing aesthetics with productivity, and be extremely creative as well as an effective communicator and trainer.

The preferred candidate will live in the Chicago, Illinois area.

• This role will be responsible for executing retail and wholesale visual directives, ensuring key products are selected and displayed to maximize business opportunities.
• Responsible for driving consistency, quality and sophistication of the visual merchandising implementation on all product categories within retail and wholesale environments.
• Responsible for implementing all VB visual merchandising standards, product mapping and brand storytelling while promoting nuances in key demographics, crafting the VB story line to drive sales based on weather, location, product exclusives, clientele and environment layout.
• Lead and coordinate scheduling for display installations and brand activations in territory to meet brand exceptions and deadlines.
• Responsible for collaborating with retail and wholesale partners on all brand and product launches, trunk shows and events effectively executing corporate guidelines, product knowledge trainings and signage.
• Responsible for maintaining wholesale and retail environments to VB standards including scent, furniture, fixtures, lighting, plant life, prop layer, etc. and effectively communicating to key partners based on individual location needs.
• Manage visual BOH providing communication on distribution or discard list and organizational needs to ensure ease of access and cleanliness.
• Responsible for developing and managing travel budget, schedule alignment, and communication with retail and wholesale partners.

• Train retail stores and wholesale partners on visual merchandising standards, best practices, upkeep, key seasonal brand messages, product knowledge, communication, time + organization, floor set management and adaptation to space/environment based on local business. Hold all teams accountable to these expectations.
• Reasonable for all training documentation and communication from corporate partners.
• Conduct comp explorations and communicate competition across product categories, visual strategies, display and seasonal time cadence.
• Responsible for communicating product take‑aways to appropriate cross‑functional and corporate departments, including sell‑thru, assortment wins and misses, and attending key meetings and line passes to impact product and business in territory.
• Craft impactful relationships with area managers, wholesale partners and brand specialists to support global initiates and align on strategies to drive revenue, standards and trainings.
• Keep a clear line of communication with retail store teams and wholesale partners on any orders, floor set executions and visual display arrivals.
• Attend all visual merchandising meetings to stay up to date on department priorities, initiatives and trends.
• Responsible for reporting all visual and product recaps, and visual impact photos to visual brand managers and corporate wholesale managers in a timely and concise manner.

• 4+ years' experience leading visual execution in a fast paced, retail or wholesale environment, multi‑unit experience ideal.
• Expert knowledge implementing visual merchandising strategies and standards across multiple categories.
• Experience training teams on product knowledge, brand awareness and visual exceptions.
• Ability to travel up to 70% of the time and work a flexible schedule…