Assistant Visual Merchandising Manager - Head Office
Visual Merchandising | Hybrid in London, United Kingdom | Full Time
MORPHE
Born in 2008 among the artists and influencers of Los Angeles, Morphe instantly disrupted the beauty industry by making artist-designed, professional-quality brushes affordable and accessible. As the brand grew—into eyeshadow, blush, bronzer, lip, and more—so did its fanbase of unapologetic makeup lovers. A loyal community that we remain incredibly grateful for!
Over the years, Morphe continued to break boundaries, fueled by iconic collaborations, internet-breaking launches, and an ever-increasing community. Today, Morphe exists to celebrate the inner artist in everyone by empowering beauty beginners and professionals alike with the tools and products to express themselves, unapologetically.
FORMA
FORMA is a family of brands leading what’s next in beauty. An incubator, accelerator, and curator of today’s foremost beauty and wellness brands, FORMA leverages world class capabilities, a powerful growth platform, and the most prolific influencer network in the industry to celebrate, support, and seek out those changing the world through creative expression. We’re committed to creating a more beautiful tomorrow—we are FORMA.
Summary of Position:
This is a Head Office based role, reporting to the Head of Visual Merchandising your role will be to manage the rollout & updates for Morphe in Wholesale environments in the EMEA region. You will plan, manage and execute the VM process for your region across all planned activity on our wholesale distribution and marketing calendars, with your primary account being Douglas.
Your primary responsibility will be to collaborate with key internal and external partners to tightly project manage from design through to execution and review across a multi-channel proposition the VM Update Calendar. Working closely with internal sales teams, you will champion VM, working to ensure the best assortment and presentation of products for each launch. You will also work closely with the Head of Visual Merchandising to manage new channels or outlets of distribution for the Morphe brand within the wholesale environment.
You will also be responsible for the initial set up and the closeout of wholesale distribution projects including the relevant administration, PM, timelines etc. You will also continue to manage these projects to ensure that they are effective and excellent examples of the Morphe retail experience. This role requires hands-on project planning and management to ensure project goals and objectives are achieved within budget and on time.
Whilst you will have a primary focus on our wholesale distribution, this role requires that you will be flexible in your approach and will align your role with other channels of distribution where the business need requires.
The role is based in our London Head Office with a hybrid work pattern of 3 days in the office, 2 WFH however, you will be required to have the flexibility to travel frequently to visit stores, retailers and suppliers including overseas travel to mainland Europe.
Principle Accountabilities:
VISUAL MERCHANDISING (40%)
· Conduct and manage projects & updates to ensure that projects are prioritized and fully realized within a managed budget and timeline. Maintain an accurate project tracker to demonstrate to the wider business the visual merchandising workload for upcoming periods.
· Own the conception, design, and execution of innovative and impactful merchandising solutions within wholesale environments, primarily open-sell gondolas and temporary display units.
· Work closely with the graphic designer & wider VM team to order graphics & acrylics and manage replacement store graphics & acrylics where required. You will need to ensure that localized needs are briefed in and executed.
· Partner closely with the EU2 Wholesale National Accounts teams within the EMEA region to develop solutions for optimizing merchandising assortments that meet the needs of the business for each seasonal update.
· Ability to create mock-up artwork and detailed layouts to present and help communicate new designs, fixture updates, and product placement.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT (40%)
· Ensure VM & retail excellence in the on-time, on-brand & on-budget delivery of relevant visual merchandising updates and wholesale distribution projects from design to installation through to review, maintenance and updates.
· Track & Management of costs to keep budgets up to date and communicate any budget updates to team. You will be responsible for ensuring that all projects are delivered to budget, flagging any concerns swiftly and appropriately.
· Create project briefs that articulate strategic objectives for outside suppliers to ensure consistency with design intent.
· Schedule site surveys, obtain Landlord tenant packages including design criteria and as-built drawings, establish project schedules, and work with internal & external partners to schedules visits and surveys as required.
· Demonstrate knowledge of materials, costs, and time requirements for graphics and fixture production, preferably within a wholesale environment.
· Work with suppliers to get cost estimates and to value engineer fixture designs in order to meet budgets.
REPORTING, OPERATIONS & PEOPLE (20%)
· Build strong relationships with channel partners, retailers & on the ground teams to make meaningful recommendations that are driven from local market & customer demands.
· Work alongside wholesale & retail operations teams to ensure that documentation, order & deliveries, and communications relating to wholesale doors is kept up to date and communicated to relevant internal and external partners.
· Liaison with relevant stakeholders to update and communicate New Store opening timelines & project updates with internal and external partners.
· Management of retailer information packs, keeping documents and records up to date through all project stages to completion. Oversee the execution and completion of manufacturing and construction related warranty work. Proactively facilitating the project closeout process to ensure all invoices and required supporting documents are received in a timely manner.
· Guidance of the Graphic Designer through projects where you need their expertise. Ensuring that you help manage their workload that lie within the parameters of your projects to ensure that your deadlines are met without impacting on other areas of the business.
Budget Owner? Y
Fiscal Accountabilities:
Responsible for keeping projects on budget and the tracking of all costs and charges.
Key Working Relationships:
· Aligns/collaborates with: VM, Graphic Design, Wholesale, Retail Operations, Inventory Operations, and Finance
Required Skills & Experience:
· Proven experience in a similar corporate visual merchandising role (preferably in beauty and/or gondola environments).
· Strong experience in managing multiple projects and adapting to changing priorities. The ability to prioritise multiple tasks within a fast-paced, high-pressure environment
· Exemplary time & project management skills, attention to detail and organisational skills.
· A collaborative team player with a positive & proactive attitude, but with the ability to work independently effectively. Open to changing processes, and ambiguity, and willingly accepts feedback from all areas of the business.
· Self-starter, flexible, adaptable, ability to manage change within the organization. Open to changing processes, ambiguity, and willingly accepts feedback from all areas of the business.
· Nimble, Confident, Idea & solution-driven, takes initiative and is a resourceful creative problem solver.
· Strong comfort level with written and verbal communication skills to all levels of management, you must be confident to communicate effectively with peers, the senior leadership team and internal & external business partners. You will also have the ability to effectively communicate (verbal and written) with team members and contract manufacturers (domestic and international).
· Demonstrate an interest in, and passion for, the beauty retail industry
· Mandatory expertise in Adobe Creative Suite (specifically Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign), SketchUp, ePlano and the ability to read construction drawings is advantageous
· Data-driven, takes initiative, and a resourceful creative problem solver.
· Ability to maintain clear and accurate records and documentation
· Highly adept at Microsoft Office.
· Fluency in other languages a plus.
Travel Requirements:
· Up to 40% in the UK & Mainland Europe