VM Store Experience Manager - Country Road & Trenery
Purpose
The VM Store Experience Manager operates at the centre of store experience, collaborating closely with the Store Design Manager, Project Managers, and supported by the Head of VM. This role plays a pivotal role in shaping the design and layout of new stores and refurbishments across all retail channels, ensuring alignment with the brand's overarching strategy.
With a customer-centric approach, the VM Manager - Store Experience drives initiatives to enhance the overall customer experience. This involves fostering synergy with the brand strategy, ensuring a holistic representation of the brand throughout the store environment.
Central to this role is a profound understanding and proactive implementation of brand design and product strategies. By staying at the forefront of innovation and maintaining a clear focus on experiential shopping, the VM Manager - Store Experience ensures that the brand remains ahead of market trends.
Effective collaboration and streamlined workflows are essential, facilitating seamless teamwork with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders. This role serves as a flow between creative vision and operational execution, driving excellence in both.
Key Accountabilities
* Drive research and design development for creative needs of new stores in collaboration with the store design team by providing a brief.
* Collaborate closely with the Store Design team on new store windows, in-store display propositions, and fixture development tailored to product and department requirements.
* Continuously evaluate fixture needs across store divisions providing briefs for conceptual ideas to the store design team.
* Partner with Store Design to identify sustainable and innovative decorative solutions for new and refurbished stores, emphasizing locally sourced options where possible within budget constraints.
* Collaborate with Creative Designers to provide graphic design and technical drawing support for new store windows and in-store creative elements.
* Brief requirements for creative overlays for new stores/refurbishments, such as plants, floral arrangements, and wall imagery.
Work with store design to present new store layout proposals to retail, planning, and VM teams for feedback before final plans are distributed.
* Lead fixture development requirements for divisions, following ways of working process for new fixture briefs and timelines.
* Partner with VM manager operations and Divisions to ensure adherence to CAPEX budgets and support building business cases for fixture roll outs.
* Review product and real estate strategies to ensure project alignment with the brand strategy.
* Continually review the scent of stores as well as the music.
Key Capabilities
* Proficient in Adobe Creative Cloud, including InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop.
* Skilled in SketchUp for 3D rendering and visualization.
* Proficient in Microsoft Office suite.
* Meticulous attention to detail with a deep understanding of fashion and interior design trends.
* Demonstrated retail experience and knowledge.
* Exceptional communication abilities, both written and verbal.
* Outstanding time management skills.
* Strong business understanding and acumen .
Why work for us?
* A competitive remuneration package, including annual performance incentives
* Generous employee discounts across Country Road Group brands
* An additional day of leave for your birthday
* Hybrid working arrangements in office and from home that provide appropriate work/life balance
* Seasonal clothing allowance across the Country Road Group portfolio of brands
* Opportunities to support community partnerships across our Corporate Social Responsibility program
* Be a member of a company committed to sustainable practices
* Ongoing training and development to pursue individual ambitions.
About Country Road
Since 1974, Country Road has built a legacy of effortless style and quality designs that are made to last. From its products to its partnerships and stores, the brand looks to drive positive change so you can feel proud of every Country Road purchase you take home.
About Trenery
At Trenery, we believe style is lived, not worn. Everything we do is guided by our connection to creativity, and dedication to enduring principles of design. The beauty of a timeless silhouette. The sensorial joy of a luxurious fabric. The comfort of a well-crafted fit.
This passion for quality and detail builds genuine relationships with our pieces–ensuring each Trenery garment becomes a true companion and cherished part of your personal style. As we evolve along our journey, we remain committed to sharing authentic stories, fostering genuine connections and embracing life’s adventure.
Trenery is part of Country Road Group, a design-led portfolio of premium brands providing everything needed for a modern lifestyle.
Country Road Group is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at time of application to assist you through the recruitment process.
Country Road Group prefers to manage all sourcing directly, please submit your applications to this role if you are interested. Please note introductions via agency will not be accepted.