This position reports to the Retail Director and is part of the Retail Team of Hermès Benelux-Nordics based at the Head Office in Brussels.

As the Benelux-Nordics Visual Merchandising Manager, your role is to ensure that all Hermès stores, across the subsidiary, duly adhere to the Hermès image guidelines when implementing collections. You will work collaboratively with retail and retail merchandising teams to support the delivery of sales results through VM specific approaches and actions.

You will animate the in-store Visual Merchandisers across the region making sure they are fully aware and engaged in their store's business needs. For this you gain and maintain an expertise in product knowledge and VM guidelines in all product categories, but most importantly drive the community to be capable of utilising VM as a business driver.

You contribute to store projects ensuring VM is taken into account in renovation and store openings. You coordinate the display of art works in our stores. You are fully responsible for building and adhering to the VM budget of the region.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Management and development of the team

• You will animate and develop the team of in-store VMs in line with the company's VM strategy
• You accept the challenge of transversally leading the in-store VM community remotely
• You are responsible for fostering a "VM Culture" in the region

Contribute to the commercial success of the region

• You develop and maintain an extensive knowledge of products, VM guidelines and VM essentials
• You will closely work with the Retail Merchandising team to align the VM in the region with available product inventory and performance, as well as maximize sales, especially in seasonal product categories
• You have a high level of understanding of the business to adapt the VM to location, customer needs and business challenges and opportunities
• You assist the stores in preparation and during buying at Preview and Podium with VM guidelines and strategy in mind

Budget responsibility

• You will be responsible for the budget of VM materials and VM animations
• In addition, you will manage the annual budget preparation including control and adjustments

Reporting

• You create regular photo reports to document the VM in the region
• You share best practices with the international VM community
• You are responsible for the creation of regular reports analyzing the effect of VM on sales performance.
• You are in close contact with the central Visual Merchandising department in Paris and the various Métiers

Project management

• In collaboration with the communication, retail and retail merchandising teams, you will create an annual VM and event calendar
• You will be responsible for the planning and implementation of VM animations, including budgeting, production and ROI analysis
• You are responsible for the planning and implementation of renovation and reopening projects from a VM perspective
• You coordinate the display of art works in our stores
• You provide VM feedback and ideas to the Real Estate and the Retail department on any Minor Works projects in store (layout and fixtures)

PROFILE

• At least 8 years of proven Visual Merchandising experience and management experience in various high-end retail settings
• Demonstrate coherent decision-making abilities based on analytical thinking and commercial creativity
• Strong commercial awareness & business acumen
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills - ability to effectively communicate with all levels of the organization
• Strong leadership, interpersonal skills and ability to self-manage
• Quick learner and resourceful, demonstrating a roll-up-your sleeves work ethic
• Strong project management experience
• Solution-oriented, with excellent attention to detail
• The ability to work in a fast-paced and ever-changing environment
• Flexibility to travel as needed
• Excellent IT Skills.
• Good French and fluent English. Dutch or a Scandinavian language is a plus

A creator, artisan and seller of high-quality objects since 1837, Hermès is an independent, family-owned French house that employs nearly 20, 000 people worldwide. Driven by its permanent entrepreneurial spirit and consistently high standards, Hermès cultivates the freedom and autonomy of each individual through responsible management. The company perpetuates the transmission of exceptional know-how through strong territorial anchoring that respects people and resources. Sixteen artisanal métiers feed the creativity of the house, whose collections are presented in over 300 stores around the world.