Visual Merchandiser & Brand Champion - North & Scotland

Barbour; South Shields; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Staff Discount

Staff Shop

25 days holiday

Hybrid & flexible working

Free onsite parking

Job summary

Barbour in the United Kingdom is seeking a Visual Merchandiser & Brand Champion to maintain a consistent, elevated visual identity across Barbour stores and partner locations, reflecting Barbour’s heritage and premium positioning.

This role includes rollout of window campaigns, seasonal pop-ups, brand events & partner activations, in-store merchandising standards, team training, and ongoing support of UK-wide VM guidelines to ensure best-in-class presentation.

Qualifications

• Experience in multi-store visual merchandising for premium/heritage brands.
• Proven ability to manage teams and projects.
• Strong understanding of customer journey, fixture layouts and in-store storytelling.
• Excellent organisation, time management and communication.
• Willingness to travel UK-wide, including overnight stays.

Responsibilities

• Based remotely with regular daily travel across the Northern region and Scotland to ensure consistent, high-quality execution of visual merchandising standards across Barbour-owned stores, partner stores, wholesale accounts, concessions, and shop-in-shops.
• Support UK Marketing with seasonal pop-ups, events and activations, ensuring presentation ahead of launches in Newcastle and London.
• Conduct store audits, develop improvement plans, and follow up to ensure effective implementation.
• Lead workshops and guidelines with Area Managers, VM Brand Champions and Partner Stores.
• Localise global VM guidelines for doors, campaigns and product drops.

Skills

Multi-store VM

Team leadership

Customer journey

Fixture layouts

In-store storytelling

Organization

Time management

Communication

Travel UK & Ireland

Presentation skills

Tools

Outlook

Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Adobe Creative Cloud

Job description

The Barbour story began in 1894 in South Shields in the North East of England. Founder John Barbour began supplying oilskins and other garments to protect the growing community of sailors, fishermen and dockers. Still family owned and now fifth generation, Barbour HQ remains in South Shields. Under the leadership of Chairman Dame Margaret Barbour, Barbour has grown into a lifestyle brand sold in over 55 countries worldwide including Europe, the US and Asia offering a wardrobe of stylish functional clothing, footwear and accessories inspired by the unique values of the British countryside. The iconic Barbour Bedale and Barbour Beaufort wax jackets continue to be made by hand in the factory in South Shields. In 2020, Barbour launched Wax for Life, an overarching name for all of Barbour’s wax services designed to encourage customers to extend the life of their wax garments. Wax for Life includes re-waxing and repairs (first introduced in 1921) and Barbour Re-Loved an upcycling circularity initiative. Each year over 70,000 wax garments are sent back to Barbour globally to be repaired, rewaxed or altered.

Position Overview:

We have an exciting opportunity for a Visual Merchandiser & Brand Champion to join our UK Marketing team. This role will be responsible for maintaining a consistent, elevated and brand-aligned visual identity across all stores and partners, reflecting Barbour’s heritage and premium positioning. This includes the rollout of window campaigns, seasonal pop-ups, brand events & partner activations, in-store merchandising standards, team training, and ongoing support of UK-wide VM guidelines to ensure best-in-class presentation. By combining strong visual execution with commercial awareness, the position plays a key role in driving performance while enhancing the overall customer experience. Collaborate closely with the UK Marketing, Retail, Partner Stores and Global VM teams to deliver locally relevant and commercially effective solutions. This cross-functional partnership ensures all visual activity aligns with Global brand direction while resonating with the UK and Ireland market.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Based remotely with regular daily travel across the Northern region and Scotland to ensure consistent, high-quality execution of visual merchandising standards across Barbour-owned stores, partner stores, wholesale accounts, concessions, and shop-in-shops.
• Support UK Marketing team with setup of seasonal pop-ups, events and activations, ensuring a high standard of presentation ahead of launch and sell-in periods across showrooms in Newcastle and London.
• Conduct regular store audits, develop clear and actionable improvement plans, and ensure timely follow-up to support effective implementation.
• Partner with Area Managers, VM Brand Champions and Partner Stores to deliver tailored seasonal product training and Model Store rollouts through engaging workshops, detailed guidelines, and presentations.
• Adapt and localise global visual merchandising guidelines to meet the needs of your doors, ensuring alignment with seasonal launches and ad hoc product drops.
• Lead and coach in-store teams on brand standards, including mannequin styling, product presentation, store layouts, and window execution, ensuring alignment with campaigns, product storytelling, and seasonal objectives.
• Collaborate closely with Store Managers to support and develop in-store Brand Specialists, driving adherence to VM standards while contributing to sales performance and brand objectives.
• Produce and distribute weekly VM reports, summarising store visits, virtual checks, and key insights to the VM Manager, Retail team, and wider VM function.
• Support Global and UKI VM Managers in the seasonal setup of brand showrooms in South Shields and London, ensuring a high standard of presentation ahead of sell-in periods.
• Conduct competitor analysis and compile shop reports to identify emerging trends, opportunities, and areas for commercial growth.
• Manage travel schedules and regional planning efficiently to ensure optimal coverage and alignment with business priorities.

Skills and Experience:

• Experience in multi store visual merchandising, preferably within a premium or heritage fashion brand.
• Proven ability to manage teams and projects.
• Strong understanding of customer journey, fixture layouts and in-store storytelling.
• Excellent organisation, time management, and communication skills.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.
• Ability to travel frequently across the UK and Ireland.
• Highly creative but able to work within the brand vision.
• Interested and knowledgeable in fashion and show an affinity towards premium heritage brands.
• Demonstrates high standards of organisation, planning and attention to detail.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, along with presentation skills to build strong
• relationships internally and externally.
• Self-motivated and able to demonstrate a flexible approach and attitude to workload and working hours.
• Comfortable with teamwork or working independently.
• Be willing to travel, including overnight stays and occasional night shifts.
• Possess essential IT skills including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Adobe Creative Cloud.

Additional Information:

• This role will cover the North & Scotland Region.
• The role holder must be based or be prepared to move to the region their role covers.
• Must have a valid UK Driving Licence.
• Discretionary Company bonus scheme
• Staff Discount
• Staff Shop
• 25 days holiday as standard increasing with length of service plus bank holidays
• Access to training and development activities to support your career development
• Free onsite parking
• Subsidised canteen
• Operate hybrid & flexible working
• 4pm finish on a Friday