Visual Merchandising/Activity Manager

IKEA; Hyderabad; On-site; INR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

IKEA Hyderabad is seeking a senior Visual Merchandising/Activity Leader who can inspire a team to create exciting range presentation solutions that strengthen the IKEA identity and deliver a convenient, inspired shopping experience.

You will recruit, coach and develop co-workers, translate local customer needs into engaging displays, and drive commercial vitality through layout as a tool and seasonal campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of Visual Merchandising/Activity co-workers and inspire and challenge them to strengthen the uniqueness of the IKEA identity in range presentation solutions in the store.
• Responsible for gathering and translating knowledge of people's needs and dreams in the local market into relevant and inspiring range presentation solutions that support a convenient shopping experience and reflect the local needs of life at home.
• Lead a team of Visual Merchandising/Activity Co‑Workers in creating relevant, inspiring, affordable and commercial range presentation solutions that reflect a wide variety of styles, price levels, meet many individual tastes and exceed visitor's expectations.
• Keep up to date and knowledgeable about retailing, home furnishing and trends in order to support the Com&In manager to facilitate workshops that generate creative directions that inspire and surprise visitors with a strong visual impression.
• Responsible for the recruitment and competence development of Visual Merchandising/Activity co-workers and securing personal succession planning by constantly searching for potential candidates.
• Provide active support in developing the department action plan using layout as a commercial tool as well as range presentation and vitality initiatives that are focused on growing the business and supporting long-term profitability and execute agreed plans together with the Com&In team and other functions.
• Act quickly to exploit commercial opportunities and ensure the Visual Merchandising/Activity co-workers understand the impact of Com&In actions on the financial result.
• Ensure that Visual Merchandising/Activity co-workers base their work on the layout as a commercial tool and execute range presentation solutions with high quality, simplicity, cost-effectiveness and efficiency by applying national directions and using global tools and best practices.
• Ensure the team always keep visitors in mind, minimise disruption and communicate changes when working on the shop floor.
• Actively contribute in the national Visual Merchandising/Activity Managers network and share national directions and global tools with the Visual Merchandising/Activity co-workers in the stores.

Job description

WHO YOU ARE

As a person you are passionate about people, business, IKEA’s purpose and continuously driving better performance. You are energized by increasing customer value, driving business growth and contributing to overall success and results through people as well as motivated by leading and developing people. The purpose of the job is to lead, develop and inspire a team of Visual Merchandising/Activity co-workers in creating exciting range presentation solutions that provide an easy and convenient shopping experience and increase vitality thereby contributing to positioning the IKEA Brand in the local market as the home furnishing specialist and the IKEA store as an up-to-date and innovative destination that always offers something new. You should have significant experience of working as a visual merchandiser and possess a design-based education with a proven success in managing and leading creative processes and coaching people.You should have a visual competence with a keen eye for aesthetics and be passionate about home furnishing, design and how people live at home. You should have an experience of working in a fast retail environment with a proven customer-focused mindset. You should demonstrate clear communication skills, i.e. the ability to verbally explain concepts and visual interpretation and set and implement action plans, set expectations, provide clear direction and follow up goals. You should have the ability to prioritise and organise work and the work of others in order to make the most efficient use of time available and meet agreed goals and deadlines. You should have the ability to prioritise and organise work and the work of others in order to make the most efficient use of time available and meet agreed goals and deadlines. Retail and home furnishing experience is preferred, experience of managing and leading co-workers and experience of working in visual merchandising in a retail environment is preferred. You should have the ability to combine and identify commercial, aesthetics and practical skills and an ability to create a trustful and creative environment. A natural ability to move smoothly from assessing the bigger picture to seeing the small details is required. You should have a good analytical and strategic skills and the ability to steer the store business over the short-, mid- and long term. You should have knowledge on Range presentation the IKEA way (layout as a commercial tool, store media, display techniques), Home furnishing the IKEA way, Understanding of life at home in the local market and the outcome of market research, e.g. IKEA Customer Satisfaction Survey, IKEA Brand Capital. You should be aware of the work method for presenting the IKEA range, the IKEA Concept and IKEA Brand objectives, IKEA mechanical sales system, Global tools and solutions. You should understand trends that influence home furnishing and retailing, Commercial calendar and store activities, Commercial lighting, Store Communication. You should understand how to lead creative processes, understand how to build visual merchandising and activity competence. You should have the ability to combine and identify commercial, aesthetics and practical skills, Ability to create a trustful and creative environment. You should possess a natural ability to move smoothly from assessing the bigger picture to seeing the small details and good analytical and strategic skills and the ability to steer the store business over the short-, mid- and long term.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead and manage a team of Visual Merchandising/Activity co-workers and inspire and challenge them to strengthen the uniqueness of the IKEA identity in range presentation solutions in the store.
• Responsible for gathering and translating knowledge of people's needs and dreams in the local market into relevant and inspiring range presentation solutions that support a convenient shopping experience and reflect the local needs of life at home.
• Lead a team of Visual Merchandising/Activity Co‑Workers in creating relevant, inspiring, affordable and commercial range presentation solutions that reflect a wide variety of styles, price levels, meet many individual tastes and exceed visitor's expectations.
• Keep up to date and knowledgeable about retailing, home furnishing and trends in order to support the Com&In manager to facilitate workshops that generate creative directions that inspire and surprise visitors with a strong visual impression.
• Responsible for the recruitment and competence development of Visual Merchandising/Activity co-workers and securing personal succession planning by constantly searching for potential candidates.
• Provide active support in developing the department action plan using layout as a commercial tool as well as range presentation and vitality initiatives that are focused on growing the business and supporting long-term profitability and execute agreed plans together with the Com&In team and other functions.
• Act quickly to exploit commercial opportunities and ensure the Visual Merchandising/Activity co-workers understand the impact of Com&In actions on the financial result.
• Ensure that Visual Merchandising/Activity co-workers base their work on the layout as a commercial tool and execute range presentation solutions with high quality, simplicity, cost-effectiveness and efficiency by applying national directions and using global tools and best practices.
• Ensure the team always keep visitors in mind, minimise disruption and communicate changes when working on the shop floor.
• Actively contribute in the national Visual Merchandising/Activity Managers network and share national directions and global tools with the Visual Merchandising/Activity co-workers in the stores.

TOGETHER AS A TEAM

Where others see home furnishing products, we see smart solutions to create a better everyday life. With a great deal of passion, imagination and brainstorming we turn colours, textiles and furniture into inspiring environments that excite, engage and convince IKEA visitors that they can do it too!

At IKEA, we value diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We are committed to providing coworkers with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. We encourage individualism and invite you to come join our team and be yourself with us!

We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, or any other applicable characteristic protected by law. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit and business need.