Manager- Visual Merchandising

Brand Overview:

Ashley Stewart was founded in 1991. Beginning with the first store in Brooklyn, New York, the Ashley Stewart brand captured the hearts and minds of women searching for fashion-forward, well-tailored but affordable clothing in an easily accessible and welcoming environment. 

Today, our customers are able to shop the brand in retail stores across the United States and on-line through our website, www.ashleystewart.com. The website has enabled Ashley Stewart to grow internationally, and customers are now able to interact with fellow customers across many different forms of social media.  Ashley Stewart will continue to deliver fashion forward style and flattering fit for the trend-savvy, curvy and confident woman.    

Our Philosophy: 

We believe in a set of core values grounded in fair play, hard work, teamwork, and integrity.  We believe that success comes from a group of people planning and executing in unison each day.  We believe that Ashley Stewart exists solely because our customers trust and believe in what the brand stands for. Ashley Stewart stands for confidence, self-esteem, sexiness, class, and sisterhood. Everything we do as a Company is for our customer.  Our customer looks at every employee as if she/he is Ashley Stewart, a trusted confidante and best friend. Ashley Stewart is as much about a shopping experience, whether it is in the stores or on-line, as it is about merchandise. Ashley Stewart stands for confidence and acceptance.

Position Overview:

The Manager- Visual Merchandising owns the Visual Merchandising process on a broad range of projects, such as developing, maintaining, and archiving communication tools for Ashley Stewart stores. 

This position is also expected to lead in training, maintaining, and developing operational standards/talent throughout the chain in partnership with the Store Operations team.

This candidate must be a self-starter that is extremely organized, detail-oriented, and able to meet tight deadlines. This role requires both creative and analytic expertise.

• Lead graphic design, production and layout of visual merchandising and store communications, including weekly window and floor-set directives for chain
• Experience with MockShop virtual retailing software preferred
• Create supportive tools/documents/methods and set up meetings to ensure transparency, accuracy, and clear communication
• Assist and collaborate with team on new store opening designs & producing 3D renderings
• Assist with styling looks for upcoming floor-sets & campaigns with team as needed
• Collaborate on any field and corporate training tools related to visual or operational standards and any new store initiatives 
• Update Visual Standards Guide as needed 
• Partner with marketing and creative to produce in-store signage as needed
• Partner with store operations and field leadership on field talent, floor-set execution follow-up and photo submissions bi-weekly 
• Conduct routine store visits and help implement and enforce systematic photographic compliance in order to keep up to date on product flow and overall presentation standards 
• Drive brand loyalty by ensuring exceptional client experience through well-merchandised, visually engaging, brand appropriate store environments throughout the field 
• Follow up with stores and DSM’s that are underperforming to ensure visual merchandising standards are being met 
• Submit photo recaps of store visits/takeaways 
• Experience with opening new store openings and training teams

• Shop competitive landscape frequently to identify market trends and opportunities
• Open to accepting new responsibilities as the business continues to grow and evolve 

Other Functions:  

·       Advanced knowledge of Mac OS   

·       Must have knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite CC, with proficiency in InDesign

·       Knowledge of SketchUp & 3D rendering software preferred

  ·     Knowledge of MockShop virtual software highly preferred

·       Knowledge AutoCad preferred 

·       Effective oral and written communication skills

·       Styling expertise and flair for fashion 

·       Must have ability to travel to local stores 

·        Maintain high quality of work with attention to detail

Education/Experience: 

·        College degree in Graphic Design or similar field preferred 

·        5-10 years prior corporate VM experience preferred

·        Portfolio and/or past work samples are required for consideration

Physical Demands/Work Environment: 

• Position is full time 

• Work is performed in an office and/or retail store setting requiring a great deal of interaction with people 

• Ability to work a flexible schedule which may occasionally include holidays, weekends and/or late evenings, and before/ after stores are open to the public 
• Local travel required 
• Ability to use ladders, or other equipment, for the purpose of minor store and merchandising maintenance 
• Ability to stand for periods of 8-10 hours a day