Visual Assistant / Visual Merchandiser - Retail

Job description / Role

Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim Group today is one of the most diversified and progressive, privately held regional businesses headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Structured into five operating divisions; automotive, financial services, real estate, retail and healthcare; employing more than 35,000 employees across more than 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, Al-Futtaim Group partners with over 200 of the world's most admired and innovative brands. Al-Futtaim Group's entrepreneurship and relentless customer focus enables the organization to continue to grow and expand; responding to the changing needs of our customers within the societies in which we operate.

By upholding our values of respect, excellence, collaboration and integrity; Al-Futtaim Group continues to enrich the lives and aspirations of our customers each and every day

Overview of the role:

Reporting to the Store Visual Merchandiser, your role will be to implement and maintain the M&S brand image within the store, ensuring visual consistency. You will work with the Visual Merchandiser and the Commercial Department Managers to provide the customer with the most inspirational shopping experience possible.

What you will do:-

Description of Accountability:
- Follow the Visual Merchandising Guidelines and ensure these are rolled out across the store.
- Implement well styled mannequins in line with the styling policy.
- Use appropriate styling techniques and the correct visual elements in the relevant areas to aid customer segmentation.
- Help the Visual Merchandiser to implement seasonal launches and events on time and "on brand".
- Be aware of both store and company best sellers.
- Have an awareness of competitor activities and trends within Visual Merchandising.
- Ensure brand consistency through educating and training Sales staff to keep VM in line with standards.
- VM checklist is maintained and adhered to.
- Liaise with the Visual Merchandiser everyday for updates on VM processes / requirements / people.

Required Skills to be successful:
- Proven visual merchandising experience in fashion retail brands
- Knowledge in Photoshop/ Illustrator, or other visual design tools
- Analyze sales reports and survey results
- Innovative - Generates suggestions for improving work
- Develops and evolves visual merchandising strategies by creating compelling seasonal product presentations that align with the brand strategies through monthly floor sets

Requirements

What equips you for the role:
- Bachelor Degree preferably in Interior Design, Merchandising, or Fashion Merchandising.
- 3-5 years' previous Visual Merchandise experience in Retail Fashion
- Retail Background
- Good and effective communication
- Effective time management / Uses time efficiently
- Creative, and detailed orientated
- Accepts responsibility for own actions
- Ability to adapt to changes as required by the business
- Monitors own work to ensure quality

About Al-Futtaim Retail

Al-Futtaim Retail has established itself as one of the leaders in Retail across the Middle East, Africa & Asia over the past 30 years. We have developed partnerships with some of the biggest and most respected Brands in the world including IKEA, ACE and Toys R Us in the Middle East and the Inditex Group of Brands (Zara, Mango, Bershka and P&B) across Asia. We are also one of the largest Global partners of Marks and Spencer's in both regions with over 75 stores offering both fashion & food options.

Most recently we have been responsible for bringing brands to the Middle East for the first time with the exciting launches of Watsons and B&Q and we aim to continue to be agile and adaptive to our markets with new launches and further development. For this to be possible we aim to recruit the best talent from all backgrounds who will continue to challenge and develop our diverse workforce which includes over 100 nationalities across 12 countries. Join us today and make a difference.

About the Company

Established in the 1930's, the Al-Futtaim Group initially operated as a trading enterprise. Rapid development throughout the 1940's and 50's saw it establish itself regionally as an integrated commercial, industrial and services organisation, positioning itself one of the leading business houses in the lower Gulf region. Today, it operates collectively over 40 companies bearing the Al-Futtaim name, dominates many market segments in the UAE, and has expanded its sphere of operation to include Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Egypt.

The Group comprises a diverse range of strategically positioned operating subsidiaries and associate companies, structured to give the Al-Futtaim Group the flexibility and versatility to keep ahead of local competition while keeping pace with the ever-evolving global business scenario. The Groups continued investment in world-class systems technology is clear evidence of its commitment to maintain leading edge performance and service delivery.

The success of the Al-Futtaim Group can be attributed to a business approach that combines the ability to change with the traditional values of integrity, service and social responsibility that define its core business philosophy. This, linked with the Groups belief in decentralisation, gives the heads of the operating companies a high degree of functional autonomy and authority, providing the Group with essential flexibility, and individual employees a clearly defined work culture and sense of responsibility.