Visual Merchandising Manager

Role Overview

As Visual Merchandising Manager, you will act as an ambassador for Dover Street Market, leading the implementation and execution of visual merchandising standards across the store in accordance with Dover Street Market and COMME des GARÇONS guidelines.

You will build strong relationships with internal and external teams, brand partners and visual merchandising representatives to ensure the consistency, quality and timely delivery of all visual directives across every product area.

Key Responsibilities

• Take overall responsibility for the implementation and execution of the visual merchandising direction across Dover Street Market.
• Maintain and continually evolve Dover Street Market’s visual standards, ensuring the store consistently reflects the vision of Dover Street Market and COMME des GARÇONS.
• Partner with the Retail team to maximise commercial performance through effective visual merchandising strategy, planning and execution.
• Work closely with the Special Projects team on the planning, coordination and delivery of installations, launches, de-rigs and seasonal projects.
• Produce and manage the weekly visual merchandising plan and store mapping, ensuring alignment with product deliveries, launches, trading priorities and key business moments.
• Prepare and present monthly visual merchandising plans to the Global Visual Merchandising Director for approval, ensuring all agreed activity is executed accurately and on schedule.
• Ensure all visual merchandising requests are appropriately prioritised, actioned and clearly communicated.
• Work closely with the Buying and Merchandising teams to optimise product presentation, product flow and space allocation.
• Partner with COMME des GARÇONS brand specialists on collection reviews, visual merchandising requirements and seasonal product presentations to ensure the accurate execution of each brand's vision.
• Collaborate with the Marketing, Public Relations and Customer Relationship Management teams to ensure a consistent visual message across all customer-facing touchpoints.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with brand partners, ensuring all brand spaces meet Dover Street Market standards while respecting agreed brand guidelines.
• Attend store photography sessions, installations and out-of-hours projects as required to maintain exceptional presentation standards.
• Monitor visual standards across the business through regular store walks, photography reviews and provide clear, constructive feedback to retail teams.
• Communicate company guidelines, visual packs and supporting materials to ensure consistent execution across all store teams.
• Provide visual merchandising training to store teams, including guidance on visual displays, company initiatives and new directives.
• Analyse the commercial impact of visual merchandising initiatives and use insights to continuously improve the customer experience and sales performance.
• Support wider commercial priorities, including driving the performance and presentation of COMME des GARÇONS within the business.
• Champion exceptional housekeeping and presentation standards, maintaining Dover Street Market’s reputation as one of the world's leading retail environments.

Training and Leadership

• Develop, deliver and continually evolve the visual merchandising training programme for all retail teams.
• Directly manage, support and develop the COMME des GARÇONS Visual Merchandiser.
• Coach and support managers and retail teams on visual merchandising standards, new directives and best practice.
• Set the benchmark for visual merchandising excellence across the business through regular coaching, feedback and visible leadership.
• Foster strong communication and collaboration between Visual Merchandising, Retail and Head Office teams.

Profile and Experience

• Degree or equivalent qualification in Visual Merchandising, Design, Fashion or a related discipline.
• A minimum of four years' experience in visual merchandising, ideally within a luxury fashion or high-end retail environment.
• Strong understanding of luxury retail, brand presentation and customer experience.
• Commercially aware, with the ability to balance creativity, brand integrity and business performance.
• Highly organised, with excellent planning, prioritisation and project management skills.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the confidence to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Proactive, adaptable and solutions-focused, with the ability to manage multiple priorities within a fast-paced environment.
• A genuine interest in fashion, contemporary art, design and culture, with a strong understanding of the Dover Street Market and COMME des GARÇONS philosophy.
• Excellent photography and visual communication skills, with a strong eye for composition, styling and detail. Confident documenting visual merchandising standards and producing high-quality imagery for presentations and internal communication.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Photoshop and InDesign.
• Experience using SketchUp is preferred but not essential.

What We Offer:

• 20 days holiday plus Bank Holidays, increasing with each year of service up to 5 additional days
• A generous Clothing Allowance per season
• Up to 60% DSM Employee Discount
• 50% discount on all Rose Bakery food and drink
• Access to RetailTrust, our Employee Assistance Programme
  
• 24/7 Access to our VirtualGP service
• Cyclescheme and Eyecare Vouchers

Equal Opportunity

We celebrate the diversity of our workforce, which makes us unique, creative, and connected. As an equal opportunity employer, we ensure fair treatment for all candidates and employees. We welcome people from all walks of life and strive to make everyone feel they belong. We regularly review our recruitment and onboarding processes to be as inclusive as possible. We respect everyone’s stories and celebrate our differences.