Visual Merchandising Planner

Overview: The Visual Merchandising Planner is responsible for store setup and layouts, creating effective product flow within planograms, developing new merchandising strategies, and collaborating with other departments to ensure seamless execution of changes. Reporting to the Manager of Visual Planning. Key Responsibilities: Store Setup and Layouts: Lead the development and execution of store layouts, ensuring alignment with merchants' buying strategies. Create and manage planograms and product flow to optimize the customer shopping experience, focusing on both micro and macro space planning. Visual Merchandising Execution: Direct all aspects of visual merchandising, including planogram creation and reset coordination. Develop and maintain merchandise standards to drive sales and profitability. Collaboration with Merchants: Partner with merchants to design customer-centric and regionally relevant planograms using the Blue Yonder Management Suite. Ensure planograms align with overall space plans in existing stores and special projects. Data Analytics: Use data analytics to reconcile assortment and space variations across clustered volume grades. Provide post-mortem micro space analysis to leadership to drive continuous improvement. Planogram Validation and Support: Set planograms in live or model stores to review accuracy and identify improvements before launch. Provide store support regarding planograms and merchandising plans. Signage Development and Communication: Maintain and communicate all retail signage using the sign builder application, ensuring alignment with company standards and enhancing the customer experience. Assist in developing and delivering merchandising directives for seasonal promotions, ad campaigns, impact zones, and new item launches. Project Ownership and Fixture Innovation: Take ownership of special projects and initiatives, reporting developments, strategies, and rollout plans to the team. Collaborate on implementing innovative fixture initiatives and serve as the visual merchandising strategy expert within the category. New Store Setups and Remodels: Assist with new store setups and remodels to ensure visual merchandising standards are upheld and executed effectively. Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Visual Merchandising, Retail Management, Marketing, or a related field, or a minimum of 3 years of experience as a retail manager. Proven ability to lead and execute visual merchandising strategies in a retail environment. Proficiency with Blue Yonder Management Suite and other relevant tools. Strong analytical skills with the ability to apply data insights to improve merchandising effectiveness. Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills. Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams and build strong relationships across all levels of the organization. Exceptional organizational and time management skills to handle multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment. Demonstrated problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to addressing challenges. Experience with new store setups and remodels is a plus. Requirements: Travel: Up to 15%, including occasional overnight trips. Physical Requirements: Ability to lift up to 40 lbs.