Manager - Visual Merchandising Full Price & Wholesale/Franchise

About the Brand

At Karl Lagerfeld, we are driven by Karl’s mantra: “Embrace the present and invent the future.”

Always contemporary and forward-looking, the House of KARL LAGERFELD shares the creative vision and design aesthetic of its iconic founder, Karl Lagerfeld. We are the only fashion house that carries Karl’s name on its door and we strive to live up to this responsibility in everything we do, every day, with the utmost joy and passion.

Our headquarters in Paris and in Amsterdam are home to a highly diverse and driven team of KARL family members that hail from over 50 countries. Together, we aim to create meaningful stories and product concepts that connect to Karl’s world and iconic attributes. Women’s & Men's ready-to-wear, bags, small leather goods, swimwear and underwear are managed directly from our Amsterdam headquarters, while other categories, including footwear, fragrances, eyewear and more, are developed with best-in-class licensing partners.

We connect with our consumers on multiple levels, ensuring that our online and offline approach goes hand in hand. We thrive to maximize consumer engagement via more than 200 KL stores worldwide, our premium wholesale partners, and our strong digital footprint, spearheaded by our KARL.COM flagship store, which reaches 96 countries. Our digital channels currently represent more than 30% of our overall full-price business.

We are a dynamic, fast-growing and inclusive company built on professionalism and strong values. At KARL LAGERFELD we’re committed to working toward the highest standards of sustainability and integrity across all areas of our business. In 2019, KARL LAGERFELD joined as a founding member of the Fashion Pact, a global sustainability initiative seeking to transform the fashion industry through objectives in three areas: climate, biodiversity and ocean protection.

The Role

We are looking for a result-oriented, dynamic, driven and decisive Visual Merchandising Manager to ensure a high level of VM execution across the Full Price/Wholesale store network. A positive Leader with a proven track record to manage a team & deliver high-level execution of Visual Merchandising reflective of the Brand.

Key Responsibilities

• Reporting to the Senior VM Manager. Owning visual merchandising across Full Price stores/wholesale & Franchise market. Collaborates with cross-functional teams to drive key business goals & strategies, ensuring consistency is delivered across channels.
• A functional role requiring creative & strategic thinking to deliver VM excellence & results. Working in partnership with Retail/Buying/Marketing teams to create brand alignment. Possesses strong communication & planning skills.
• Able to lead & motivate the team, inspiring them to produce high-quality work & achieve their goals.
• A role model who leads by example & offers support & development of team – Full price, wholesale & Franchise VM team. Providing guidance & support as needed.
• Deliver brand VM across markets globally, reactive & adaptable – supporting local market/ Regional needs ensuring a consistent approach & deliverables.
• Possess knowledge & a skill set that is adaptable to deliver VM across various space formats & different markets – delivering consistency for the brand reflective of changes in calendar dates, business needs & trading patterns.
• Provide hands-on support for store VM activities seasonally (dedicated window launches, events & product launches). Liaising directly with store teams & district Managers to deliver VM excellence & commercial results. Leading & motivating the teams to complete VM directives to given timelines, review & offer feedback.
• Demonstrates excellent communication skills & can work collaboratively across all levels of the business. Responsible for the VM communication & implementations at store level.
• A key player in defining the visual look & execution of the Karl Lagerfeld Jeans brand & the evolution of the roll-out.
• Ownership of store openings end-to-end process – layouts, props, mannequins etc. & offer VM support & store visits on a regular basis.
• Support on store visits with Wholesale/Franchise to ensure consistency is delivered & key market considerations/differences can be achieved.
• Delivery of VM training & supporting in-store VM training initiatives.
• Support with the creation of VM tools such as seasonal & permanent VM Guidelines.
• Plan, own & deliver Brand activities – Seasonal Line Openings, guidelines. Support with the visual direction & approach for showrooms – offering guidance & giving feedback.
• Supports key Marketing events/activities within local markets.

The Profile

• Visual merchandising, Interior design, Fashion, Retail or Business-related studies.
• At least 5 years’ experience in Visual Merchandising, with a proven track record of commercial success & increasing sales.
• Strong knowledge of visual merchandising best practices, including use of lighting, props, mannequin styling etc. with good attention to detail.
• Organizational & coordination skills, enthusiasm, strong and natural communication.
• Strong analytical & problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify opportunities for improvement & implement effective solutions.
• Language: fluent in English, both verbal and written.
• Ability to manage & prioritize multiple projects while maintaining high standards.
• Meticulous attention to detail and consistency in VM approach - Sense of style.
• Up to date on current fashion trends.
• Good knowledge and proficiency in the use of Microsoft office, the Adobe Creative Suite: (InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop).
• Familiarity with the latest retail technologies.
• Flexibility, adaptability and a positive "can-do" attitude are a must.
• Strong communication skills to effectively convey ideas & instructions to the team.
• Able to work independently as well as in a team is key. Able to work collaboratively with other departments.
• Eager to learn and develop in a fast-growing, fast-paced international work environment.
• Flexibility to travel globally

Why #TEAMKARL?

• Learning and development courses/training
• Opportunity to make an impact
• Remote working arrangements
• Relocation Package
• Bonus holidays
• Working in the heart of Amsterdam
• Brand discounts
• And exclusive sample sales only for #TEAMKARL

Join #TEAMKARL

The collective vision of KARL LAGERFELD is to be the most connected global designer brand, inspiring consumers through luxury collections and immersing them in the World of KARL. If you are interested in joining #TEAMKARL, we invite you to submit your application today.

At #TEAMKARL, everyone can give their opinion, grow in their career, and be part of a genuinely caring and inclusive team. We welcome people from all backgrounds, with different perspectives, ideas, and experiences to work with us.