Visual Merchandising Coordinator

Pepkor has the largest retail store footprint in southern Africa. With 5 470 stores operating across 10 African countries, our businesses include many of the most trusted brands on the continent. Pepkors Speciality division provides central infrastructure to launch new brands, nurture smaller brands and position new fashion and footwear acquisitions. Speciality brings together the speciality brands of Dunns, Shoe City, Refinery and Tekkie Town, SPCC and CODE. Each company has a rich and distinctive history and a thorough understanding of their products, fabrics, designs and the needs of their customers. Over the past two decades South Africa has suffered the demise of specialism. Because of the challenges of economies of scale, specialist companies cant compete against the mass market. Specialism in fashion has been replaced by uniformity. At Speciality we believe that specialists are a vital part of Africas vibrant retail environment. Products should be made or selected by experts so that customers can exercise their choice and their right to benefit from the specialists expertise. Our aim is to activate specialists to provide inclusivity to both our staff and the people we serve. Speciality is delighted to be resurrecting the era of specialism. By combining five specialist companies we have been able to create economies of scale in supply chain, IT and financial systems. This means that products of choice that should be exclusively priced can be inclusively priced, so that our customers can purchase uniqueness without an exorbitant price tag. Speciality has over 900 stores in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland. Our world-class retail operating platform was built for maximisation as we expand our footprint with more speciality brands in future. Qualifications Degree or Diploma in a relevant field (ie Marketing, visual merchandising, fashion merchandising, exhibition design, visual communications) or similar Knowledge, Skills and Experience A minimum of 4 years experience visual merchandising experience in the retail industry where you were responsible for the national execution of the strategy. It is advantageous if you have experience in new store design. A valid driver's license and own car is essential. Understanding of advertising and marketing processes in a retail environment. Working knowledge of financial concepts and managing costs within a budget. Excellent negotiation skills in dealing with suppliers, advertising agencies and external providers High focus on attention to detail Systematic approach to working towards deadlines and execution of projects timeously Excellent time management skills in order to work under pressure and to deliver to deadlines Working knowledge of print and production in retail. Strong understanding of brand strategy & its integration into visual presentation. Exceptional communication skills to effectively liaise with teams & convey VM strategies. Detail-oriented with a keen eye for design & aesthetics. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment & meet tight deadlines. Budget management skills Strong people management skills Creative & innovative thinker Ability to analyse sales merchandising reports & trends Key Responsibilities VM Strategy Development: Provide input to the development of comprehensive VM strategies aligning with the brand's vision & goals. Creating the operational delivery plan that meets the budget and agreed timelines to deliver the VM strategy. Ensure the integration of these plans into the overall business objectives. POS Briefing & Training: Effectively communicate POS requirements, providing detailed briefs to relevant teams. Conduct training sessions to empower teams for successful execution. Store Updates & Tactical Offers: Lead the planning & execution of quarterly & monthly store updates, incorporating tactical offers. To coordinate printing and distribution of point of sale material to the stores Ensure timely delivery of instructions & materials to support promotional launches. Window Display Management: Manage window priorities in alignment with product strategy & brand objectives. Develop compelling window displays that captivate & communicate brand narratives effectively. To ensure that the correct visual merchandising and equipment is sent to all stores timeously and within budget, pertaining to VM campaigns, store openings, store renovations and store closures. Develop and source marketing production elements for new concepts and new visual merchandising material. Consistent In-Store Execution: Drive a consistent in-store execution of the brand, adhering to the merchandising strategy. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to maintain brand integrity across all stores.