Director of Retail Brand Experience

Company Description

At Lakeshore, we create innovative learning materials and world-class guest experiences for teachers, parents and children. Since 1954, we’ve grown into a global community—with a thriving e-commerce business, multiple catalogs, 60+ retail stores, a peerless national sales force, plus international offices that support our preeminent supply chain division. But today we’re working better, smarter and faster than ever—and setting our sights even higher. We’re building an infrastructure designed for scalability, embracing data-driven decision-making and using technology to improve efficiency and ensure the best tools for the best work. Most importantly, we continue to invest in a diverse team of inquisitive top talent who fuel each other’s passions and curiosity, take risks, try new things, and believe that every new day brings opportunities for growth

Job Description

In a time of unprecedented expansion, we are seeking a Director of Retail Brand Experience to join our team. In this role, you will develop a hands-on guest experience that represents the Lakeshore brand in an innovative way and helps increase store sales. The position plays a critical role in the conceptualization, coordination and planning of the visual merchandising elements of Lakeshore stores. The role is responsible for enhancing the visual appeal of 60-plus stores along with creating a cohesive brand experience. Applicants should possess the knowledge to build a well-rounded brand strategy that encompasses both long-term strategic plans and short-term tactical initiatives. The ideal candidate has experience with hardline merchandising and space optimization, with a focus on inventory productivity. 

This position requires being on-site full-time, Monday to Friday

A day on the job looks like this: 

• Provide performance feedback on visual merchandising initiatives, identify opportunities for improving results and provide solutions to store-specific visual and merchandising challenges 
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners to elevate brand positioning and drive increase in sales   
• Ensure that the brand experience is consistent across all touchpoints and aligns with overall company vision 
• Communicate the clear articulation of visual merchandising strategies to the organization 
• Drive innovation in visual merchandising techniques and displays to create unique and memorable guest experiences 
• Be a dynamic change agent, a coach and a mentor, a thought leader, a transparent and effective communicator and a trustworthy partner 
• Develop a clear strategy for hands-on guest experiences that reflect brand priorities, customer trends and expectations 
• Develop and drive thoughtful segmentation strategies that provide differentiation in the marketplace 
• Relentlessly drive space-optimization improvements to the in-store experience through strategic vision and direction focused on improving sales and inventory productivity with revenue growth  
• Interface with cross-functional departments to fully understand key product priorities  
• Build and champion strong collaborative working partnerships with Senior Director of Stores, territory managers, store leadership teams and home-office partners 
• Support the Retail Executive team with all business and visual-related strategies (e.g., new business initiatives, presentation strategies, product launches, etc.) 
• Provide insight and strategic direction on the best available technologies to improve the in-store experience 
• Ideate and oversee visual merchandising initiatives that increase operational efficiency by understanding the store needs and developing solutions for innovative ways of working  
• Champion new merchandising tests, initiatives and proof-of-concept strategies in which visual expertise is required 
• Provide budget oversight and accountability 

Qualifications

Got the skills and experience? Here’s what we’re looking for: 

• 9+ years of demonstrated success in visual brand management, marketing or related field required 
• Knowledge of design software such as Adobe Creative Cloud and AutoCAD preferred 
• Proficiency in all Microsoft Office programs preferred 
• Excellent understanding of retail trends and consumer behavior  
• Ability to strategically plan initiatives and execute those initiatives flawlessly  
• Business acumen with analytical, planning and problem-solving skills, plus an outcome-oriented mindset  
• Proven track record of developing and implementing successful visual merchandising strategies in a retail environment 
• Strong organizational skills and ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills that can adapt to various