Associate Manager of Visual Merchandise, GM - 18 Months Contract

Company Description

Dedicated to telling stories and creating experiences, Indigo is always looking for bright, energetic and customer-focused people who can help bring our exciting mission to life in one of our more than 170 Indigo, Indigospirit, Chapters and Coles stores across Canada. We offer a variety of exciting opportunities at our retail stores, distribution centres, and home office for people who share our passions and want to be part of a dynamic and enriching culture.

Who We Are

• We love books and all things beautiful
• We are Canada’s Cultural Department Store
• Books are our heart and our soul and Great Books are JUST the Beginning…

We play by the following rules:

• We exist to add joy to our customers’ lives each and every time they interact with us and our products
• Our job is to create joyful moments for our customers
• We treat each other the way we’d treat a valued friend
• We inspire each other to do our best work
• We seek to ignite creativity and innovation every day
• We give back to the communities in which we operate

Job Description

The Associate Manager of Visual Merchandising, General Merchandise is responsible for creating compelling retail visual presentations that inspire booklovers and deliver on Indigo’s financial targets. This role involves developing and communicating engaging store environments for assigned categories to drive sales, maximize margin contributions, and uphold Indigo’s Brand Standards. The Associate Manager, Visual Merchandising collaborates with the Visual Manager, General Merchandise and cross-functional teams to implement effective merchandising strategies, ensuring consistent execution across all stores. Additionally, this role supports the Visual Manager in managing all Visual Merchandising processes as they relate to space planning, the development of product displays and communication to stores.

Key Performance Metrics

• Accurate on-time delivery of the Visual Workbooks: high standard, adherence to the Visual Merchandising and Corporate Calendars
• Sales, budget, margin and contribution for assigned categories
• High standard for accuracy space planning and sign requests
• Effective HELP ticket resolutions
• Customer satisfaction, as evidenced by stakeholder feedback

Key Accountabilities

Functional

• Partner with Visual Manger, General Merchandise to execute the Seasonal product strategies for assigned categories, including Product Line Reviews, in-store set ups, Visual Workbooks and Merchandising Updates
• In collaboration with the Visual Manager, General Merchandise, develop and deliver high impact visual merchandising strategies to drive store execution and achieve Indigo’s strategic objectives
• Create user friendly Visual workbooks that clearly communicate the merchandising approach and priorities for each seasonal floor set
• Collaborate cross functionally with Merchant and Allocations teams on seasonal space planning and organize product information required for the Visual Workbooks
• Execute showroom set-ups including product line reviews and store layout reviews
• Lead in-store set up and store walk throughs for assigned categories to validate, test and develop new merchandising approaches
• Educate the Field Visual team on period story themes, objectives, and inspirations each season, leveraging field calls and in-store walkthroughs
• Partner with the Visual Manager, General Merchandise to execute the sign process for seasonal floor sets and special projects as assigned
• Maintain all support documents and resources to ensure the most accurate and relevant information is available
• Lead the execution of merchandising initiatives and store openings in key locations as assigned
• Manage and follow up on projects, propping, and fixture rollouts as assigned
• Address and resolve HELP ticket inquiries related to assigned responsibilities
• Act as an advocate for the customer by placing them at the forefront of all design and decision-making processes
• Embrace and seek out technology that creates high tech and high touch solutions for

Indigo’S Customers

• Proactively identify and anticipate customer expectations and needs
• Challenge the status quo by consistently identifying areas for improvement, diagnosing issues and working to resolve them

People

• Actively seek out opinions to promote a culture where the opinions and voices of all teams are heard and valued
• Offer support and constructive feedback to peers to encourage growth and collaboration.
• Collaborate with others to drive flexible and iterative solutions, quickly and easily
• Share technical expertise while continuously learning from others
• Help team members understand the impact of their contributions and proactively engage other functions to gather input and drive alignment

Cultural

• Model Indigo’s beliefs and convey a positive image in everything you do
• Celebrate diversity of thought and have an open mindset
• Take an active role in fostering a culture of continual learning, taking risks without the fear of making mistakes
• Embrace, champion and influence change through your team and/or the organization

Scope

Reports to: Visual Manager, GM

Manager once Removed (MOR): Director Visual Merchandising, GM

Key Relationships

Internal:

• General Merchandise
• Planning & Allocation
• Store Design
• Retail Operations and Store Communications
• Visual Merchandising
• PMO
• Marketing
• Creative Studio

External:

• Vendors and Suppliers as required

Qualifications

Work Experience / Education / Certifications

• Post-secondary degree or diploma in Visual Merchandising or related field
• Five years of multi-unit visual merchandising experience required

Competencies / Skills / Attributes

• High skill level using Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, Power Point, InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop
• Customer-centric approach
• Highly organized, with strong prioritization skills to manage multiple tasks efficiently
• Creative and innovative problem solver, bringing fresh ideas and strategic thinking
• Self-motivated and energetic, with a proactive approach to challenges

Other (travel, Bilingual, etc.)

• Occasional travel as required

A portfolio is required as part of your application for this position. Please include either:

• A link to an online portfolio (e.g., personal website, Behance, GitHub, etc.), or
• A file upload of your portfolio in PDF or another accessible format.

Applications without a portfolio will not be considered.

Additional Information

At Indigo, we are committed to our communities, our customers, and each other; together we can make a positive impact. We know that fostering diversity and inclusion brings out your full potential and creates a joyful and welcoming environment for everyone. We are driven to be an equitable employer, which highly values your diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We believe that you, in all your uniqueness, belong at Indigo. We welcome all applicants and encourage applications from individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, a person of colour, LGBTQ2+ and people with disabilities. Accommodations are available upon request to individuals who self-identify as having a disability or special need. Please contact Human Resources at Support-HR@indigo.ca if you require an accommodation at any time during the recruitment process. 

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