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Visual Merchandising Professional with over 20 years of experience creating, producing, and communicating fresh, innovative visual concepts and strategies. Reputation for elevating brands, in-store/online services and products within the retail industry. Direct teams and collaborate with multi-layered organizations including Fortune 500, privately held, and start-up companies.
Solid history of driving brand awareness, market standing, and visual positioning, enhancing customer experiences, and delivering projects on schedule and budget. Align concepts with organization’s goals and objectives with a focus on boosting revenues. Talent for fortifying and maintaining client and key industry relationships.
Professional Experience
Jim MacLean Creative – Seattle, WA
Senior Director – Visual Merchandising and Creative Strategies (2001 to Present)
Provide strategic and comprehensive visual merchandising plans, fixture development and creative services to diverse retailers and brands.
Fortify and maintain close relationships with clients; conduct fact-finding meetings to determine requirements and gain understanding of goals and vision. Project manage vendors, contractors, and workrooms; ensure milestones are achieved by establishing/managing timelines and budgets and communicating/overseeing client expectations. Develop and execute brand right visual messages that are relevant to the consumer and the surrounding environment. Generate positive in-store and online customer experiences; research and analyze trends, markets, and competitors.
Selected Contributions:
♦ Deliver engaging, creative strategies and concepts within scope, schedule, and budget via management of production from conception to completion
♦ Drive brand awareness, loyalty, and customer retention rates via creation, rendering, and implementation of multi-channel, seamless, brand-appropriate presentations
♦ Service and retain clients including but not limited to i-Wired, Sur la Table, Simon Properties, General Growth, inSpa and JDRF Seattle Guild
♦ Maximize return on investments (ROIs); develop and oversee budgets and govern profit and loss (P&L)
L’Oreal/Clarisonic – Redmond, WA
Director – Brand Merchandising and Creative Services (2014 to 2016)
Directed a team of seven professionals within three teams; provided elevated brand presence nationwide.
Expanded business growth by overseeing 62 shop installations within department and specialty stores and 260 case-line retrofits. Partnered with skincare brands to promote enhanced product performance through the use of a Clarisonic device via the rollout of countertop tester units; 1400 Lancome counters, 430 Keihl’s counters and retail stores, and 114 Shiseido counters. Boosted Clarisonic’s presence through the development of branded floor fixtures and countertop tester units. Created national launch visuals and windows concepts. Initiated a consistent brand experience and path to purchase by establishing merchandising guidelines/schematics and POS collateral for all retail and professional accounts
Selected Contributions:
♦ Managed an $8.1M capital budget and heightened Clarisonic’s standing as a leader in the skincare device category via retail development
♦ Executed a $1.3M Visual Merchandising expense budget and maximized Clarisonic’s brand presentation and positioning; collaborated with retail partners in merchandising, visual, and creative departments
♦ Directed a $600K creative services budget; initiated a seamless visual transition across retail and pro channels
♦ Slashed operating budget by $600K and improved internal approval process and timeline management; converted operations from an outside creative agency to an inside team
Things Remembered, Inc. – Highland Heights, OH
Director of Visual Merchandising and Creative Services (2011 to 2014)
Managed a $5.8M budget, directed four teams, and led the creative process for in-store and online experiences.
Oversaw field Visual Merchandising during opening of 30 to 40 stores annually; enhanced layout of new stores and revamped fixture design in partnership with Store Planning and fixture vendors. Improved corporate Visual Merchandising directives creating a unified omni-channel visual message in collaboration with CMO, Directors of Merchandising, Product Development, Marketing, and Public Relations (PR). Supported leadership team post-promo set periods by presenting a recap of floor set productivity data and marketing postmortem; enabled leadership to include observations and compile/present data to board. Enhanced communications by producing 13 Visual Merchandising Guides for seven store variations per year, distributing weekly updates and directives, and managing social media and PR agencies.
Selected Contributions:
♦ Assisted in revitalizing wedding business approach via a reimagined catalog, landing page, and in-store presentation as key creative contributor
♦ Facilitated development of all visual and print marketing in conjunction with outside advertising firm and trend forecasters including 13 Window design and store print POS kits, two catalogs, 13+ home and landing page refreshes, 150+ emails, banner ads, and 10+ billboards annually
♦ Organized 30 to 40 store openings per year via mall marketing and geo-target social media marketing campaigns
Nordstrom Northwest Group – Seattle, WA
Men’s Division Regional Manager of Visual Merchandising (1999 to 2001)
Established product presentation standards and strategies for all full line stores. Implemented new merchandising and styling techniques, communicated directives to in-store stylists
Nordstrom, Flagship-Seattle, WA
Visual Merchandising Manager (1994 to 2001)
Directed three teams within one department. Transformed 360K sq. ft. store overnight directing a crew of 100. Oversaw production of 150+ events annually and conducted merchandising seminars for 500+ associates.
Selected Contribution:
♦ Managed an annual budget of $1.2M; monitored sales and drove creative visual changes during slumps in revenue
♦ Prepared the flagship store for the most successful store opening in Nordstrom history.
Education and Credentials
Interior Design · Cornish College of the Arts – Seattle, WA