Assistant Retail Design Manager - 6 Month Fixed Term Contract

Assistant Retail Design Manager

MISSION

We are looking for an Assistant Retail Design Manager to join on a 6 month fixed term contract to support our Retail Design and VM team, working the development of new retail concepts in Store Design and permanent VM elements aligned with Global guidelines in response to specific market needs.

ABOUT SHISEIDO GROUP

Our mission : Beauty Innovations for a Better World

Founded in 1872 in Japan, Shiseido Group is within the Top 5 leading cosmetics companies in the world and aims to inspire a life of beauty and culture. Operating in 120 countries with 42,000 employees and 70 nationalities, Shiseido offers a unique selection of Skincare, Makeup and Fragrance brands with a projected turnover over £7.0bn in 2022. Celebrating 150 years of heritage in 2022, Shiseido constantly creates high-quality, safe and innovative cosmetics and develop brands deeply loved by people from all over the world, in line with our mission: Beauty Innovations for a Better World.  Did you know that Shiseido is the most awarded company in terms of innovation with a record 31 FSCC Awards?

Shiseido UK & Ireland plays a central role in the EMEA region and is biggest affiliate, leading the Digital acceleration agenda thanks to a team of local experts, but is also constantly reinventing its Retail footprint in the world Nr4 biggest beauty market.

To deliver our strong Growth & Profitability ambitions, we will follow 4 strategic streams

1.             Leverage our unique portfolio of premium Beauty brands across all 3 categories

2.            Stay agile and capture new retail opportunities

3.            Customer-driven decisions

4.            Create a great place to work in Beauty

Our first strength is Make-up, led by NARS, UK’s Nr4 color brand with incredible success globally and that gained 4 rankings in the last 2 years thanks to its unique tone of voice and exceptional complexion and lip products. 

Skincare is a key priority for expansion, with 5 very diverse and complementary brands covering the full scope of consumers needs and profiles. From brand Shiseido that is recognized for its uncompromising quality and showing huge growth potential in UK&I, to already iconic Drunk Elephant (+75% growth this year, about to enter Top10 Skincare) with its most sought-after formulations and Skin Smoothies, or the spectacular Clé de Peau Beauté that embodies the ultimate of stem-cell technology to the service of radiance. This year, we just launched ULÉ a newly created Skin-Tech brand with breakthrough credentials around Sustainability and botanical performance, as well as expanding Gallinée, our most recent acquisition from 2022 specialized around skin microbiome with unique patents.

We are also growing fast in Fragrance, a category we want to accelerate with leading Designers brands such as Issey Miyake, Narciso Rodriguez, Tory Burch, Zadig&Voltaire and Serge Lutens.

Year to date, October 23, SHISEIDO Group is the fastest growing Beauty Group in the UK market, both in Stores and Online. Our clients include high-street retailers such as department stores, beauty chains as well as online pure players and specialty stores. We also have 4 boutiques and 3 direct e-commerce websites.  Our mix of sales is 55% online and 45% in brick & mortar.

ABOUT SHISEIDO BRAND                                   

Recently voted as No5 most trusted brand in Health & Beauty worldwide, Shiseido has defined the concept of beauty and spread its knowledge and power across the world. Heralding an army of devoted followers, we feel that by inspiring empathy, beauty can become a positive force in the world, and guide the next generation boldly into the future.

ABOUT CLE DE PEAU BEAUTE

Clé de Peau Beauté, the premier luxury skincare and makeup brand from Shiseido Cosmetics, was founded in 1982 as the ultimate expression of elegance and science. Forever guided by exquisite aesthetics and intelligence, Clé de Peau Beauté has instilled its products with modernity, enchantment, and dynamism to emerge as an industry leader in delivering radiance so remarkable, it emanates from within.

ABOUT DRUNK ELEPHANT

We are committed to using only ingredients that either directly benefit the health of the skin or support the integrity of our formulations. We never take into account whether something is synthetic or natural, instead choosing ingredients based on biocompatibility.

ABOUT NARS                                               

Created in 1994 in New York by visionary makeup artist François NARS, NARS Cosmetics is one of the leading and most respected brands in the world of makeup artistry.

ABOUT DESIGNER FRAGRANCES

Shiseido Group’s fragrance brands are a collection of luxurious and exciting fragrance brands, which are amongst the leaders in the UK market. From the edgy Zadig&Voltaire to the sensual and effortless delicacy of Narciso Rodriguez; and the intriguing mix of natural and sophistication in Issey Miyake. In selected distribution, we also have the unique collection from the extraordinary perfumer, Serge Lutens and more to come to the market.

ABOUT ULE

At Ulé we are on a mission to promote botanical, conscious beauty, being the first skincare brand to grow its ingredients in our own indoor high-tech vertical farm.

Our formulas are obtained through an avant-garde method of culture that guarantees the purity and power of the plants to give you more resilient skin. We have created a sustainable way of beauty for those who want to enjoy life to the fullest, in harmony with the environment.

ABOUT GALLINEE                                   

At Gallinée we believe in working with your microbiome to help it to look after you. Our products contain a patented complex of prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics to nourish and support the good bacteria that make your own personal ecosystem. Helping them to look after even the most sensitive skin.

ORGANISATION

Reports to: Senior Retail Design Manager

Job Location: Shiseido Group London Head Office

Contract type: 6 Month Fixed Term Contract

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Creative

• Adaptation and development of new retail concept in Store Design and permanent VM elements aligned with Global guidelines in response to specific market needs
• Assist the VM and RD Director and Senior RD Manager in aligning store design and visual merchandising strategy
• Accountable for researching new materials to create new fixtures and components.
• Research new trends and activities in design, fashion and beauty, to make proposals and recommendations to the wider European stakeholders

Operational

• Responsible for end-to-end project management from conceptualisation though approval, development manufacture and installation
• Anticipate collateral needs and coordinate to achieve efficiency of production across all distribution and channels
• Support management of Capex and Maintenance budgets for the UK
• Work with the European SD, VM and Marketing teams to ensure the latest brand design is deployed in all channels and markets where required
• Introduction and development of selected suppliers to streamline creation of store design and permanent VM elements while ensuring consistency across all channels
• Carry out tenders to ensure best price and service for each installation is achieved
• Regular field visits to ensure that all permanent implementation in-store is of a high standard and consistent with brand image guidelines.
• Lead merchandising coordination for new store opening
• Responsible for analysing and tracking counter performance and accessing trial concepts
• Managing the maintenance process across all stores in the UK
• Raising PO’s and assisting finance where needed

General

• To create and implement consistent standard across the Retail Design department
• Partnering with internal and external stakeholders including National Accounts, to understand the launch programme to provide full design support.

People

• Work collaboratively with local markets and wider EU team to support business growth through Retail Design execution

PROFILE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Experience in Retail Design in the cosmetics or similar industries
• Relevant degree in design/art or related field
• Strong sketch up and rendering skills
• Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite
• Producing conceptual design packs to share with retailers and internal teams

• Ability to create, communicate and implement consistent store design and permanent VM strategy
• Methodical and acutely attentive to detail
• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage complexity
• Clear, prompt and concise reporting style
• Excellent communication skills both written and oral
• Passion for exceptional representation of the brand at all times
• Ability to act on own initiative and take ownership of projects and tasks through to successful completion
• Positive, ‘can-do’ attitude and willingness to be involved with all nominated projects
• Flexible approach to work, ability to support changing needs and demands
• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively within a team environment
• Willing to travel (both UK and Europe)

• Experience of partnering with the UK Department Store retailers
• Portfolio of previously created and implemented projects
• Alignment with the group’s « Trust8 » working principles: Think Big, Take Risks, Hands on, Collaborate, Be Open, Act with Integrity, Be Accountable, Applaud Success