As a VM Specialist Italy, you will ensure seamless communication, operational excellence, and optimal coordination across the Visual Merchandising community in Italy. As the key liaison between boutiques, local teams, and the European VM department, you will contribute to elevating the client experience and supporting the consistent execution of the House’s visual identity across the country.
Act as the key contact for all Visual Merchandising communication in Italy, serving as the central link between the Italian Office teams (Merchandising, Operations, Marketing), the European VM Department, and the Italian in-store VM community.
Consolidate, structure, and relay all key information to the VM network: feedback, timelines, installation dates, guidelines, operational requirements, and updates from HQ.
Ensure smooth, timely, and consistent communication between local office teams and European VM teams, guaranteeing full alignment on ongoing projects, priorities, and workflows.
Build and maintain a strong collaboration with the Fashion & WFJ Merchandising teams, sharing insights, key dates, and operational needs to support a coherent and effective VM execution across all boutiques.
Foster a cohesive and informed VM community by ensuring that all boutiques and VMs receive clear, accurate, and actionable information.
Ensure the consistent execution of VM guidelines across all relevant Italian boutiques through regular store visits, reporting, and hands-on support.
Provide support during collection launches, events, and openings, ensuring the correct implementation of creative direction and VM standards.
Guarantee the proper implementation of displays, pricing, showcases, and stock optimization in alignment with commercial strategy and VM guidelines.
Provide feedback and evaluate VM execution quality, including photo reviews for windows and interior setups before sharing them on IWD.
Support boutiques in maintaining the highest level of image standards, ensuring excellence in all VM touchpoints.
Create and manage the VM national calendar FSH/W&FJ, including collection launches, animations, events, openings, workshops, and deadlines.
Coordinate and optimize the VM team night shifts schedule, ensuring fair travel distribution and compliance with labor regulations.
Oversee the preparation and organization of all aspects related to installations: freelances, suppliers (Klaxon, Simply, Cenacchi), safety etc.
Equip in-store VMs with the knowledge, tools, and guidelines needed to ensure the excellence of VM execution.
Deliver on-field remote sessions, ensuring proper understanding of permanent and collection/animation guidelines.
Encourage a collaborative environment, animating and engaging the Italian VM community through visits, workshops, and regular exchanges.
Ensure proper execution and documentation of window installations and W&FJ animation, including supervising photoshooting and reporting.
Coordinate with Europe on surveys, requests, and operational needs, acting as a reliable and proactive point of contact.
Contribute to continuous improvement by identifying operational inefficiencies and proposing optimized processes.
Experience: 5–6 years in Visual Merchandising, ideally in luxury retail/boutique environments.
Coordination & Communication: Strong organizational and interpersonal skills; proven ability to liaise with local and European teams, ensuring clear and timely information flow.
Operational Excellence: Experience in the consistent execution of VM guidelines, supporting launches/events, and providing actionable feedback through reporting and photo reviews.
Planning & Organisation: Ability to manage calendars, schedules (including night shifts), and logistics for installations, ensuring compliance and efficiency.
Community Development: Skilled in training, animating, and supporting in-store VM teams to uphold brand standards.
Animation Management: Experience in window installations, animation supervision, and documentation; able to coordinate with European teams and suppliers.
IT Skills: Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), digital photo management and reporting tools (e.g., IWD), and other VM-related applications.
Languages: Fluent in Italian and English (French is a plus).
Personal Qualities: Analytical, adaptable, proactive, and detail-oriented, with a collaborative mindset.
Chanel is a private company and world leader in creating, manufacturing and distributing luxury products, including Ready-to-Wear, Accessories, Fragrances, Makeup, Skincare, Jewellery and Watches. Founded by Gabrielle Chanel in 1910, the House remains dedicated to exceptional craftsmanship and offering high-end creations. Chanel employs more than 32,000 people worldwide.
As part of this, the House promotes arts, culture and creativity, while investing significantly in key areas including research & development, sustainability, and innovation.
Chanel is dedicated to creating the conditions for people to perform at their best, building on their strengths and enabling them to benefit from new opportunities. It offers a unique working environment where people are given time to understand the brand, the business, and develop their personal motivations. This means everyone can grow, continue to be inspired and feel included, now and in the future. The company fosters true collaboration and respect for all, grounded in the belief that diversity is essential to the success of the organisation and its people.
Chanel is committed to rewarding people competitively, as well as offering initiatives such as wellbeing programmes, learning and development opportunities, and parental leave for all parents globally.
