Anas Alsafady
Frisco
Summary
Creative and detail-oriented Interior Design and Visual Merchandising professional with over six years of experience across multiple retail markets in the USA and Saudi Arabia. Experienced in interior design, visual merchandising, showroom presentation, store planning, project execution, and commercial styling for global retail brands including IKEA, West Elm, and Crate and Barrel.
Currently working as an Interior Design Specialist at IKEA, leveraging interior design knowledge and commercial strategies to create inspiring room settings, vignettes, and showroom presentations that reflect a wide variety of lifestyles, styles, and price points while improving the customer shopping experience and supporting business growth. Strong background in visual storytelling, range presentation, store media, and layout planning using the IKEA way of working, including democratic design principles and local market relevance. Skilled at managing multiple projects in fast-paced retail environments while maintaining high visual standards, operational efficiency, and brand identity. Supported the Build-Up Team during the opening preparation of the IKEA location and collaborated on implementation projects for IKEA Best Buy, contributing to showroom execution, merchandising installations, and successful project completion under tight timelines. Passionate about creating inspiring and functional home furnishing solutions that exceed customer expectations through creativity, teamwork, and innovative design solutions.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Iterior Design Specialist I
IKEA Frisco
Frisco, TX
11.2025 - Current
- Leverage interior design expertise to create inspiring room settings, vignettes, and sales support areas that enhance the customer shopping experience.
- Execute showroom presentations that reflect a wide range of lifestyles, styles, and price points while maintaining brand standards.
- Support department action plans to drive business growth and increase store profitability.
- Apply creative problem-solving skills to address local home furnishing and space-planning challenges.
- Utilize interior design tools and commercial strategies to ensure simplicity, efficiency, and cost-effective store solutions.
- Stay current with home furnishing and interior design trends to deliver relevant and inspiring customer experiences.
- Develop innovative and functional display solutions that meet customer needs and strengthen the overall showroom presentation.
Visual Merchandising
IKEA Frisco
Frisco, TX
05.2024 - 11.2025
- Used the knowledge of the IKEA VM competences to secure the uniqueness of the IKEA identity in range presentation solutions within the store layout, store media, display techniques.
- Driven to exceed expectations, meet deadlines, and investigates creative ways to show home furnishing solutions to our customers.
- Affected the overall VM impression with the Bed Textile and Bedroom and Bedroom Remodel.
- Understanding the local relevance and the different needs of different markets.
Visual Merchandising
IKEA Brooklyn
Brooklyn, NY
08.2023 - 05.2024
- Used visual merchandising competence to strengthen the uniqueness of the IKEA identity in range presentation solutions in the store by working with store layout, range presentation and vitality.
- Used the knowledge of people's needs and dreams in the local market to plan and implement relevant, inspiring, affordable and commercial range presentation solutions that reflect a wide variety of styles, price levels, meet the many individual tastes and exceed our visitor's expectations.
- Keep visitors in mind when working on the shop floor, minimize disruption and remain aware at all times of the importance of safety and the visual impact on visitors.
- Respect routines and responsibilities, work together with the Com&In team and other functions, act quickly to exploit commercial opportunities and understand the impact of actions on the financial results.
- Range presentation the IKEA way (layout as a commercial tool, store media, display techniques).
- The IKEA values truly reflect personal values.
- A passion for fast-paced, future-oriented retailing and the IKEA product range.
- Provide a range of presentation solutions that improve people's lives at home and exceed visitors' shopping experience.
- Confidence in approaching and communicating clearly with different people in various situations.
- A flexible, hands-on approach to responsibilities and the ability to meet set deadlines.
Visual Merchandising
Crate and Barrel
Miami, FL
06.2023 - 08.2023
- Exhibit a positive attitude and enthusiasm towards the job and company to both internal and external customers in all forms of communication, thereby supporting and modeling excellent service.
- Maximize the growth and profitability of the company by maintaining the stockroom and sales floor, and facilitating the flow of products in order to provide an engaging experience to each customer, every time.
- Replenishing furniture and other houseware goods on the sales floor in a timely manner throughout the day.
- Perform duties associated with receiving and processing trucks, such as scanning, unwrapping, assembling, pricing incoming furniture.
- Operate and maintain all stockroom equipment and tools safely, and keep equipment in good working condition.
- Assist the Assistant Leaders in completing essential inventory control functions to support financial and inventory accuracy.
- Promote a strong sense of teamwork by working together safely, effectively, respectfully, and efficiently with all associates.
Visual Lead
WEST ELM
Miami, FL
09.2022 - 04.2023
- Lead visual merchandising and display. Partner with GM/DVM to map, plan and execute floorset timeline targets to drive sales and execute seasonal strategy.
- Lead and maintain daily disciplines and routines that maximize efficient execution of markdowns, promotions/signage, replenishment and recovery.
- Collaborates with GM and DVM on adaptations/substitutions from directives to account for stores ownership, layout or customer.
- Communicates inventory need to DM and distribution in partnership with GM to increase sell-through and maximize margin(MUU) and profitability.
- Partner with GM on associate productivity and performance related to visual standards.
- Models genuine and enthusiastic interest in the customer. Prioritizes the needs of the customer by connecting available to Design support.
- Abide by all safety, security/injury and emergency policy and procedures.
- Comply with all company policies and procedures.
- Maintain an environment where all associates are treated fairly and with dignity and respect, in accordance with our People First Philosophy.
- Perform projects and assignments as directed by the management team.
Visual Merchandiser
IKEA Miami
Miami, FL
12.2021 - 09.2022
- Worked with team of designers to brainstorm, plan, and execute innovative designs for our clients. Tasked by store leadership with highlighting the Turkish Rugs section and creating a new Turkish Bazaar merchandising display.
- Conceptualized the Turkish Rug display to highlight antiquity, artistic appeal, and value for interested customers.
- Passed concept review with a successful 41-points.
- Managed Living Room storage department and Outdoor Compact department to bring them up to date and re-concept the areas.
- Worked with Sales department to uncover and understand customer insights.
- Built strong relationships with peers in various departments.
- Managed merchandising employees and trained new staff.
- Consistently performed at a high-level earning positive managerial reviews and earning additional responsibilities across the store.
Visual Merchandiser
IKEA Conshohocken
Conshohocken, PA
02.2021 - 11.2021
- Plan and implement New and outgoing products to assigned department layout to enhance merchandise presentation.
- Work with commercial calendar to ensure vitality and seasonality for home furnishing solutions.
- Visual Lead to Multiple departments remodel.
- Passed concept review with a successful 43-points.
- Provide training and development to staff on all IKEA merchandising standards and visual guidelines and active selling.
- Coordinating store display based on floor plans and plan o-gram for furniture and lighting.
- Using the work method to implement projects with proper documentation.
- Using the layout as a commercial tool principles to support the business.
- Securing seasonality in my departments and throughout the store VM media.
Visual Merchandiser
IKEA Jeddah
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
10.2016 - 01.2018
- Improved the shopping experience to attract and inspire customers through creati merchandising, visual and display solutions.
- Participated in the store build-up and grand opening of the Al-Salam Mall.
- Displayed and merchandised a variety of IKEA products in Workspaces, Bed & Mattresses, and Kitchen to help drive customer sales and engagement at the Al-Salam Mall.
- Efficiently implemented architectural drawings and designs.
- Worked with Sales department to better understand market needs and display techniques.
- Participated in bi-weekly “mini CT” meetings with Sales and Logistics to focus on EDS, news, concrete, and overstock items.
- Helped pioneer the training program in the Communications and Interior Design Department for new visual merchandising staff.
- Managed projects and coached internal staff onsite.
- Completed all projects according to IKEA S.O.P (Standard Operating Procedure).
Project Lead
Ramzi Factory Riyadh
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
03.2008 - 08.2015
- Collected, classified, and archived data and information needed for the company.
- Preparing monthly reports of all projects in progress.
- Monitoring the attendance of the employees and personnel.
- Coordinated performance reports for employees and created proposals for the development of employee training programs.
- Follow-up with the Director of the equipment manufacturing business on project status updates.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Architecture
Limkokwing University of Creative Technology
Cyberjaya, Selangor, Malaysia12-2015
Skills
- Merchandising Strategy
- Staff Training
- Architecture
- Project Management
- Visual Displays
- AutoCAD
- 3D Max
- Product Displays
- Floor Planning
- IKEA Product Knowledge
- Adobe Photoshop
- Revit
- Sketchup
- Strong Eye Details
LANGUAGES
English
Arabic
Timeline
Iterior Design Specialist I
IKEA Frisco
11.2025 - Current
Visual Merchandising
IKEA Frisco
05.2024 - 11.2025
Visual Merchandising
IKEA Brooklyn
08.2023 - 05.2024
Visual Merchandising
Crate and Barrel
06.2023 - 08.2023
Visual Lead
WEST ELM
09.2022 - 04.2023
Visual Merchandiser
IKEA Miami
12.2021 - 09.2022
Visual Merchandiser
IKEA Conshohocken
02.2021 - 11.2021
Visual Merchandiser
IKEA Jeddah
10.2016 - 01.2018
Project Lead
Ramzi Factory Riyadh
03.2008 - 08.2015
Bachelor of Science - Architecture
Limkokwing University of Creative Technology