Visual Merchandiser
JENNIFER SMITH
JLS Design Consulting LLC
Ocala,FL
14
Years of experience
Retail visual merchandising and space planning leader with a strong track record in new store openings, showroom standards, and floor design. Leads branded spaces, merchandise displays, and customer consultations that support stronger engagement, smoother execution, and sales growth across retail, hospitality, and showroom environments.
Work History
Owner and Manager
2 Years 9 Months- Redesigned retail, hospitality, showroom, and home spaces through trend-based layout updates that improved customer experience.
- Provided room-solution recommendations across in-person, virtual, and in-home consultations to guide design decisions.
- Created client mood boards that supported project planning and expanded design options.
- Achieved stronger sales results through confident, well-informed customer conversations.
- Enhanced merchandise presentation through organized displays that drew customer interest.
- Also the owner of Wick and Lather by JLS which is handcrafted candles and soaps that are all natural and made by hand. Beautiful scents that can also be crafted to the need of anyone's specified scent combination.
Visual Merchandising Manager
2 Years 7 Months- Successfully opened and oversaw three new showrooms in Chicago, NY, and Cancun.
- Accountable for coordinating new showroom openings and maintaining brand standards for FOH.
- Oversaw display resets and daily touch-ups, ensuring all FOH Worldwide showroom displays remained tidy, fresh, and appointment-ready.
- Managed signage program in collaboration with Creative to develop and install signage, ensuring proper display of latest items and promotions in all FOH showrooms.
- Create and provide planogram and visual display photos to reps for latest item introductions and as response to ongoing requests for assistance with merchandising.
- Created all floorplans, purchased all furniture, coordinated installations, ordered and placed all products.
- Preset tradeshow displays in Miami headquarters and travel regularly to both domestic and international trade shows for setup and tear-down.
- Worked with Product Development to understand new introductions and assist in developing strategic merchandising plans.
- Coordinated cross-departmental projects with Creative, Marketing, Finance, Workspace, and Sales to enhance collaboration and execution.
- Communicate directly with the sales team to understand sales and marketing opportunities as well as sales rep needs.
- Work to create visual directives, communicate merchandising standards, and project the brand image in alignment to the organization’s culture by ensuring product displays remain fresh and trendforward.
- Contributed to budget creation for Visual Merchandising team.
Area Business Manager- Claire’s Concessions
2 Years 4 Months- Managed 65+ stores throughout Miami-Dade with over 20% of stores being in the top 100 within the company sales.
- Leveraged and executed company visual merchandising tools to create sell down strategies and impact decision-making skills through weekly store visits with management.
- Oversaw appearance and presentation of seasonal merchandising strategies in CVS, Walmart, and Navarro stores in Miami, enhancing customer engagement and sales potential.
- Updated quarterly planograms to ensure visual standards while adjusting on a store-by-store basis based on inventory.
- Executed annual cycle counts at each store to align inventory levels with weekly sales, ensuring optimal stock availability.
- Managed inventory and transfers across district to align stock with sales volume, facilitating effective internal transfers to support sales growth.
Visual/Luxury Client Advisor
4 Months- Executed window displays and onsite creative installations for Christian Dior’s Miami Art Basel, contributing to increased brand visibility and sales.
- Led the Pop-up collaboration between the Dior and Rimowa brands through daily sales and clientele services to sell through 75% of all merchandise.
- Streamlined backroom operations, reducing employee off-floor time by 50% to enhance customer satisfaction and profit margins.
- Directed stockroom organization, client management, and visual display to maintain merchandising directives through collaboration with store and home office employees.
- Collaborated with store teams to clarify project requirements and develop solutions, ensuring timely delivery through daily staff meetings.
Senior Market Visual Manager- NY/NJ
1 Year 7 Months- Oversaw visual and creative direction for High Profile/Flagship stores in the NY/Manhattan/NJ markets focusing on elevation of the Brand, which includes but is not limited to in-store and window installations, merchandise adjacencies, production of Flagship Brand Guides, professional photography used for international stores, and coordinated in-store press events.
- Trained and developed 10 DMs, 10+ Visual Managers, and over 50 associates in visual merchandising across multi-brand environments.
- Influenced brand direction through weekly communication with Home Office partners, ensuring timely responses to store needs.
- Monitored daily hours usage against allocated hours to align store operations with financial responsibilities.
Market Visual Manager
5 Years- Oversaw visual direction for Victoria's Secret stores in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando markets with direct responsibilities for stores with over $150M in annual revenue.
- Provided visual direction across multiple stores through mapping, execution, and feedback using company reporting.
- Successfully led the store opening process for multiple store locations throughout the region and country through time management and effectively organizing all tasks.
- Developed and coached District, Store, and Visual Managers through hands-on activities to drive sales results and personally advanced 3 Visual Managers to Market Visual Managers.
- Influenced talent selection and onboarding processes for visual talent across the region.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - College of Journalism and Communications, Advertising
Skills
Visual merchandising
Display design
Space planning
Strategy Development
Project management
Implementation
New store openings
Budget management
Inventory management
Staff management
Training and development
Microsoft Office Suite
Adobe Suite
Mobile applications
Tablet applications
Client-focused service
Timeline
Owner and Manager
JLS Design Consulting LLC
01.2024 - CurrentRead More
Visual Merchandising Manager
FOH Worldwide
06.2022 - 01.2025Read More
Area Business Manager- Claire’s Concessions
Claire’s
06.2020 - 10.2022Read More
Visual/Luxury Client Advisor
Fourth Floor
11.2019 - 03.2020Read More
Senior Market Visual Manager- NY/NJ
Victoria's Secret
10.2017 - 05.2019Read More
Market Visual Manager
Victoria's Secret
10.2012 - 10.2017Read More
University of Florida
Bachelor of Arts from College of Journalism and Communications, Advertising
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