Visual Merchandising Operations Manager

Rapha Clubhouses have been created as inspiring meeting places for road riders around the world. Located in key cycling cities, inside you’ll find a retail space stocked with the latest Rapha products, limited edition Clubhouse items, and a café serving the finest coffee and food. The Clubhouses also screen live racing and host exclusive exhibition and events. The perfect home for the sport and culture of cycling, Rapha Clubhouses offer the ultimate Rapha experience.

The Visual Merchandising Operations Manager will help oversee visual aspects all of our Clubhouses and assist with our current and forthcoming Pop-ups across the Globe. Regular communication between the local teams (Europe, APAC and NA) will ensure that our visual standards are achieved to create the perfect setting to deliver the Rapha customer experience. An eye for detail and creative flair is vital as the Visual Merchandising Operations Manager will be responsible for creating visual guidelines.

We always look to challenge and drive what we do already, there will be a vast creative element to the role, shaping visual packs for the Clubhouses, updating existing design assets within the Clubhouses, to assist with production of these assets and working closely with our Central Retail Development team to push the look and feel of our Clubhouses. 

THE ROLE

• Implementing the global visual merchandising strategy, ensuring consistency of brand message and image across all Rapha Racing Clubhouses, & events.
• Collaborating with the marketing & brand teams to execute product launches, clubhouse events, and seasonal campaigns, in accordance to the trading calendar.

• Developing and delivering visual merchandising guidelines to clubhouse teams, ensuring all aspects of the visual merchandising standards are adhered to.

• Supporting Wholesale channel with visual assets and best practice guides.

• Reviewing Clubhouse visuals, ensuring they are correctly executed, visually appealing and meet both brand and seasonal product launches.

• Selecting props, designing and creating installations, and identifying the best ways to showcase all collections and initiatives in a way that attracts customers and maximizes sales.

• Support the planning and design of new & refit clubhouses ensuring readiness for opening day.

• A key stakeholder in driving the space productivity across clubhouses. 

• Demonstrating an understanding of the customers and the cycling industry to improve customer experience, increase footfall, and drive sales.

• Mentoring a team of Visual Champions, providing ongoing coaching, and feedback, ensuring their development and learning.

THE CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate will have the following attributes:

• A superior eye for detail and creative flair, with a background in retail visual merchandising
• Has a genuine interest in retail and keeps a close eye on the visual trends of independent & premium retailers.
• Self motivated and a self starter
• A proven track record of delivering results, working to strict deadlines and the drive to exceed expectations.
• Strong people skills and able to work in multiple countries - a good communicator, approachable and engaging.
• Has confidence to suggest ideas and the ability to implement creative visual solutions.
• Proficient in Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop and Acrobat.
• Ability to prioritise and demonstrate initiative.
• An ambitious individual who is able to think for themselves.
• Ability to be flexible and agile to meet business needs (having Clubhouse around the globe may mean irregular working hours).

Working at Rapha

We are continuously looking into ways to invest in our employees and build a better working culture and environment. Here are just some of the internal benefits we offer. 

• Flexible working hours 
• Support ad-hoc remote working during the week - Minimum 3 days in office
• Free barista coffee and social drinks in the office
• Monthly department social events and quarterly office social away days
• We offer a flexible riding benefit to allow you to go out riding on a Wednesday morning with colleagues or learn to cycle to cycling through our Getting Started Scheme. 
• We offer all our employees a 50% apparel discount and a discount for family and friends 
• An annual clothing allowance 
• Free membership to the Rapha Cycling Club 
• Company Pension Scheme