Summary: The Showroom Visual Merchandising Manager is a hands-on leadership role responsible for leading and developing a team of showroom planners while actively managing showroom planograms for an assigned portfolio of approximately 5 to 6 branch locations. This position requires balancing leadership with day-to-day design execution, ensuring the team delivers high-quality showroom layouts that support company merchandising strategies and business objectives. The manager will oversee showroom planogram development for more than 50 MSI locations, providing creative direction, establishing design standards, prioritizing team workload, and ensuring consistent execution across the organization. Working cross-functionally with Product teams, Merchandising, Graphics, Marketing, and branch partners, this individual will ensure showrooms remain current, visually impactful, and aligned with new product introductions and company initiatives.
Seniority Level: Mid-Senior Level
Employment Type: Full-time
To perform this job successfully, the individual must be able to complete the following essential duties and responsibilities:
- Lead, coach, mentor, and develop a team of Visual Merchandising Designers responsible for showroom planograms across 50+ branch locations.
- Balance leadership responsibilities with hands-on design work by personally creating, maintaining, and updating showroom planograms for an assigned portfolio of approximately 5 to 6 branch locations.
- Establish showroom design standards, provide creative direction, and review planograms to ensure consistency, accuracy, and quality across all locations.
- Prioritize team workload, assign projects, and ensure deadlines are met while maintaining high design standards.
- Partner with Product Management, Merchandising, Graphics, Marketing, and branch teams to successfully execute showroom updates and merchandising initiatives.
- Lead the integration of new product launches, removal of discontinued products, and ongoing showroom refreshes throughout the year.
- Drive continuous improvement of showroom planning processes, workflows, and merchandising standards.
- Analyze showroom performance, sales trends, and branch feedback to identify opportunities to improve product presentation and customer experience.
- Manage multiple design projects simultaneously while ensuring projects remain on schedule and within budget.
- Build strong relationships with branch leadership to understand showroom needs and provide effective merchandising solutions.
- Stay informed of industry trends, retail merchandising best practices, and emerging design technologies to continuously improve showroom experiences.
- Travel periodically to branch locations to evaluate showroom execution, provide design recommendations, and support merchandising initiatives.
Additionally the candidate must meet the following Education and/or Experience requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in visual Merchandising, Interior Design, Architecture, Retail Design, or a related field.
- Three (3) years or more of experience in visual merchandising, retail design, interior design, or showroom planning and leading a creative team.
- Demonstrated success balancing people leadership with hands-on design capabilities.
- Experience developing retail layouts, planograms, merchandising strategies, and spatial planning solutions.
- Strong project management skills with the ability to prioritize multiple projects and competing deadlines.
- Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams including Product Management, Merchandising, Graphics, and Operations.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office.
- Proficiency with SketchUp, AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar design software.
- Strong understanding of retail merchandising principles, customer experience, and showroom optimization.
- Excellent communication, leadership, organizational, and presentation skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with attention to detail.
- Self-motivated, adaptable, and able to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. Working Conditions.
- Occasional travel to MSI branch locations for showroom reviews, merchandising planning, and project support.
This role has the following physical demands:
- The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use their hands to handle objects, tools, or controls; reach with their hands and arms; and communicate verbally. The employee frequently walks, stands and occasionally sits.
- The employee must occasionally lift, pull and move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.
Benefits: MSI offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support and reward our employees. Depending on the role, this may include:
- Referral, holiday, and annual bonuses or commission opportunities
- Eligibility for an annual merit-based increase
- Paid Time Off
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- Company-paid Short Term and Long Term disability;
- Company-paid Life Insurance
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Traditional and Roth 401(k) plans with company matching contributions
- Charitable donation matching programs
- Free, company-sponsored 1-on-1 tutoring for children/dependents of MSI employees in grades k-12, including free tutoring for SAT and ACT tests.