Fun position with creative freedom but overwhelming workload
Pros
- The VM position is fun, if your store management lets you actually do your job. - You have creative freedom - Can open doors to promotions/different avenues if you'd like to go that route - Gives you excellent visual merchandising experience if you're new to the field. Great experience for moving on outside of the company. - As of a couple years ago, VMs are now included in the yearly bonus program. It is based on your store's performance. One year we each got a $250 bonus, and a couple years we got a $1500 bonus. - Get asked to work in other stores sometimes as general support, and sometimes with remodels, new store openings, and visual merchandising workshops.
Cons
- Unattainable workload expectations. You work 40 hrs a week, sometimes have an 80 hr workload with a zoom call due at the end of the week to verify the work is complete. The official job description says that your Style TL & Style Team Members are supposed to help with VMGs & sets, but in most stores, you are the only one setting because of the low payroll and high turnover rate. I got the help sometimes at my store. - They will pile a ton of other tasks unrelated to visual merchandising to "support the business," such as picking fulfillment orders multiple times a day, having to close the store and rotate weekends with the other leaders, which takes away from your workload hours because it is impossible to set a VMG on a weekend. - If you're a creative person, all your creativity will go to this job. I was drained every single day and all I wanted to do was sit when I got home. While it was fun merchandising, the overall affect on me wasn't worth it.