Desired Job Title
National VM & Window DisplayRegional Window DresserField visual merchandiserStore visual merchandiserTrainee instore VmWork Type
Full TimeLocation Preference
On-SiteLocation: Johannesburg, GP
Open to relocation: Yes
Andrew Thabiso Mabalane
National VM & Window Dressing Manager
Johannesburg,GP
Work Preference
Summary
Visual Merchandising and Window Display professional with over 10 years of experience within international fashion retail. Currently leading visual merchandising and window display execution across Zara South Africa, supporting multiple flagship and high-volume stores nationwide.
Experienced in store zoning, product presentation, image standards, seasonal campaign implementation, window installations, team coaching and multi-store project coordination. Strong ability to translate commercial objectives into impactful visual experiences that enhance customer engagement and drive sales performance.
Recognized for maintaining exceptional brand standards, managing cross-functional stakeholder relationships and delivering consistent execution across multiple locations. Passionate about luxury retail, customer experience and creating inspiring store environments through visual storytelling and merchandising excellence.
Overview
4
4
Languages
3
3
years of post-secondary education
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
National VM & Window Display
ZARA RETAIL SOUTH AFRICA PTY LTD
JohannesburG
11.2016 - Current
- Lead visual merchandising and window display execution across 7 stores nationally, ensuring alignment with global brand standards.
- Plan and implement seasonal visual merchandising strategies, store zoning, product rotations and campaign launches.
- Coordinate end-to-end execution of window concepts, installations, displays and visual initiatives across multiple regions.
- Partner closely with Store Managers, Commercial Teams and Visual Merchandisers to optimize product presentation and customer experience.
- Conduct regular store visits nationally and internationally to ensure consistent execution and identify opportunities for improvement.
- Coach and develop visual merchandising teams through training, feedback and implementation of best practices.
- Monitor competitor activity and market trends to identify innovative merchandising opportunities.
- Collaborate with international headquarters regarding visual directives, campaign implementation and window display strategies.
- Manage visual merchandising budgets, ordering processes and supplier relationships.
- Oversee store environment standards including display maintenance, lighting, fixtures, props and visual presentation.
- Support new store openings through visual merchandising planning, execution and team preparation.
- Deliver photographic reporting, action plans and follow-up strategies to ensure continuous improvement across stores.
- Liaise with multiple stakeholders including Operations, Logistics, HR, Commercial Teams, General Services, IT and external suppliers to ensure successful project execution.
- Demonstrated respect, friendliness, and willingness to help wherever needed.
- Managed time efficiently in order to complete all tasks within deadlines.
Regional Window Dresser
ZARA RETAIL SOUTH AFRICA Pty Ltd
Johannesburg
09.2015 - 11.2016
- Ensuring the Visual Marketing strategy is in line with operational and overall company objectives\strategy
- Ensuring the successful communication of window display strategies to all relevant internal parties
- Communicate trends in terms of merchandising, visual display and display styles
- Build constructive relationships with decoration, product and operations department
- Ensuring that display styles are aligned with seasonal merchandise themes, trends and accordingly presented
- Managing and execute all implementation from a window display action plan to ensure consistency of all new store opening and store revamps
- Manage the maintenance of window mannequins
- Managing the selling of old window decorations
- Manage and plan the monthly schedule
- Liaise with international head quarters regarding the ordering of decoration, and window displays
- Ensuring that the brand identity and image is maintained during all visual interfaces with consumers
- Manage and execute end of season preparation and sale setup
Field visual merchandiser
TFG –FOSCHINI RETAIL COMPANY
03.2013 - 09.2015
- Developing and creating in-store displays while coordinating with designers and manufacturers
- Moving and positioning store merchandise and maintaining an organized and visually appealing store setting
- Develop floor plans and sketching designs to maximize the space and layout of the store
- Install and dismantle fixtures, props and dress mannequins in window displays involving work such as lifting, and carrying and climbing ladders
- Travel within stores in the area to develop new styles of presentation and to check the visual standards
- Conceptualizing and coordinating promotional windows and visual merchandise programme in line with the brand, merchandise and merchandising objectives
- Sourcing and testing display equipment and packaging methodologies that will present the merchandise range in the most compelling manner
- Holistic ownership of the whole visual process
- Engage in new store openings
- Liaise closely with the marketing department from time to time
- Building a strong working relationship with management and store staff to ensure all VM principles are adhered to
- Drawing up a monthly planner in accordance with the VM promotional activities
- Training and Development
- Coordinate all the training for core staff
- Identity possible trainees
- Brief candidates on course content
- Reason for leaving: Accepted the offer from ZARA
Store visual merchandiser
Markham Sammy marks square, TFG
03.2011 - 03.2013
- Keeping up with the current trend nationally and internationally
- Liaise effectively with Head Office
- Communicating with the managers of different departments for floor layouts
- Conceptualizing and coordinating promotional windows and visual merchandise programme in line with the brand, merchandise and merchandising objectives
- Designing, sourcing and testing display equipment and packaging methodologies that will present the merchandise range in the most compelling manner
- Managing the workflow and overseeing the production and distribution process
- Holistic ownership of the whole visual process
- Set up display points and traffic flows
- Design and setup windows and internal displays based on the current theme
- Set the standard and guide the style for the latest trend or promotion within the store
- Implementing floor plans
- Set-up of concepts: sourcing of props and displays, signage’s, etc
- Maximizing the space and layout of the store
- Dressing mannequins and making use of creative lighting for window displays
- Preparing for promotional events and dismantling displays at the end of the promotional period
- Building strong relationships with internal visual merchandising teams, within the store
- Coaching, building, and mentoring of Junior Visual Merchandisers, within the store
- Adhering to the in store security standards at all times to prevent stock loss
- Enforce all loss prevention policies, and communicate any violations to the leadership team
- Support high standards of organization cleanliness on the sales floor
- Reason for leaving: Accepted an internal field visual merchandiser position Foschini
Trainee instore Vm
Markham Rustenburg
11.2009 - 02.2011
- Keeping up with the current trends
- Providing world class visual standards in store
- Maintaining all store/ window equipment and marketing support material
- Monitoring, assembling, and assessing material
- Dressing up mannequins
- Preparing for promotional events and dismantling displays at the end of the promotional period
- Adhering to the in store security standards at all times to prevent stock loss
- Ensure that the smallest items are housed in front, and the bigger sizes at the back
- Make sure that the in store lights are focused and in good working condition
- Ensure that the wall and floor fixture are positioned as per planogram
- Maintain excellent customer services
- House keeping
- Reason for leaving: Promoted to a senior position internally within a different store.
Sales associate
EDCON C N A STORES
03.2008 - 10.2009
- Attend to walk-in customers who show interest in the product range
- Identify customer needs through open-ended questioning techniques
- Maximize sales through excellent customer service
- Continuous relationship building with new and existing customers
- Promotion of new product releases to existing and new customers
- Keeping up to date with product knowledge and pricing
- Actioning of markdowns and price changes
- Ensure store standards are adhered to with regards to product displays
- Ensure a professional branch image is maintained and projected at all times
- House keeping
- Maintain store standards as per the company’s Visual Guidelines to enhance customer shopping experience
- Daily, weekly and monthly stock control functions
- Enforce all loss prevention policies, and communicate any violations to the leadership team
- Support high standards of organization cleanliness on the sales floor
- Reason for leaving: Accepted a Job offer with TFG
Timer Visual Merchandiser
Edcon –Jet stores
Rustenburg
02.2007 - 03.2008
- Keeping up with the current trends
- Preparing for promotional events and dismantling displays at the end of the promotional period
- Dressing up mannequins
- Ensure that the smallest items are housed in front, and the bigger sizes at the back
- Make sure that the in store lights are focused and in good working condition
- Ensure that the wall and floor fixture are positioned as per planogram
- Maintain excellent customer services
- Assist with sales
- House keeping
- Reason for leaving: Accepted a permanent job internally by CNA
Education
Diploma - Matric
H F Tlou High School
Rustenburg 01.2003 - 12.2005
Skills
Visual Merchandising
Store Zoning
Window Display
Product Presentation
Luxury Retail Standards
Team Coaching
Store Openings
Commercial Awareness
Lighting & Store Environment
Stakeholder Management
Project Management
Trend Analysis
Visual Storytelling
Retail Operations
Product presentation
Mannequin styling
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Portfolio
Window display
Window display
Window display
Timeline
National VM & Window Display
ZARA RETAIL SOUTH AFRICA PTY LTD
11.2016 - Current
Regional Window Dresser
ZARA RETAIL SOUTH AFRICA Pty Ltd
09.2015 - 11.2016
Field visual merchandiser
TFG –FOSCHINI RETAIL COMPANY
03.2013 - 09.2015
Store visual merchandiser
Markham Sammy marks square, TFG
03.2011 - 03.2013
Trainee instore Vm
Markham Rustenburg
11.2009 - 02.2011
Sales associate
EDCON C N A STORES
03.2008 - 10.2009
Timer Visual Merchandiser
Edcon –Jet stores
02.2007 - 03.2008
Diploma - Matric
H F Tlou High School
01.2003 - 12.2005