Rowan Pienaar
Boksburg
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Visual Merchandising Specialist
QATAR DUTY FREE
Doha
05.2013 - 02.2026
- Project Leadership – Led the Visual Merchandising strategy for the 45,500 sq.ft. relocation and expansion project at Hamad International Airport (HIA), optimizing space and enhancing customer experience through innovative design and layout.
- Visual Merchandising – Managed 31 luxury boutiques overseeing daily in-store merchandising, seasonal guideline implementation, highlighting new arrivals, floor refreshes, mannequin styling, and window updates. Ensured compliance with brand guidelines and audit submission VM reports for prestigious brands such as Loro Piana, Hugo Boss, Hermès, Tommy Hilfiger, Armani, Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, Bally, Harrods, Tiffany, Hublot, and TAG Heuer.
- Visual Merchandising | FMCG - Managed promotional campaign implementation, including the ordering of category key visuals, coordinating material execution with local vendors, strategic deadline planning, and the placing of 3D props in POP stores for Confectionery, Liquor, and Tobacco brands – Mondelẽz, Jack Daniels, LVMH, BAT, Imperial Tobacco, JTI, Davidoff.
- Marketing Integration – 360degree marketing campaigns (25th Anniversary, Qatar National Day, Ramadan) managing artwork approvals, material procurment and 3D prop implementation.
- Vendor Management – Partnered with reviewed international and local printers to drive cost-effective, high-quality production of all marketing collateral.
- Commerical Strategy – Analyzed weekly sales reports to optimize product placement resulting in a 5% increase in total sales.
- Employee Training – Customized and compiled VM Training workshops to all retail teams upskilling all basic and working VM knowledge to maintain and uphold VM Standards ensuring effective Store Operations.
- Team Development – Implemented structured stategies to facilitate KPI Development and celebrate team milestones.
Visual Merchandising Manger
SPLASH – LANDMARK GROUP
Dubai
07.2012 - 05.2013
- Standardization – Directed the National VM Team to implement and uphold unifed Brand Identity Standards.
- Visual Merchandising – Created Model Store Pilots for national rollouts by applying key Visual Merchandising tools, including category percentages, equipment gridding, mannequin styling and window and décor updates to ensure uniformity and brand consistency.
- Trend Analysis – Translated international buyer trends into actionable floor layouts to maximize stock turnover and inventory efficiency.
Regional Visual Merchandising Mangager | MENA
MARKS & SPENCER – AL FUTTAIM GROUP
Dubai
07.2005 - 07.2011
- Leadership – Managed and Mentored a Regional Team of 30 in-store VM’s & 3 Area Managers to facilitate the implementation of all Seasonal Guidelines, Merchandising, Décor Updates and Post VM reports through out the Region.
- Team Development – Implemeted structured strategies to facilitate KPI Development, Goal Setting and Team Building events.
- Visual Merchandising – Regional Seasonal Product changes, Inventory Alignment, Mannequin Styling & Refresh, Brand Compliance and Audit Submission reports for sub categories such as Autograph, Blue Harbour, Per Una.
- Store Design – Collaborated with architects on technical fit-outs, project development, and timely store handovers to maximize layouts with optimal space proportionality and customer flow.
- Technical Design – Collaborated with brand-specific and multiple suppliers to order, track, and deliver store merchandising fixtures, optimizing product category density for both new and existing store portfolios.
- Design Tools | Marketing – Oversaw approval, placement, and ordering of all promotional, seasonal, and price-point-driven décor, highlighting trends and lifestyle suggestions across all stores simultaneously.
- Seasonal Marketing – Ordering of the Regions Seasonal Window Campaigns for implementation in line with timeline and budgets allocated.
- Vendor Management – Managed end-to-end print procurement, negotiating favorable vendor terms that ensured on-time delivery of high-quality marketing materials.
- Budget Management – Forecast and controlled the annuall VM Budget of $2.5M for the MENA region ensuring 100% adherence to financial targets for all store fit-outs, new store openings and Marketing campaigns.
Visual Merchandiser
AL FUTTAIM WATCHES & JEWELRY
Dubai
10.2004 - 06.2005
- Store Design – Developed and designed marketing and advertising point-of-sale (POS) concepts for all promotional campaigns, ensuring effective visual communication and brand alignment to drive customer engagement and sales.
- Budget Management – Developed profit planning stategies tailored for individual brands, enchancing overall profitability.
- Visual Merchandising - Collaborated on the creation of new in-store display elements, effectively showcasing products and differentiating brand identities for brands such as Tanzanite, Minato Pearls, Fossil, Seiko, Raymond Weil.
- Employee Training – Created and implemented VM training packs to ensure standardization across all stores and enhance product knowledge consistently.
Visual Merchandiser
BAHRAIN DUTY FREE SHOPS
Manama
10.2002 - 07.2004
- Store Design - Collaborated closely with concessions to optimzie floor laout and display techniques.
- Marketing - Designed and executed promotional events to boost sales and enhance customer engagement.
- Design Tools | Marketing - Partnered with the Marketing Team to implement calandar events and manage the inventory of marketing materials.
- Visual Merchandising - Maintained exceptional Visual Merchandsing standards for all in-house brands at for FMCG Categories - Confectionery, Liquor, and Tobacco – Mondelẽz, Jack Daniels, LVMH, BAT, Imperial Tobacco
Timeline
Visual Merchandising Specialist
QATAR DUTY FREE
05.2013 - 02.2026
Visual Merchandising Manger
SPLASH – LANDMARK GROUP
07.2012 - 05.2013
Regional Visual Merchandising Mangager | MENA
MARKS & SPENCER – AL FUTTAIM GROUP
07.2005 - 07.2011
Visual Merchandiser
AL FUTTAIM WATCHES & JEWELRY
10.2004 - 06.2005
Visual Merchandiser
BAHRAIN DUTY FREE SHOPS
10.2002 - 07.2004