I just wanted to say I was a Visual Manger took the visual captain job with a cut in pay because I had to keep a job. This week there was a conference /video meeting that I wasn’t asked to join and for the first time I really felt I wasn’t part of my store anymore and that really hurt and I feel alone.
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So they still plan to have the same amount of visual workload (mannequin moments, windows, graphics, etc..), but without a “true” visual department? Any idea what happened to visual teams at flagships such as Boston and Chicago? Do you think they will cut back on more elaborate displays or simply black out street windows. Thanks in advance for any responses!
They eliminated all Visual MANAGERS but from what I can tell, most of the Visual ASSOCIATES were kept (at least in my Division). The Visual Associates now just report to a different person, called the OVM.
The OVM is a new position that combines Operations/ Visual/ Merchandising. In some stores, the person who moved into the OVM role was formerly the Visual Manager. I am lucky because that is the way it is in my store so visual will still be important.
However, in MOST stores, the OVM position is being held by someone who doesn't have visual experience (Merchandise Managers, Ops Managers and even Sales Managers have all become OVM). In these stores, the Visual Manager was laid off. This is where visual will most likely take a back seat (or go crazy when unsupervised visuals go rogue and do their own thing lol).
What I would like to know from other Macy's people, are there any stores with ZERO visual people?
There were a ton of stores that only had a single Visual Specialist to begin with. Did any of them let that sole person go? Did the Specialists just become Captains?
I'd love to hear from other stores to see how visual is going down outside of my Division.
Can someone explain what happened to the visual department at Macy’s? Did they eliminate all visual stylists and managers? What are the new responsibilities? Are they going to hire seasonals for xmas decorations? Are they moving away from mannequins? I am a visual merchandiser who has pretty much worked every where but Macys. I am also a professor of visual merchandising at a college where I live. I don’t even know what to tell my students this fall. There are no jobs left anywhere anymore. Thanks in advance for answering my question and best of luck to you all!
You aren't alone. You're in good company. Now you can see how it feels to be a disposable employee. I was once a supervisor and now here I am in the trenches eating sh– with my coworkers while a bloated executive budget gets blown eating pizza and complimenting each other on their faux success. You arent alone, you're becoming aware of the reality us little people have known for quite some time.
The company realizes they can look like a discount store and still make money so they got rid of visual. How about class and staying above the fray. They always worry about looking like they are going out of business, now we do. Tough going to work.
Its Macys! Get real our customers look for prices of 9.96 or less. The days of visual display driving sales are gone. You need to go to Nordstroms or Neimans,, oh wait they are going under
That’s exactly why i couldn’t take the lead visual merchandising position that was offered, the opvm and store manager were just looking for an excuse to demote a 15 year visual manager. Ah well Xmas at Macy’s seems it will be cancelled this year! Good luck hanging your paper ornaments and cut out cardboard decorations!;)
Yes, I was a Visual Manager, a Visual Specialist and now a Visual Captain. I had to stay becuase just looking at the job market, I still wouldn't have been making what I am now as a Captain. I need the nenefits and have a mortgage to pay. Been in retail for quite sometime, and this has definitely been the toughest of times.
Went from RTW lead for 20 years to just a support associate. It was ok because I was told everything would stay the same. I kept my pay and full time schedule. I see though that now the eliminated visual Manager of 2 months is now doing my job of merchandising. No communication to the plan. I will continue to sign, do markdowns, process the truck until the end however soon that may be.
That’s partly why I took the package (on top of the myriad other reasons)...I knew it would be soul-crushing and I didn’t think I could bear it. I’m so sorry...this all just s—s. Good luck to you and everyone else, whether you stayed or you left
In my humble opinion Visual managers ran the store and created visuals that made customers want to make purchases. No I wasn't a Visual manager but they had my utmost respect.
I feel the same way. I went from supervisor to captain and i've feel the same way. As soon as I was told about my position change, I was pushed aside. I took the lesser position because I need this job.