So how is holiday visual going on in your store, now that there is no visual team?
Yeah, yeah I know that technically the Visual Captain is supposed to get help from other support associates, but we all know that no one else is climbing 12 " ladders to hang red ba--s.
To the person who clearly has never hung the red ba--s. It's not easy. They have to be in a straight line when viewing them from every angle. Spaced out evenly. Along with being the same height. Try walking up a 12ft ladder without holding on because you're carrying a ball, hot glue g-n or staple g-n. It's a balancing act. It's hot as he-l up there. Even when we get it right you have Alley and Barbie finding fault with what you've done. If you think it so easy made you should help your visual captain out.
I feel bad for Visual Captains. They are expected to act like the old Visual Managers without the training and the knowledge of them. And less pay and no help. Not to mention that their bosses, the SMMs have a VERY limited knowledge, if any, about Visual and don’t get much training on it either. Bad on both ends. I know our VC is at her wits end. Too much workload, not enough help.
It's so true that the Visual Captains are basically Visual Managers without the title, pay and benefits. But also unlike the old Visual Managers, Captains don't have any staff, either, and have to do everything by themselves.
Also true: Anyone can be a Visual Captain now, which is how it's meant to be. Just follow the directives, paper the t-walls, copy the mannequin outfits, lather rinse repeat.
I was a Visual Captain in a prototype store last year and holiday was a nightmare. I quit after Christmas because I knew I could never do that again.
We had a good visual Capt who did their best but burned out last spring. Their replacement was a lazy mo--n but at least seemed to know what they were doing. Their replacement is someone who I assume applied for exec job and was offered visual. Not sure they know what they're doing as the other managers are doing a lot of the holiday setup so far.
Visual captains are lowly paid non executives who’s former job title at Macys was visual merchandise manager. This role came with the appropriate responsibilities, pay and benefits. Macys is no longer willing to pay for visual professionals. Almost anyone could be placed in a visual captain role. If you want to pursue a career in retail visual merchandising with support, development ,professional growth and opportunity for advancement……Macys is not the place.
I am a visual captain who does all the visual work basically alone..still finding mannequins torn to shreds every morning putting up all the holiday still doing beauty mostly everything..and signing sales and occasionally helping with markdowns and fulfillment...lets face it visual never gets help ..we just help everyone else
JG and his lieutenants should go to the stores and hang the red ba--s.
The new hires refuse to do anything.
"How hard is to hang the red ba--s? The hooks are already on the ceilings from the previous 10 years. It’s so simple, yet you all complain about hanging those red ba--s every year!"
Spoken by someone who doesn't have a clue about visual.
How hard is to hang the red ba--s? The hooks are already on the ceilings from the previous 10 years. It’s so simple, yet you all complain about hanging those red ba--s every year!
Also, bringing merchandise to the floor (and processing as necessary); doing floor moves and pulling additional fixtures; putting up wall coverings; trying to update mannequins; not to mention sorting through new collateral and getting it to the floor……
I am a visual captain as well - and this list doesn’t encompass everything.