Visual Merchandiser & Interior Design Retail Consultant

About Early Settler

Established in 1985, Early Settler is dedicated to helping customers create homes they truly love by providing stylish, affordable, and durable furniture and homewares filled with comfort and personality. We pride ourselves on being a creative and customer-centric company, passionate about delivering inspiring room solutions and exceptional shopping experiences.

Role Overview

We are seeking a creative and commercially minded Visual Merchandiser & Interior Design Retail Consultant to join our Hawke’s Bay team. This unique hybrid position blends interior styling, consultative retail sales, and practical visual merchandising. You’ll collaborate closely with customers to craft personalized and beautiful living spaces while maintaining outstanding store presentation standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Offer tailored interior styling consultations in-store to help customers coordinate rooms and full-home designs.
• Advise on layout planning, color schemes, materials, and styling choices.
• Develop strong customer relationships that foster repeat business and referrals.
• Collaborate with sales colleagues to maximize conversion opportunities throughout the store.
• Drive sales via consultative selling and timely customer follow-ups, meeting personal sales targets and KPIs.
• Promote upselling and cross-selling across furniture and homewares categories.
• Support membership promotion and current promotions, accurately managing point-of-sale processes, quotes, and delivery timelines.
• Implement visual merchandising directives and seasonal campaigns.
• Maintain showroom presentation quality and manage visual merchandising launches, styling refreshes, and ticketing.
• Identify and recommend improvements to enhance customer inspiration and sales conversion through effective store presentation.

Qualifications and Skills

• Previous retail sales experience with a consistent record of meeting sales goals.
• Experience in visual merchandising within furniture, homewares, or lifestyle retail sectors.
• Strong passion for interior styling and whole-home design solutions.
• Excellent customer engagement and relationship management abilities.
• Proficient with digital retail tools and systems.
• Effective communication and teamwork skills, with a proactive, hands-on approach.
• Ability to work independently and contribute positively to a team.
• Valid driver's license and willingness to travel between nearby store locations as necessary.
• Physically able to safely perform manual handling tasks such as lifting and moving varied products on a daily basis.

Additional Information

• The role involves a 40-hour workweek, with shifts from Wednesday to Sunday.
• Applicants must be New Zealand citizens, residents, or hold valid work visas.
• Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

Why Join Us?

• Team member discounts on our quality products.
• Programs supporting holistic wellbeing to help you be your best.
• Opportunities for career growth across Australia and New Zealand.
• A fun, collaborative, and supportive work environment.
• A chance to be creative daily in a stimulating retail setting.

This role combines creativity, styling, sales, and customer service to make a meaningful influence on customers' living spaces while working in an inspiring team atmosphere. If you are passionate about interiors and thrive in a dynamic retail environment, we encourage you to apply.