MATTHEW WILLEMSE
Toronto
Summary
Creative and passionate visual merchandiser with over ten years of experience in fashion and design. Skilled in translating brand vision into elevated in-store presentations that enhance the customer experience. Strong background in high-volume and flagship retail environments, with a focus on styling, floor planning, and visual storytelling. Looking to bring a thoughtful, design-driven approach to the Holt Renfrew team.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Marketing & Showroom Coordinator
Casey's Creative Kitchens
10.2021 - Current
- Assist in establishing a marketing plan- divided between various media, with established ROI.
- Drive brand awareness and community good will with all six of the company's established markets
- Create and approve ads, develop messaging and overall brand concepts for various ads
- Monitor social feeds, engage with the online community and respond to client enquires
- Create and manage content across all company social media, websites, and other marketing platforms
- Manage overall client showroom and brand experience
- Design new showroom concepts and displays
- Oversee management of showroom renovations
- Decorate showrooms with latest design trends
Associate Product Experience Manager
Club Monaco, Global Flagship
04.2019 - 09.2021
- Supported their highest-volume store in the world, the brand’s premier global flagship locations, consistently executing visual and merchandising strategies to the company’s highest global standard.
- Collaborated directly with Head Office and Field Visual teams to interpret and implement company-wide visual directives, ensuring alignment with global brand aesthetics while adapting to local market needs.
- Led the conceptualization and execution of seasonal window installations and interior mannequin styling, delivering immersive brand storytelling and trend-right presentations.
- Partnered with store management on the planning, training, and execution of major floor set transitions, ensuring seamless, on-time delivery across all departments.
- Provided detailed feedback to corporate partners to inform future visual strategies and identify merchandising opportunities that directly impacted sell-through and customer engagement.
- Re-merchandised key areas based on performance metrics, maintaining clarity of offer and reinforcing store concept.
- Directed and hosted corporate walk-throughs during store visits, demonstrating excellence in visual execution and identifying areas for creative enhancement.
- Ensured monthly directives and visual updates were clearly communicated and implemented through ongoing coordination with the Corporate Office
- Mentored and developed the Product Supervisors, and other product managers from across the country and contributing to team growth and overall visual consistency.
- Proactively sought creative challenges and applied an entrepreneurial mindset to continuously elevate the in-store experience.
Associate Product Experience Manager
Club Monaco, Toronto Eaton Centre
09.2017 - 03.2019
- Highest volume store in Canada, and one of the companies premium flagships
- Sought creative challenges and be entrepreneurial.
- Provide necessary feedback to corporate and Field Visual teams to drive the business through visual and merchandising opportunities.
- Trained and supported store management in the planning and supervision of store flips/ floor sets.
- Manage and concept window changes and the dressing/styling of all interior mannequins on time.
- Translates the brand aesthetic to all aspects of the visual conception of the store Customer/store Experience:.
- Enhance merchandising techniques and promotions as per Head Office or Photo Directives, based on individual store.
- Re-merchandising according to sell-through, clarity of offer, and store concept.
- Lead corporate walk through at every store visit to ensure seamless execution of all visual standards and ensure creative enhancements.
- Communicate with Regional Store Experience Manager to convey changes in visual direction and monthly schedule.
- Developed and train the Product Supervisor
Associate Product Manager
Club Monaco, Yorkdale Men's
11.2015 - 09.2017
- Assisted corporate visual team in the opening of the first and only men's stand alone store in the country
- Manage and concept specific men's only window changes and the dressing/styling of all interior mannequins on time
- Translates the brand aesthetic to all aspects of the new visual conception of the men's only store
- Worked directly with Store Manager and District Managers to achieve above forecasted results, leading the store to be the number one volume per square foot store in the country
Store Experience Manager
Club Monaco, Fairview
08.2014 - 10.2015
- Enhanced merchandising techniques and promotions as per Head Office or Photo Directives, based on individual store concept
- Re-merchandised according to sell-through, clarity of offer, and store concept
- Adapted corporate directive and made substitutions based on the core product available
- Assisted in the opening of the Sherway Gardens location with the corporate Visual team
- Saw store through its highest earnings in Q2 of FY2016
- Developed strong business relationship with acting Store Manager and were able to walk through and action effectively and make critical business decisions while maintaining brand integrity
Store Experience Manager
Club Monaco, Scarborough Town Center
05.2014 - 08.2014
- First time managing solo dual gender store
- Was able to develop own Zone POV's, mannequin and concepts based on the stores unique assortment and layout
- Due to the nature of the store being very sale oriented, was able to create an elevated store environment while registering value to the price conscious client
Store Experience Supervisor
Club Monaco, Toronto Eaton Centre
03.2014 - 05.2014
- Assisted Store Experience Manager in the execution and detailing of store flips
- Assisted Management team in the training and on-boarding of all new associates in standards and store presentation using the Visual Standards Guide
- Completed store walk throughs each morning to ensure closing store standards were met
- Developed a "Visual Report Card" for the management team to effectively train the store team on store standards and detailing
- Communicate and ensure completion of preventative store deficiencies
Education
BA - Psychology and Film and Theatre
York University
Toronto, ON2012
High School Diploma -
St. Joseph's Catholic High School
St. Thomas, ON06.2007
Skills
- Team leadership
- Self-motivated
- Extremely organized
- Interpersonal and written communication
- Merchandising
- Window installations
- Styling
- 2020 Design
Timeline
Marketing & Showroom Coordinator
Casey's Creative Kitchens
10.2021 - Current
Associate Product Experience Manager
Club Monaco, Global Flagship
04.2019 - 09.2021
Associate Product Experience Manager
Club Monaco, Toronto Eaton Centre
09.2017 - 03.2019
Associate Product Manager
Club Monaco, Yorkdale Men's
11.2015 - 09.2017
Store Experience Manager
Club Monaco, Fairview
08.2014 - 10.2015
Store Experience Manager
Club Monaco, Scarborough Town Center
05.2014 - 08.2014
Store Experience Supervisor
Club Monaco, Toronto Eaton Centre
03.2014 - 05.2014
BA - Psychology and Film and Theatre
York University
High School Diploma -
St. Joseph's Catholic High School
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