I’ve heard that VM’s will become visual captains and that the pay scale has been decreased so many VM’s will be facing a pay cut. Also heard most trimmers are not go forward :(
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I was in a different region than the poster in Atlanta, but same thing is happening -- since September, over half the visual captains in my division have left and several long-term visual manager-turned-OVMs have left, too.
I think holiday with no help was the final straw for a lot of people. This year, they expected the stores to be decked out the same as they were when there were visual teams of 4 or 5 (when most stores, even G150, only had one or two people doing holiday). It was brutal.
The transition was a bust. Most OVMs and Captains are leaving the company. The Workload is too much, esp at a company as disorganized as Macys. Atlanta has lost almost all of its talent to other Brands. Even our tiny Bloomies cant keep decent Visual Stylists. And the region's OVMs are hanging on by a thread...ALL of them.
What is this new "Senior, Market Visual Merchandising" position all about?
Well, after the shake out of the Visual Department and deletion of all VM's. Which are now called Captains. And those of us from the old Macy's employee structure, know that a Captain was one rung short of management. This is all in an effort for the company to save money. VC or Visual Captains are paid at a lower rate than VM's and the company is moving corporate management into the VC positions *at tremendous savings. KEEP IN MIND JEFF GENNETTE MADE $10,776,744.00. I AM GLAD I GOT OUT WHEN I DID.
Does anyone work in a 20 million and under door? There was no mention of a visual captain in my conversation with my store manager but learned that fellow vms are becoming captains...good luck at Xmas!
There are several visual managers in this area who 1) were offered ‘Manager-OVM’ positions (which I would presume is a salaried position) or 2) were offered ‘OVM Captain’ roles (Paycut hourly). AND many who were not asked to move forward. Store Managers have taken full control and in many cases the more qualified leaders within visual were left out to pasture. 4-Wall store structures may vary slightly based on volume of store (not all stores will have an AP Manager, OVM Manager who’s focus is strictly ‘Merchandise Execution’, etc.). As soon as a previous visual mgr or colleague(s) within the new structure leaves, company marketing strategies, fashion styling & elevation, and overall store environment will suffer. Precision & crispness of displays will blend right in with Last Act!. Best of luck to everyone who have taken a leap of faith into this ‘new retail world’ and to those who unwillingly were not given the opportunity to join this very uncertain venture, may your future, truly, shine brighter.
What “she” is most likely to buy? Are you saying men don’t shop at Macy’s?
As a visual merchandiser and an artist I just would like to mention that visual merchandising is much more akin to creative problem solving than art.. Its way more subtle. You may not like us very much but you will miss us terribly . we bring a unique perspective to situations and create atmosphere and spaces for the customer to engage with whether she knows it or not. We know your customer , your traffic flow, what she is most likely to buy placed in the optimum location.
I am starting to see how much jealousy there is over the VM position,, but it may be that not only do they know how to spell mannequin,, but they wouldn't resort to attacking those who are already down,, maybe we should leave this thread for those who are loosing their livelihoods not the haters that seem to feel so emboldened these days to spew cruelty onto others
Hey Christmas yet to come. A. It’s spelled mannequin. B. If we leave early on a Friday it’s because we worked late every other day. And we weren’t the ones that decided to make us hourly. Most of us would gladly stay because we actually like our jobs and want to get things done. We have PLANS! But we aren’t ALLOWED TO. So piss off
This just in, visual managers are out. Who will dress the manikins? Well at least you guys will still be off Friday 1pm- Sunday.
Almost all Visual Managers are very talented at what they do, professionals, team players and completed endless seasonal tasks and more stressful changes due to upcoming visits. There were very few who acted like gods and arrogant pricks, who listened only to their regional director and disrespectful even to VPSMs. During an afternoon recap meeting the OAPM mentioned blocked emergency exits with visual carts and ladders, the VM angrily and vehemently denied and blamed maintenance until the OAPM showed the pictures.
Visual and Op’s are two opposite sides of brain connections; wired completely different. Visual artists obviously are normally compensated at higher rates. Reinvent yourself. Events will be returning and there will be pent up demand for bigger and better. Probably opportunities in theatre as well. Artists are our sunrise!
I knew the writing was on the wall for me as a VM when I was called back and some of my first duties without an explanation was to remove “unnecessary” visuals, and to downsize mannequins. I was told I would be still be the VM with others duties, only now to find out I’ll be in the operational side of things with “some” visual duties... I’ll wait until they fire me for not performing my duties because seriously, I don’t know that side of the business nor did I ever want too... or just wait until they close the store because that’s not far behind.
As a Visual Manager facing a demotion, I personally would follow the game. In the meantime, I would incorporate a business in my name to offer contract opportunities. Macy’s and all others, especially in large metro areas will most likely contract around specified holiday business drivers.
Sad day if Visual Teams and Managers are folded into any other position. Art’s are an inherent talent. No other position, including the best of best store management can substitute. I work for another department setting. Macy’s has their magic, but others have their clients that expect a special in store experience. Most clients cannot visualize for themselves. Visualization and set ups create sales. For all of the others posting negatively, you should should question why? Are you equipped to get from behind the register to actually assist a customer and afford a true selling experience?, or are you cashiering? If visual goes away, so will the sales😥
Visual manager here. And I make about $50k WITH holiday OT. And none of my peers make that much either. And we play with sticker books and red balls...? Really?! We do A LOT more than that. Was moving dress shirts around today and I wonder who will rig the forms when I leave...? Not you. We have a skill set that most people don’t have and besides the mtm’s, we are by far the hardest working people in every store. So piss off
Dang, guys... you have got to stop feeding the trolls.
I don't know any visual managers that make 70k. I can only see it if someone has been with the company for many many years and works in a flagship or in a high volume store, like those in the NY Metro area. If that's the case, they probably work their butts off.
On the other hand, the illiterate sh*t stirrers on here who denigrate the visual people are probably not even Macy's employees. I'm not a VM, but I don't know any store employees who refer to visual as people with 'sticker books' and 'red balls' (and btw, I'd like to see this lazy person climb a 12 foot ladder and hang 200 shiny red balls from the ceiling from ribbon they tied on themselves).
I’m with Macy’s twenty years and a visual manager with no staff.i worked my a– off snd made 50
This is what's wrong with the world. 75k to play with red balls and sticker books.
It’s not jealousy my friend. It’s common sense. Why would they pay someone who will no longer be an executive that much money when the obvious intent is to cut cost.
I respect that you’ve probably worked very hard to earn what you make. It just may be that your price tag could work against you.
Jealousy is a thing we visual artist deal with.
I can’t imagine someone with a $71.5k salary staying on.
Ha! My base salary is 71,500...I make about 75 with OT.
There have been cuts for years at Macys but one thing was consistent,, we supported each other,, not sure why all the hate in this thread
No one hates on visual, most of you all make money from OT but your actual base is 55/60K if YOUR lucky so yeah of course you would make more money when you add OT that a salaried manager can’t make. Yeah get to looking and have fun finding a company that will put up with people that have sticks up there A**
It's funny how everyone hates on Visual Managers and most of us make more money than Sales Managers and MTMs. Oh well i guess it will be time to move on and good luck trying to keep the stores together.
And to be clear captains are NOT executives they are hourly colleagues out if the 8010 budgets
It’s sad that the visual managers believe they are sr executives you all are getting cut it’s simple
Will they be offered packages if the executive benefits and pay is cut?
Someone earlier on here said some visual managers will become the new combined Ops/Visual/MTM and if that's the case, the highest ranked visual merchandiser in the store will be the captain.
After that, I've heard nothing. I'm sure a lot depends on the store volume.
So wrong!!
The starving 'artists ' 😂😂😂