Full-Time
Senior Visual Merchandising Specialist
Styling
Posted on 9/27/2025
GAP
10,001+ employees
Global apparel retailer with DTC brands
No salary listed
San Francisco, CA, USA
In Person
 Retail (1) |
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- At least 1-2 years styling and or retail visual styling store experience
- Elevated fashion and styling sense with the ability to incorporate new fashion trends into projects
- Problem solver who is familiar with developing creative solutions
- Organization and time management skills with the ability to multi-task
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Computer skills preferred –Microsoft Office, InDesign
- Knowledge of emerging digital tools
- Maintain a pulse on current and relevant market and visual styling trends. Actively discuss and suggest key styling trends based on research to be used in storeset. Lead the Styling POV for respective divisions.
- Partner with Senior Manager of Styling and Divisional Visual Merchandising Managers to plan and execute overall styling needs for the entire box.
- Synthesize competitive styling trends, store experience themes, customer needs, and team creative brainstorms to create novel and useful updates to the Old Navy store experience through visual displays.
- Manage the in-season sample process for their respective divisions, identifying efficiencies with organization and time saving tactics.
- Active participation in all parts of sample pass off and preparation for respective divisions.
- Proactively collaborate with cross functional partners and Visual Merchandising teams to support store set process—including outfitting and displays and prepare to present to internal teams.
- Create mannequin looks and displays for all divisions that enhance the seasonal brand point of view and are a complement to the visual merchandising presentation.
- Support brand big ideas and family moments by creating front of store and window mannequins pods in partnership with the Visual Merchandising team. Synthesize trend and brand objectives to deliver a string POV.
- Design relevant monthly How-Tos in partnership with the Visual Communications team to capture styling details, trend + color focus, display composition, and window elevation guiding principles to aid in consistent store execution.
- Active involvement and operational efficiency during all store sets, through digital and physical outputs to achieve visual communication deliverables – ensure balanced workload, participate in divisional and cross-functional meetings as appropriate, regulate project timelines and ensure all deliverables are met.
- Prepare written communication—including monthly style guides and event communication.
- Work with key cross-functional business partners (Design, Merchandising, and Stores) to support business objectives
- Prepare written communication- including monthly style guides and event communication.
- Identify and solve photo and production opportunities through active participation in monthly visual storesets.
- Actively support the Product Creation lifecycle with Design and Merchandising to ensure the product comes to life through compelling storytelling in support of brand strategies, and appropriate assortment levels across the fleet.
- Manage competing priorities between digital and physical sample management and outfitting.
- Participate in detailed planning and execution of monthly window styling including elevation translations for various store types.
- Partner with peers to develop and share best practices in systems, processes, etc.
- Participate in special projects as needed, taking a leadership role as necessary.
- Travel as needed
- Experience with styling and/or visual merchandising in a retail environment beyond 1-2 years would be preferred
- Experience with windows, sets, mannequins, and/or front of store displays preferred
- Experience presenting to senior leadership preferred
- Ability to define, strengthen, and/or scale the Old Navy styling POV required
- Ability to translate styling concepts into a visual narrative across all store types, including windows, front-of-store, and in-store visuals
Gap Inc. is a global apparel retailer that designs, manufactures, and sells clothing and accessories through its family of brands, including Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, and Athleta. It serves customers worldwide via a network of physical stores and online platforms, operating mainly on a direct-to-consumer model. Products are sold across casual wear, activewear, and professional attire, with a focus on sustainability and ethical practices across the supply chain. What sets Gap Inc. apart from competitors is its mission-driven approach emphasizing environmental sustainability, diversity, and inclusion, combined with a diverse brand portfolio and omnichannel presence that coordinates in-store and online shopping experiences. The company aims to meet evolving market needs while upholding its values, growing its brands, and expanding its responsible, ethical business practices for employees, customers, and communities.
Company Size
10,001+
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
San Francisco, California
Founded
1969
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Old Navy assortment fixes create a clear near-term recovery lever.
- Tariff relief and margin discipline support higher fiscal 2026 earnings.
- Capital returns remain strong, with $464 million returned in Q1 2026.
What critics are saying
- Old Navy's womenswear misexecution is cutting guidance and forcing store closures.
- Athleta's 11% Q1 decline shows a broken brand still dragging results.
- Tariff pressure already hit merchandise margin by 200 basis points.
What makes GAP unique
- Gap owns five major brands across value, premium, and activewear segments.
- Richard Dickson is executing a turnaround with brutally honest brand-level accountability.
- Gap brand posted 10% comparable sales growth in Q1 2026.
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↓ -2%Gap Inc. appoints former Target exec as chief customer officer, Old Navy. May 6, 2026 Gap Inc. hired Michael Francis, formerly at Target and Penney, as chief customer officer, Old Navy, and head of marketing shared services, Gap Inc. Francis is best known for his 26 years, rising through the ranks to serve as EVP and chief marketing officer. He left Target in 2011 to briefly serve as president of JCPenney and has also served as chief global brand officer at DreamWorks Animation, consultant and interim chief marketing officer at Walmart, operating partner at RedBird Capital Partners, and founder and CEO of Farview Associates, LLC, a global brand agency. In his new role, Francis will lead Old Navy's end-to-end customer strategy, with responsibility for strengthening brand storytelling, deepening customer engagement, and evolving the customer experience across touchpoints. As head of marketing shared services, Francis will also oversee media strategy and execution for Gap Inc. and help drive greater integration and effectiveness across the company's portfolio of brands. Francis, who recently served as an advisor to Old Navy, will report to Haio Barbeito, president and CEO of Old Navy. He will work closely with leaders across Old Navy and Gap Inc. to align brand, marketing and customer experience strategies in support of the company's next phase of growth. "Old Navy is a beloved brand with real momentum, and Michael knows how to translate customer insight into relevance, resonance and growth," said Barbeito. "He brings a rare combination of strategic vision, creative instinct and commercial rigor. As we continue to evolve the brand, Michael will help sharpen how we show up for customers and strengthen every connection they have with Old Navy." "Michael is one of the most respected brand builders in retail," said Richard Dickson, president and CEO of Gap Inc. "With deep experience spanning retail, brand, and entertainment, he has a proven ability to connect creativity, culture, and commerce in ways that energize the business, attract customers, and build stronger brands with lasting loyalty. His leadership will be instrumental in strengthening Old Navy, advancing more integrated marketing capabilities across Gap Inc., and bringing to life a compelling vision rooted in meaningful storytelling." "I'm honored to join Old Navy at such an exciting moment for the brand," said Francis. "Old Navy has a powerful connection with customers and enormous opportunity ahead. I'm excited to partner with Haio and the team to build on that momentum, elevate the customer experience, and tell stories that are distinctive, modern and unmistakably Old Navy." Images courtesy Gap Inc.
Gap Inc. unveils Encore, a next-gen loyalty program blending fashion, entertainment, and exclusive access. Gap Inc. is reimagining customer loyalty with the launch of Encore, a new membership program designed to blend fashion, entertainment, and cultural experiences into a single platform. Announced February 24, the initiative marks a major evolution for one of the largest loyalty ecosystems in U.S. apparel retail, which already includes nearly 40 million active members. Encore connects shoppers across Gap Inc.'s portfolio - Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, and Athleta - while expanding beyond traditional rewards programs. Instead of focusing solely on points and discounts, Encore introduces exclusive access to fashion drops, entertainment partnerships, and curated cultural experiences. "Fashion is entertainment, and today's customers aren't just buying apparel, they're buying into brands that shape culture," said CEO Richard Dickson in a press release. That philosophy is at the core of Encore, which aims to deepen engagement by offering members opportunities tied to storytelling, design, and live experiences. Through partnerships with major entertainment players like Disney, NBCUniversal, and AMC Theatres, members will gain access to experiences that bridge fashion and entertainment. These include early product releases, exclusive collaborations, and behind-the-scenes content that connects consumers more directly to the creative process. The program introduces three membership tiers - Core, Premier, and All-Access - each offering increasing levels of benefits. While traditional perks like points, discounts, and birthday bonuses remain, Encore adds new features such as earlier access to collections, extended return windows, and curated digital content. A standout feature is the Encore Market, a members-only hub offering limited-edition items, unique experiences, and even charitable donation options. Gap Inc. is also raising the stakes with the Encore credit card, developed in partnership with Barclays US Consumer Bank and Mastercard. The card rewards customers not only for purchases within Gap Inc.'s brands but also for apparel spending across the broader retail market - offering five times points on in-brand purchases and three times points elsewhere. Encore is now live across the United States, with customers able to enroll online or in-store. Existing loyalty members have been automatically transitioned into the new system, carrying their points forward as the company ushers in a new era of customer engagement.
Gap has partnered with Inspectorio to deploy AI-powered supply chain oversight across all its brands, including Old Navy, Banana Republic and Athleta. The technology will enable end-to-end product traceability through automated task execution and centralised data collection. Inspectorio CEO Chirag Patel said the partnership sets "a new global standard for how leading retailers use AI to streamline supply chain performance". The platform will help Gap make faster decisions across its global supplier network. The move forms part of Gap's broader digital transformation. Earlier this month, the retailer introduced AI tools from Bold Metrics for personalised fit recommendations and Google's Universal Commerce Protocol for agent-based e-commerce. Gap entered a multi-year agreement with Google Cloud in October last year to advance its AI-driven retail strategy.
Gap eyes China expansion: plans 50 new stores, Hong Kong comeback and australia re-entry. * March 27, 2026 Reading Time: 2 minutes Press play to listen to this content Gap, the prominent American clothing retailer, is said to be significantly expanding its footprint in Greater China. The company's plans include opening 50 fresh storefronts throughout mainland China during the current year, as well as reestablishing its presence in Hong Kong. This expansion initiative follows in the wake of Gap's first-ever quarterly break-even performance in China. This success has been credited to Baozun, the local operator who assumed control of the business in 2022. Under Baozun's leadership, the company completed a comprehensive overhaul of its supply chains, merchandising, and digital channels. The forthcoming new stores are not confined to the established business hubs of Shanghai and Beijing. Indeed, locations span from tier-one cities to tier-three cities, broadening the brand's geographical reach. Baozun has set a target of approximately 30% annual growth over the coming two years. The strategy for achieving this ambitious goal blends physical retail development with a fortified online presence. Vincent Qiu, the chairman and CEO of Baozun, has publically expressed the brand's readiness to "accelerate the business and scale it to a bigger size" within the next three-year period. In addition to its expansion in Greater China, Gap is also gearing up to make a return to the Australian market. The company will do so through a collaborative partnership with Myer. Despite forming part of its wider international strategy, this Australian venture remains secondary to Gap's primary focus on Greater China. Questions & answers. What plans does Gap have for expansion in Greater China? Gap plans to open 50 new stores across mainland China this year and re-enter the Hong Kong market. What is Baozun's growth target for the next two years? Baozun aims to achieve around 30% annual growth over the next two years by combining physical retail expansion with a stronger online presence. Is Gap planning to re-enter any other markets? Yes, Gap is preparing to re-enter the Australian market through a partnership with Myer as part of its broader international strategy. However, this remains secondary to the company's focus on Greater China.
Gap is preparing to open 50 new stores across mainland China in 2026 after achieving its first quarterly breakeven under Baozun Inc.'s ownership. The expansion will target tier-one to tier-three cities, with plans to reopen stores in Hong Kong later this year. Since Baozun acquired Gap's China business in late 2022, store count has reached 164 after adding 29 locations in 2025, whilst sales increased by over 20% last year. Management aims to maintain this growth rate before potentially accelerating towards 30% over the next two years. The partnership reflects a broader trend of global brands collaborating with local operators in China. Companies including Starbucks and Burger King have adopted similar approaches, focusing on localised pricing and product strategies to navigate the competitive Chinese market.