Senior Style Advisor - Oakbrook
11 hours ago
Chicago
Senior Style Advisor – Varley Location: Department: Retail Reporting to: Service & Selling Manager / Assistant Store Manager / Store Manager Who We Are Varley is a contemporary fashion brand for the modern woman. Founded in 2015 by husband-and-wife Lara and Ben Mead, we are an international, family-run business headquartered between London, Los Angeles, and New York. We create year-round collections designed to build an elevated wardrobe for how women live and move. From knitwear and outerwear to everyday staples and active pieces, our collections blend style, function, and versatility. Varley exists to instil quiet confidence through meaningful connections that enhance everything women already are. As women’s lives evolve, so do we. Our international family-run team is 85% female, making us proud to be a brand for women, by women. We are guided by two core beliefs: the pursuit of quality in everything we do and looking after one another. Role Overview The Senior Style Advisor (SSA) is a brand ambassador and keyholder, responsible for delivering exceptional customer experiences, mentoring colleagues, supporting the store team, and driving commercial performance. SSA responsibilities include building and maintaining a loyal customer base, implementing Varley’s service ceremony, supporting operational excellence, and collaborating with management on store initiatives. The SSA works closely with the Service & Selling Manager to ensure the shop floor consistently delivers the Varley customer experience. Customer & Brand Experience • Act as a visible ambassador for Varley, cultivating trust, community, and exceptional service., • Build long-term relationships with new and existing customers to grow loyalty and repeat business., • Lead by example in delivering the Varley service ceremony in all customer interactions., • Provide styling advice, create outfits, and offer personalized guidance to exceed customer expectations., • Support retail events, VIP appointments, and in-store experiences., • Gather and share customer feedback to inform service improvements and celebrate successes, including insights reflected through customer feedback systems such as Survicate., • Encourage and collect positive customer feedback relating to both personal interactions and the service delivered by the wider Style Advisor team., • Utilize digital tools (CRM, email, omnichannel platforms) to enhance customer relationships and engagement. People & Leadership • Lead by example on the shop floor, modelling professional standards, Varley behaviours, and styling confidence., • Act as a role model for the team, fostering a positive and supportive environment that inspires collaboration, confidence, proactivity, and excellence in service., • Mentor and support junior Style Advisors and new team members in customer engagement, product knowledge, and service excellence., • Actively share insights and feedback from customer interactions with the store leadership team., • Contribute to a collaborative, motivated store culture where open communication, teamwork, and knowledge sharing are encouraged. Commercial & Selling Leadership • Drive sales and KPIs through personalized customer interactions, upselling, and maintaining a loyal customer base., • Champion clienteling activities via CRM platforms, supporting personalized service and engagement., • Provide styling expertise and product knowledge to support the team in delivering strong sales performance., • Identify opportunities to increase conversion, average transaction value, and customer retention., • Stay informed on product launches, seasonal collections, and market trends, sharing insights with the team. Operations & Store Standards • Support the execution of operational policies and procedures in line with Varley guidelines., • Maintain high standards of store presentation and organisation, both on the shop floor and back-of-house., • Ensure compliance with operational best practices, health and safety requirements, and brand standards., • Escalate operational risks or issues to the Store Manager or Service & Selling Manager., • Keyholder responsibilities, including opening and closing the store. Scope of Role & Decision Ownership • Deliver the Varley customer experience consistently while building meaningful customer relationships., • Support the store in achieving commercial targets and KPIs through personalized service and selling expertise., • Share insights on customer trends, preferences, and feedback to support continuous improvement initiatives. Leadership Accountability • Champion a customer-first culture and inspire confidence in the team., • Demonstrate strong selling behaviours and service excellence on the shop floor., • Support the growth, confidence, and development of junior Style Advisors., • Contribute to a motivated, collaborative, and brand-aligned retail environment. Key Skills & Experience / The Ideal Candidate • Strong team player with positivity, professionalism, and enthusiasm., • Passionate about delivering exceptional customer experiences and building long-term relationships., • Skilled in styling, product storytelling, and personalized service., • Commercially aware and motivated to achieve sales targets., • Excellent communication and mentoring skills to support team development., • Up-to-date knowledge of fashion, lifestyle, and market trends., • Solution-oriented and confident in learning and using retail technology, including POS systems and CRM platforms., • Flexible and adaptable to business needs, with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment., • Minimum 2 years’ experience in a supervisory or service-led retail role, preferably in a premium or omnichannel environment. Success Metrics • Consistently exceptional and personalized customer experiences., • Strong customer base with repeat business and loyalty., • Confident and supported team delivering Varley’s service standards., • Contribution to commercial targets through effective selling and customer engagement., • Active engagement in retail events, VIP experiences, and brand initiatives.