Reason for Hiring

Under the slogan “YOUR FREEDOM: The freedom to reinvent yourself,” GU offers fashion that everyone can enjoy, leveraging its strengths in trends, price, and speed.
In 2026, Francesco Risso—who has earned high acclaim worldwide—assumed the role of Creative Director. Building on the manufacturing foundation we have cultivated over the years, we are advancing the sophistication of our product development under a clearer creative vision.In line with this, we are now in a phase where we are further refining product concept design and the precision of our brand expression to strengthen the global, consistent communication of our brand value. To accurately convey product concepts in-store and embody the brand’s worldview, we are working to enhance our visual merchandising (VMD) capabilities and are currently recruiting new talent.

Department Overview

The IMD (In-store Merchandising) Department, to which you will be assigned, is responsible for all in-store merchandising and provides comprehensive oversight of store design and operations. Our goal is to transform stores—which serve as the direct point of contact with customers—into spaces that embody GU’s brand message in every aspect, ensuring that every customer who visits enjoys both fashion and the shopping experience.
The IMD Department consists of a Layout function that designs the optimal in-store product layout; a Production function that expresses the brand and product concepts through elements such as window displays and interior design; and a VMD function that works in tandem with these to convey the appeal of products through mannequin styling. This position is specifically for the VMD team within the department.

Job Description

To help customers visually understand the image and appeal of our products, you will lead styling proposals that allow customers to enjoy fashion and shopping by attractively expressing the concepts and stories behind each individual product, in coordination with layout, window displays, and interior design.
Specifically, your responsibilities will include the following:

• Monthly and weekly mannequin styling and sales floor displays. This applies to all stores domestically and internationally (including new stores and flagship stores), and is carried out in accordance with sales floor layout strategies and concepts.
• Creating guidelines for mannequin styling to be implemented in all GU stores domestically and internationally.
• Styling for in-store promotional materials
• Training sales staff and your own team members to achieve ideal VMD at all GU stores in Japan and overseas
• The Job Description is subject to change within the scope of duties related to various headquarters departments due to departmental transfers or organizational changes.

Career Path

While deepening your expertise, you may pursue a career as a Global VMD Manager responsible for training sales associates and headquarters staff in styling—both in Japan and overseas—or take on the challenge of becoming the head of the IMD Department, where you can develop not only styling but also deepen your expertise in layout, window displays, and interior design to handle comprehensive production.

[Example of a Mid-Career Hire]
In their previous role, they were engaged in headquarters VMD duties—including styling development, training, and new store launches—from a headquarters perspective. After joining our company, they have been involved in planning and developing sales floor presentations for all GU stores domestically and internationally, as well as training store-based VMD staff. Since being promoted to Manager, they have been active both domestically and internationally, taking on responsibilities such as formulating global styling guidelines aligned with business strategies, training local personnel for multiple overseas operations, and localizing global plans.

Required Experience, Skills, and Abilities

• At least 5 years of experience planning and designing brand displays, not limited to the apparel industry
• An understanding of trends and market shifts, a thorough customer-centric perspective, and the ability to grasp the essence of things
• A collaborative attitude and leadership skills
• Management skills in talent development
• An interest in fashion, as well as a strong interest in and alignment with Fast Retailing’s business model and philosophy

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Someone who can create a business-oriented store environment—one that goes beyond mere in-store decoration to ensure customers enjoy their shopping experience, which ultimately drives sales
• Someone who can express current fashion trends while thoroughly considering how to showcase the concept, product characteristics, and story behind each individual item on the sales floor, and who can present the entire store as a single wardrobe and a cohesive styling concept
• Someone who, in addition to having the sense and sensibility to showcase products, can design the store while taking sales plans and sales trends into account

Company Name

GU Co., Ltd.

Employment Type

Full-time Employee

Annual Salary

• Annual Salary Range: 6.24–13.50 million yen (Monthly Salary: 390,000–750,000 yen)
• Allowances: Commuting allowance, overtime pay, etc. (*All subject to company regulations)
• Bonuses: Semi-annual bonuses twice a year, year-end bonus (eligibility and amount determined based on company performance and performance evaluations)
• Promotions twice a year (determined based on performance evaluations)

*Salary will be determined based on company regulations, taking into account your previous annual income and experience, and is not limited to the figures listed above.

Working Hours

Flexible work hours or managerial/supervisory position

• Flexible work schedule

Standard daily working hours: 8 hours; Break: 1 hour
Core hours: 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Flexible hours…6:00–9:00 and 14:00–20:00; overtime work may occur

• Supervisors

Based on the working hours of the employee’s department; left to the employee’s discretion

Holidays and Leave

Two days off per week (Saturdays and Sundays; national holidays are workdays) Annual paid leave, special and bereavement leave, childcare and family care leave systems, etc.
*In addition to paid leave, special leave is granted in the first and second halves of the fiscal year (the number of days granted varies depending on employment status and the company to which the employee belongs)

Insurance Coverage

Social Insurance (Health Insurance, Employees’ Pension Insurance, Unemployment Insurance, Workers’ Compensation Insurance, Long-Term Care Insurance)

Employee Benefits

Employee stock ownership plan, mutual aid association, partner welfare programs, employee discount program, cafeteria, dedicated shuttle bus (for commuting to the Ariake office), defined contribution pension plan (full-time employees only)

Other

• Our company actively recruits mid-career professionals across various Group companies (Fast Retailing, UNIQLO, GU, etc.). We would appreciate it if you could review the information below and consider applying.
• Within the Fast Retailing Group, you may apply to multiple companies simultaneously. However, please note that even if the selection process proceeds with multiple companies, you can only advance to the final selection stage for one position at a time.
• Based on your submitted resume and interview evaluations, we may suggest other companies or positions within the Fast Retailing Group.
• Measures Against Secondhand Smoke: Smoking is generally prohibited on company premises and indoors, and we do not have designated smoking rooms. (Smoking is prohibited during working hours, including break times.)

Ariake Headquarters: 1-6-7 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo, UNIQLO CITY

*Depending on business needs, you may be required to travel between offices.
*Your location may be changed to a location designated by the company, including overseas locations.