Target // Hearth + Hand

In 2023, when I was promoted from Visual Merchandising Business Partner to Visual Merchandising Manager, my category ownership shifted slightly. I became the Manager over our main Home Decor partnership brand: Hearth + Hand with Magnolia, a partnership with Joanna + Chip Gaines. This space in a Target store is its own floorpad, similar to how the HI Flat is structured, however it has its own unique fixtures, hardware, + fixture accessories to leverage. In addition, the Visual Merchandising in this space leans more heavily curated + the merchandising techniques used to set the space need to be intentional + differentiated from those of the HI Flat for bold brand recognition + distinct styling differences across brands. Managing a space I hadn’t been the visual merchandiser in prior was a nice new challenge, as I had to learn the brand, partnerships, celebrity nuanced preferences, + manage a business new to me. However, managing a space that I hadn’t merchandised in prior was also a blessing because it allowed me to come in with fresh eyes, challenge the status quo of what had been done in the space prior, + propose new ideas to keep the space innovative + fresh. I also had the benefit of working on the HI Flat prior + was well-versed in the brand expectations and merchandising techniques being leveraged over there, which helped ensure the progress made in Hearth + Hand would remain differentiated + unique to the space. During my time Managing Hearth + Hand, we integrated a handful of brand partnerships into the space, inclusive of: KitchenAid, Stanley, Owala, Haden, + more! We also launched a Hearth + Hand packaged food + giftable food line: Magnolia Table, that was then cross-merchandised within the space to amplify further storytelling + build-the-basket even more!