You're seeing this page as if you were . The main menu is still yours, though. Exit from immersion
Vanessa Desandre BenaoVD

Vanessa Desandre Benao

Expert Visual Merchandiser

€600/day
Nice, FR
15+ years

Average response time: 1 hour

Freelancer profile translated to English.
Back to original language

About Vanessa

I have spent 15 years shaping retail spaces for global brands and ensuring every associate understands why detail matters. My playground ranges from auditing a declining store to deploying standards across a network of 21 stores, including training teams to maintain these standards after I leave.

At UNIQLO, I managed the operational opening of 21 retail outlets in France, established the network's visual processes, and trained field managers. At Extime Dutyfree at Paris CDG Airport, I ensured a high-end customer experience in one of the most demanding retail environments. At Adidas, I coached sales teams in 5 franchised stores in the PACA region autonomously.

What sets me apart from an operational visual merchandiser: I don't just dress a department. I analyze, structure, and transmit knowledge so that the mission has a lasting impact, even after I've moved on.

I work with retail brands, hotel boutiques, pop-up stores, and new openings. Available on the French Riviera and for occasional national assignments.
  • English

    Fluent

  • Spanish

    Basic

Can work on-site
Nice (up to 50km)

Experience

  • Adidas,
    Traveling Visual Merchandiser Manager
    FASHION AND COSMETICS
    September 2025 - January 2026 (4 months)
    Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
    • Implement collections and capsules (6 retail outlets) in strict compliance with brand guidelines and deadlines.
    • Optimize high-traffic areas by analyzing KPIs; observed a +12% increase in sales for featured products.
    • Create innovative and cross-merchandising displays that led to a sales index progression (+0.5 pt).
    • Coach sales teams on Adidas visual standards.
    • Weekly reporting (qualitative/quantitative) to management.
    • Collaborate with store managers to align merchandising and stock priorities.
    Layout Branding & Identity Styling Interior Design Store Opening
  • Extime Dutyfree,
    Head of Visual Merchandising - Travel Retail
    LUXURY GOODS
    January 2022 - January 2024 (2 years)
    Paris, France
    • Lead opening projects for luxury and premium fashion boutiques, as well as Duty-Free shops (Food & Beverage, tobacco, perfumes, and beauty), from upstream preparation to implementation:
    - 6 Luxury and Premium fashion boutiques: Celine, Saint Laurent, Lacoste, Burberry, Salvatore Ferragamo, Longchamp.
    - 1 Jewelry boutique: Bulgari
    - 2 beauty brand boutiques: Dior and Chanel
    - 6 Duty-Free shops (total area over 2500 m²).
    • Create visually appealing displays and thematic concepts imposed by ADP every 3 months.
    • Design and conceptualize decorations for passenger-dedicated spaces: a VIP lounge, a Parisian delicatessen, a taste workshop...
    • Manage the Visual Merchandising budget for Duty-Free shops (approximately €60,000/year).
    Branding & Identity Retail Management Interior Decoration Sourcing Store Opening
  • IKEA,
    Visual Merchandiser
    RETAIL (LARGE RETAILERS)
    January 2021 - February 2022 (1 year and 1 month)
    Villiers-sur-Marne, France
    • Ensure compliance with brand merchandising directives.
    • Contribute to improving the customer experience and journey by maintaining the brand's visual identity.
    Visual Identity Team Training and Coaching Space Planning Interior Decoration Layout

Recommendations

Be the first to recommend Vanessa

Help this freelancer shine by sharing your experience working together.

These freelancer profiles also match your criteria

AgathaA

Agatha Frydrych

Backend Java Software Engineer

4.7

(3)

2

BaptisteB

Baptiste Duhen

Fullstack developer

4.6

(4)

5

AmedA

Amed Hamou

Senior Lead Developer

4

(2)

7

AudreyA

Audrey Champion

Web developer

4.3

(3)

4

Education

  • Professional Coach Training (Leadership)
    Serenity Coach Institut
    2025
    Formation de Coach Professionnel (Leadership
  • Photoshop & Illustrator Training
    Ecole les Gobelins
    2019
    Formation Photoshop & Illustrator

Skill set

Categories