Matthew Markland
BRAND DEVELOPMENT. VISUAL MERCHANDISING. STORE DESIGN
Matthew Markland
BRAND DEVELOPMENT. VISUAL MERCHANDISING. STORE DESIGN
Matthew Markland
BRAND DEVELOPMENT. STORE DESIGN . VISUAL MERCHANDISING.
TRANSFORMING RETAIL ENVIRONMENTS INTO BRANDED, PERFORMANCE-DRIVEN EXPERIENCES
mmarkland@ymail.com | www.linkedin.com/in/marklanddesign | https://matthewmarkland.com/
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Innovative and data-driven creative leader with 15+ years of experience in brand development, store planning, and visual merchandising across luxury, specialty, and global retail. Proven ability to drive customer engagement, elevate brand identity, and deliver results through experiential design and strategic execution. Adept at leading cross-functional teams, optimizing operations, and shaping customer-centric environments at scale.
CORE COMPETENCIES
Brand Development · Experiential Retail · Store Planning · Visual Merchandising · Consumer Behavior · Team Leadership · Cross-Functional Collaboration · KPI Analysis · Private Label Launches · Rebranding · Budget Management · FF&E · Vendor Relations · Omni-Channel Integration
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Mud Bay – Olympia, WA
Director, Store Design & Visual Merchandising | 2020 – 2025
- Launched full visual and store design program for 64-store, $150M pet retailer.
- Designed 8 new customer-centric stores using experiential '3rd Place' principles.
- Led complete brand refresh and opened Store of the Future in Newcastle, WA.
- Created scalable programs: Visual Library, Health & Happiness, Departmental Guides.
- Collaborated with marketing to unify in-store, digital, and packaging design.
- Integrated analytics to refine merchandising strategies and drive sales growth.
Sur La Table – Seattle, WA
Director, Visual Merchandising & Store Design | 2014 – 2020
- Led rebranding across 140+ stores, shaping store design and customer experience.
- Developed the “Life of a SKU” visual strategy from product launch to clearance.
- Designed proprietary fixtures and signage, enhancing category storytelling.
- Built small-format culinary store concept that exceeded performance goals.
- Reduced in-field visual hours by 20%, improving EBITDA through efficiency.
Bloomingdale’s – Costa Mesa, CA
Visual Director | 2012 – 2013
- Oversaw all visual direction for a flagship store, aligning campaigns with KPIs.
- Executed high-impact fashion presentations and community-focused initiatives.
DFS (LVMH) – North America
Senior Visual Merchandising Director, North America | 2008 – 2012
- Led VM strategy for 25 luxury travel retail stores generating $270M in revenue.
- Managed $500K ops and $4M capex budgets, achieving up to 15% savings annually.
- Drove sales through brand-forward concepts like World of Whiskey and luxury fragrance shops.
- Partnered globally across brands to unify presentation and elevate the customer journey.
Macy’s Northwest Division – Seattle, WA
Creative Director | 2007 – 2008
- Directed creative strategy across 52 stores and $1.8B in revenue.
- Led visual branding for promotions, floorsets, and regional campaigns.
Regional Visual Director | 2004 – 2007
- Oversaw VM and store presentation for a 12-store, $430M region.
Flagship Visual Director | 2002 – 2004
- Directed creative execution and brand presentation at flagship location.
EDUCATION
BA, University of CA, Riverside
About Matthew Markland
With over 15 years of director-level experience in Visual Merchandising and Store Planning across luxury, department store, specialty, and global retail sectors, I bring a unique blend of talent and expertise. I excel at aligning brand vision, voice, and business objectives, ensuring that each store reflects the essence of the brand. As a data-driven visual designer, I focus on essential metrics while maintaining a conceptual approach and storytelling prowess. My passion lies in transforming stores from transactional spaces to experiential destinations, catering precisely to customers' preferences and enhancing their retail experience.
MUD BAY
MUD BAY, OLYMPIA
MUD BAY
SUR LA TABLE
SUR LA TABLE
DFS LVMH
DFS LVMH
BLOOMINGDALES
BLOOMINGDALES
