Iittala is dedicated to inspiring better living. What began as a glass factory in a small village in Finland back in 1881, has grown into an internationally known design brand that continues to define the progressive Nordic way of life.
Iittala · Royal Copenhagen · Georg Jensen · Moomin by Arabia
Working with our iconic brands across Benelux and Germany, you will play a key role in shaping how our products are experienced in stores and how they perform. This role blends visual merchandising, retail activation, and strong partnership building - ideal for someone with a passion for retail environments, an eye for design, and a results-driven mindset focused on improving store performance.
About the Role
As Retail Activation Specialist, you are responsible for elevating the in-store experience and driving sell-out performance across key retail partners, Flagship stores, and Outlet locations in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. You ensure that our brands are presented consistently and commercially, and that store teams are inspired, trained, and enabled to deliver measurable results. You are also responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing in-store events and product launches, ensuring strong commercial impact and flawless execution.
You will work closely with internal stakeholders across Sales, Marketing, and Visual Merchandising, as well as with major retail partners such as Inno, De Bijenkorf, KaDeWe, and new potential accounts, ensuring strong execution across different store formats.
This is a field-based role with frequent travel, including international trips.
Key Responsibilities
- Strengthen and grow the business through close collaboration with stores, including follow‑up on sales performance, assortment, and replenishment
- Identify new commercial opportunities with concession partners and store management
- Ensure in‑store excellence for all VITA brands, including secondary placements and seasonal activations
- Create inspiring table settings, displays, and visual concepts that reflect brand guidelines
- Train, motivate, and support store staff to increase product knowledge and brand engagement
- Coordinate and execute in‑store activities, events, and product launches
- Maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders
- Manage claims, stock levels, fixtures, and visual guidelines
- Collaborate with marketing teams on promotional execution and shopper materials
- Support the development of new shop concepts and external placements
- Conduct inventory counts and ensure operational excellence
What You Bring
- Experience in retail, field sales, or visual merchandising, ideally within homeware or design
- Strong commercial mindset and the ability to build long‑term customer relationships
- Analytical approach to sales, performance, and planning
- Excellent stakeholder management skills
- Highly organized, structured, and able to prioritize in a fast‑moving environment
- Creative eye with strong attention to detail
- Flexible and comfortable with frequent travel
Qualifications
- Relevant experience
- 2+ years experience
- Fluent in English
- German, Dutch, or French language skills are a plus
Personal Characteristics
- Commercially driven and proactive
- Creative and visually strong
- Positive mindset and collaborative spirit
- Detail‑oriented and adaptable
- Preferably based in the Netherlands
Success Measures
- Achievement of sales targets
- High visual merchandising compliance
- Strong partner satisfaction
- Successful execution of in‑store events and activations
If this sounds like the right opportunity for you, we encourage you to apply. We would also appreciate it if you could include your previous portfolio.
For Iittala, life is about progress: seeking ways to inspire, innovate and take a stand for what matters. Come make progress with us.