What does a visual merchandiser do, and how to become one? Istituto Marangoni (2024)

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From window dresser to visual display specialist

28 September 2021

SHARE Fashion Styling and Visual Merchandising · Undergraduate Course The London School of Fashion

From window dresser to visual display specialist: the key creative role of Visual Merchandisers in big brands’ visual storytelling.

What Does a Visual Merchandiser Do?
Visual Merchandisers present, arrange and display items in stores and shop windows, that is, in crucial places where customers get to see, pick and buy products.
The role came about back in the 19th century, but has grown only recently, becoming essential in the fashion industry. Taking care of a store’s image means knowing how to give apparel and items a clean, organisedfinish, while respecting the brand’s identity through an accurate mix of elements: visual communication, aesthetics, sales analysis, as well as the planning of sales and promotional activities.

From Window Dresser to Visual Merchandiser
Historically, window dressers made their first appearance with the success of department stores in big American cities in the second half of the 19th century.

Department stores would reveal the first actual window displays and create the first Visual display techniques, based on the arrangement of apparel and items in domestic or cultural contexts.

In the 1930s, large shop windows became inspirational metropolitan screens, flirting with the world of cinema and the star system through hints and references.
Practical skills and intellectual knowledge were refined over the decades, and the traditional window dresser gradually turned into a modern Visual Merchandiser.
It is a job that requires a combinationof skills; it is no coincidence that some of the world’s most celebrated fashion designers have started their career working as Visual Merchandisers.

A young Giorgio Armani made his first experience in the fashion industry working as a window dresser at Milanese departmentstoreLa Rinascente. In the same years, Ralph Lauren would work as a sales assistant at Brooks Brothers in New York City, arranging items with the same meticulous attention to detail that he would later put into the design of his own stores around the world.


The Key Skills of a Visual Merchandiser

A visual merchandiser needs a solid technical basis (color theory, lighting technology), visual culture and artistic flair, but also some knowledge of marketing and psychology.

A good store display should engage as many senses as possible, and not only sight. Direct contact with clothes and fabrics, scents and aromas, and the music choices used to enhance the retail experience should all be consistent with the brand, with the type of store and its target audience. Yet a decisive skill is the ability to investigate customer behaviour: every Visual Merchandiser observes and monitors customers through specific behaviour and performance indicators.How to Become a Visual Merchandiser –Where you Need to Study
With such a dynamic and recent history, visual merchandising is usually covered by specialised schools and creative academies, capable of predicting the future of a role that is transforming shop windows into soundstages, filled with installations and performances.

TheThree-Year Course inVisual Merchandisingoffered at Istituto Marangoni Milano is part of the school’s fashion styling programme. It starts with an in-depth analysis of the fashion retail market and all aspects related to a brand’s positioning on communication and sales channels.

While setting up window displays heralded Armani and Lauren’s talent for creating a personal style in fashion, there is no shortage of success stories in visual merchandising as a creative career of its own. This was the case of Peter Marino, a traditional architect with extraordinary talent and personality, who has succeeded in becoming the creative mind behind the unique shop windows of Chanel (18 place Vendôme), Louis Vuitton and Bulgari (the New York City 5th Avenue flagship store).

Fashion Styling and Visual Merchandising · Undergraduate Course The London School of Fashion

What does a visual merchandiser do, and how to become one? Istituto Marangoni (2024)

FAQs

What do visual merchandisers do? ›

Visual Merchandisers present, arrange and display items in stores and shop windows, that is, in crucial places where customers get to see, pick and buy products. The role came about back in the 19th century, but has grown only recently, becoming essential in the fashion industry.

How do you become a professional visual merchandiser? ›

How to become a visual merchandiser
  1. Earn a degree. ...
  2. Familiarise yourself with brands. ...
  3. Get additional certifications. ...
  4. Start with an entry-level retail role. ...
  5. Seek on-the-job training. ...
  6. Practice with different layouts. ...
  7. Prepare a design portfolio. ...
  8. Apply for jobs in different environments.

Why do you want to become a visual merchandiser? ›

As the Visual Merchandiser I will be able to use my creative flair and talent to make sure the customer buying experience is second to none Finally, having researched the company history and the senior management team you have in place here, I feel confident I will be supported in my work and I will be given the ...

What is visual merchandising in simple words? ›

Visual merchandising is a marketing practice that uses floor plans, color, lighting, displays, technology, and other elements to attract customer attention. Its ultimate purpose is to use the retail space to generate more sales.

What are the 3 most important things in visual merchandiser? ›

Branding. Senses. Displays. These three words define the three most basic elements of visual merchandising and can help you win at the point of sale, no matter what type of merchandise you have to offer.

What skills do visual merchandisers need? ›

Visual merchandising: key skills
  • Understanding of the brand.
  • Creative flair.
  • Sharp analytical skills.
  • Commercial awareness.
  • An eye for trends.
  • Computer literacy.
  • Confidence in your own decisions.
  • Strong communication and leadership skills.

Can I be a visual merchandiser with no experience? ›

Yes, you can be a visual merchandiser with no experience if you have relevant skills or education. However, it would be more advantageous to also have some work experience in sales.

What should I study for visual merchandising? ›

You will be introduced to visual merchandising practice and develop a set of fundamental skills and knowledge covering:
  • display and presentation.
  • design and digital publishing skills.
  • illustration drawing techniques.
  • colour theory.
  • visual merchandising theory and history.
  • 3D design and construction.

Can I be a merchandiser with no experience? ›

Previous retail experience is preferred, not required. As a Retail Merchandiser, you will stock shelves,as well as other continuity…

What is the most important step in visual merchandising? ›

The most important aspect in visual merchandising is your store layout and the way customers can navigate through it. Always try to use most of the space to display your merchandise, while leaving enough room for customers to walk around the store.

Which is the most important goal of visual merchandising? ›

The primary objective of visual merchandising is to attract customers. You want to lure them inside the stores with innovative and creative visual merchandising displays, then define their purchasing decisions with how engaging and captivating your in-store visuals.

What are interview questions for visual merchandiser? ›

Visual Merchandiser interview questions
  • Which of your projects shows off your creativity to the max?
  • Store dressing vs. ...
  • How do you best incorporate special promos or pricing?
  • How do you make the most of your visual merchandising budget?
  • Which brands are your biggest inspiration?

What are the 4 types of merchandise? ›

Categories of merchandising include product, visual, retail, digital, and omnichannel.

What makes a visual merchandiser successful? ›

Maximize exposure to merchandise

In the same manner, a good visual merchandiser should look for ways to expose customers to as much product as possible as tastefully possible. An effective way to do this is to create store displays with focal points and varying heights so customers can view many products at once.

What is the full meaning of merchandiser? ›

A merchandiser is someone who is continuously involved in business promotion by buying and selling of goods.

How can I be a good merchandiser? ›

The Top Traits of a Great Merchandiser
  1. Excessively Committed to the Customer. This takes precedence above all else. ...
  2. Ability to Prioritize Competing Needs. ...
  3. Strong Communication Skills. ...
  4. Decisiveness.
Nov 3, 2022

What are the 5 key principles of visual merchandising? ›

5 Principles for Visual Merchandising
  • Design with the Consumer in Mind. The goal of Visual Merchandising is to provide a great experience to your customers – the sale itself will follow. ...
  • Activate the Brand. ...
  • Engage All Senses. ...
  • Leverage Interactive Experiences. ...
  • Focus on Execution.
Mar 18, 2019

What are the 5 most important elements of visual merchandising? ›

While much of the choices revolve around your specific tastes and preferences, it is how you make those choices work within the five key elements of Visual Merchandising, color, landscape, texture, communication and decor that make for an effective display.

What are good visual skills? ›

What are Visual Skills
  • Eye Movement Skills. Ability to accurately track and follow with our eyes. ...
  • Eye Focusing Skills. When we look far away, the focusing muscles in each eye relax, when we look up-close they constrict. ...
  • Eye Teaming Skills. ...
  • Eye Alignment/Strabismus/Depth Perception. ...
  • Peripheral/Spatial Awareness.

How long does it take to become a merchandiser? ›

It's typical to have reached senior merchandiser level within 7 to 8 years. You could also become a merchandise manager, head of merchandising, merchandising director, retail business analyst or self-employed retail consultant.

Is merchandising a stressful job? ›

Most merchandisers report that their job has low stress levels, which contributes to a high level of job satisfaction. Being a merchandiser is not considered stressful because the pace is typically slower than other roles in retail, the demands are less stringent, and the work-life balance is good.

How many hours does a visual merchandiser work? ›

In a full-time job you would work 37 to 40 hours a week, often including late evenings in order to set up displays when stores are closed.

What is an example of visual merchandising? ›

Visual merchandising is presenting or displaying products in a way that makes them visually appealing and desirable. Things like themed window displays, dressed mannequins, the arrangement of running shoes on a wall, and fresh fruits organized by color are all examples of visual merchandising.

What is visual merchandiser target? ›

The Visual Merchandiser supports an active selling culture by ensuring that visual moments are set and maintained to the Visual Merchandising Guide (VMG) direction and inspirational for the guest to drive sales.

Is merchandising a good career? ›

Yes, being a merchandiser is a good job.

Low-level merchandising jobs are typically not as good, as they do not pay very well and do not involve a high level of creativity or professional engagement. However, becoming a merchandiser at larger companies in higher-paying positions can be a very rewarding career.

What are the 3 levels of merchandising? ›

Merchandising involves selling products in a retail setting. There are three levels of merchandisers: floor staff, associate level, and manager level. Floor staff work directly with customers. Associates help the floor staff and are responsible for stocking shelves and making sure that the store is clean.

What are the five activities in merchandising? ›

Merchandising strategies include personal selling, sale promotion, marketing strategies, creating coupons, and discounts. More broadly, merchandising may refer to in-store or on-store promotion other than personal selling meant to promote purchasing behavior.

What are the 10 most common interview answer? ›

Tell me about yourself. What attracted you to our company? Tell me about your strengths.

What are 10 good interview questions and answers? ›

50+ most common job interview questions
  • Tell me about yourself.
  • Walk me through your resume.
  • How did you hear about this position?
  • Why do you want to work at this company?
  • Why do you want this job?
  • Why should we hire you?
  • What can you bring to the company?
  • What are your greatest strengths?
Nov 22, 2022

What are the two types of visual merchandising? ›

Types of visual merchandising

Mannequins: The type, styling and positioning of mannequins can communicate messages to your customers. Point of purchase display: The signage, decor and physical structure of points of purchase are part of visual merchandising.

What are merchandising items? ›

Merchandising is everything you do to promote and sell your products once the potential customer is in your store. When we talk about merchandise, we are talking about products available for sale, typically in a retail setting.

What are types of merchandise? ›

The top five types of merchandising are product, retail, visual, digital, and omnichannel. Though classified into five different categories, they are primarily interrelated. For example, visual merchandising is correlated with product merchandising.

What are merchandiser skills? ›

It revolves around product positioning and visually-pleasing merchandise displays that attract a customer's attention. The entire merchandising process actually begins with effective demand forecasting and product buying. Your ability to use planning software and to assess retail trends is key in this area.

What is merchandise example? ›

What is merchandise? Merchandise is the term used for any product that you can sell or buy. Any good for sale is merchandise, some examples include groceries in a supermarket, clothes in a retail store, electronics on a website or raw materials in a manufacturing warehouse.

What kind of a job is merchandising? ›

Merchandisers usually work in the retail industry, although much of their job involves fundamental marketing concepts. Merchandisers help product manufacturers reach marketing and sales goals by ensuring their products are properly displayed in retail outlets and by executing promotional campaigns.

What are the 5 elements of visual merchandising? ›

While much of the choices revolve around your specific tastes and preferences, it is how you make those choices work within the five key elements of Visual Merchandising, color, landscape, texture, communication and decor that make for an effective display.

What is the most important part of visual merchandising? ›

The most important aspect in visual merchandising is your store layout and the way customers can navigate through it. Always try to use most of the space to display your merchandise, while leaving enough room for customers to walk around the store.

What are the 5 types of displays? ›

The five types of digital product displays are CRT, LCD, LED, plasma, and OLED.

What are the 4 P's of merchandising? ›

"4 P's of Merchandising: Product, Placement, Pricing & Promotion"

What are the 4 R's of merchandising? ›

In 1927, Paul Mazur defined retail product merchandising as the five rights of merchandising: 1) the right merchandise, 2) in the right quantities, 3) at the right time, 4) at the right price, 5) in the right place. With current updated technology, an additional “right” may be added to Mazur's five.

What are the 3 visual elements? ›

Visual elements are the building blocks of art and design. There are 7 visual elements in total, they are line, shape, color, value, form, texture, and space.

What makes a good visual display? ›

Elements of Effective Visual Merchandising

Color: Helps set mood and feelings. Focal Point: Where product and props/signage and background come together. Lighting: Should accent focal point, if possible. Simplicity: Less is more so know when to stop and don't add too many items.

What is the most important goal of visual merchandising? ›

The primary objective of visual merchandising is to attract customers. You want to lure them inside the stores with innovative and creative visual merchandising displays, then define their purchasing decisions with how engaging and captivating your in-store visuals.

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