Are you someone who enjoys shopping and staying up-to-date with the latest fashion trends? Are you imaginative and artistic? If so, a career as a visual merchandiser might be perfect for you. Visual merchandisers are responsible for creating eye-catching displays and arranging merchandise in retail stores and shopping malls to capture consumers' attention.
In this profession, you'll work for large department stores and retail chains, although specific responsibilities and job titles can vary. Some common tasks include arranging showcases, clothes racks, and display fixtures, designing lighting and color schemes for merchandise, teaching sales staff how to coordinate clothing racks and create appealing counter displays, and dressing mannequins both in store windows and inside the store.
Visual merchandisers also collaborate with merchandising teams, attend training sessions and planning meetings to gather new ideas for seasonal launches, and monitor the condition of products on display. They may also prepare floor plans, coordinate with contractors for store layout changes, unpack and tag incoming merchandise, and ensure the overall cleanliness of the store.
To excel in this role, you'll need to become familiar with the store's layout and constantly problem solve to meet customers' needs. Some companies have two levels of visual merchandising, one focused on overall display aesthetics and the other responsible for day-to-day maintenance of window and other displays.
Visual merchandisers typically plan displays two to four weeks in advance to prepare for new merchandise arrivals and coordinate them with special promotions and advertising campaigns. Larger companies often provide signage and prop packages, following strict guidelines to maintain consistency across their stores. Freelance merchandisers working with smaller chains or independent stores may have more flexibility in their approach, handling everything from prop building to signage design using computers.
Working conditions for visual merchandisers can vary, as they must ensure stores present a strong corporate image that appeals to customers. Due to the ever-changing retail and fashion market, tight deadlines are common, and some merchandising tasks may be done outside of regular business hours. To excel as a visual merchandiser, you will need artistic ability, fashion sense, attention to detail, the ability to visualize in 3D, problem-solving and communication skills, the ability to work independently and as part of a team, confidence in your ideas, and flexibility to accept suggestions from others. Understanding basic floor plans and planograms is also important.
If this career interests you, there are several National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes for visual merchandisers, including 2006 NOC: Exhibit Designers (5243.3), 2006 NOC-S: Theatre, Fashion, Exhibit and Other Creative Designers (F143), 2011 NOC: Theatre, Fashion, Exhibit and Other Creative Designers (5243), and 2016 NOC: Theatre, Fashion, Exhibit and Other Creative Designers (5243). By considering these skills and traits, and exploring opportunities in this field, you can pursue a rewarding career as a visual merchandiser.