Visual Merchandising
Visual Merchandiser
Responsibilities
They will have to spend a lot of time with other departments including buying, design and marketing, this will be to help plan the displays and what type of products they will be expecting to have stocked, alongside this they will be researching trends both current and future to see how to best target their market.
After creating the displays the Visual Merchandiser manager will have to set out and create a pack to send out to the other stores so they are able to recreate the display from the model store. The pack will include photos and instructions of where to position certain products and what to have the window.
One of the most important roles is that of leading a motivated work force, the visual merchandising team have only a short amount of time to transform a shop window or even an entire store, so having a team that is ready to work and working at the best capacity will mean the display will be ready on time.
Skills
Other skills would include good communication, Visual Merchandisers will have to work with a range of different teams in the company, so they know what factors to consider such as what is going to be some of the new stock that's being brought in. Visual Merchandisers are also likely to come under a lot of constructive criticism, it maybe from their managers or work partners, so being able to work from this criticism and using it to become better at your job will be a skill that is very useful.
Qualifications
Many visual merchandisers that have positions in higher roles have gotten there from experience on the floor and worked their way up. Although there are some higher level courses that study visual merchandising, fashion buying and merchandising at London College of Fashion, this type of course will provide you with either a two year foundation degree or you are able to do it for a Bachelors degree.
Also available is a Level 4 visual merchandising course at the Fashion Retail Academy, Although visual merchandising is very specific there are various other course which could help progress your career, such as interior design, 3D design and fashion design.
If you are looking for a job in Visual Merchandising and have no previous experience it would be best to get a job in a position like retail sales assistant this way you will be able to have some involvement with the visual merchandising that is done on the shop floor.
Puma store at Shoreditch Box Park
Diesel Pop up store on Regent Street
Kixbox Store Moscow
Working Hours and Salary
With most jobs the amount you are paid varies with experience, so whether you are an assistant or manager your salary will be different. Working as a Visual Merchandiser you will most likely start as an assistant and these salaries will start around £12,000 to £18,000,
Then if you have more experience or moving to a higher role, such as management a starting salary can be in the region of £20,000 to £27,000 and then senior levels can be from as much as £30,000. Further to this there are also available positions at a director and international levels, and in these roles those can make between £45,000 and £60,000 per annum.
Visual Merchandising Company
Email: info@visualmerchandiser.co.uk
Website: http://www.visualmerchandiser.co.uk/
Phone: 0844 800 9305
Bibliography
Visual Merchandiser, 2016, Visual Merchandiser, Available at http://www.visualmerchandiser.co.uk/, Accessed on 14/09
Vimeo, 2014, Blacks visual merchandising, Available at https://vimeo.com/86147325, Accessed on 19/09
Wilson Brothers, 2016, Wilson Brothers, Available at http://wilsonbrothers.co.uk/, Accessed on 17/09