Marg Career Library - Visual Merchandiser

Overview:

Visual merchandisers are responsible for attracting customers to the product and promoting its sales. They do this by planning the location, design, and type of displays installed in a store. These professionals are creative and work in a dynamic environment. They must work with other professionals in the field and collaboratively create and implement their display designs. These professionals aim to ensure the customer has a pleasing shopping experience while simultaneously boosting sales of the products. Visual merchandisers decide the colours, lights, products, and promotions to be put up on display. They also design the floor plans and interiors of the stores.

Career Path:

Stream of Study at 12th:	Students who wish to become visual merchandisers can opt for any stream at the 12th level. After 10th, students can also pursue Certificate and Diploma courses in Fashion Design, Interior Design, Advertising, Graphics, and Visual Merchandising. Students opting for a course in this field will be required to clear entrance examinations such as AIEED, UCEED, CEED, DAT, NIFT, or other institution-specific entrance examinations.
Degree/Graduation Courses:	Pursue Bachelor of Fashion Designing (BFD) for 3 to 4 years Pursue B.Des. in Fashion Communication for 4 years Pursue B.Des. in Fashion Design and Technology for 4 years Pursue B.Sc in Fashion Business and Retail Management for 3 years Pursue B.A. in Fashion Business Management for 3 years Pursue B.A. in Fashion Merchandising and Production for 3 years Pursue B.A. in Fashion Merchandising for 3 years Pursue BBA in Retail Management for 3 years Pursue BBA in Retail Marketing for 3 years Pursue other undergraduate programs in the field of design, visual communication, visual arts, or fine arts Students are also encouraged to gain practical experience through internships or by working as associates in the field
Higher education/After Graduation Courses:	Pursue MBA in Retail Management for 2 years Pursue M.Des. in Fashion Merchandising for 2 years Pursue M.A. in Fashion Merchandising for 2 years Pursue M.A. in Fashion Retail Management for 2 years Pursue PG Program in Fashion Business (Marketing and Merchandising) Pursue other postgraduate programs in the field of design, visual communication, visual arts, or fine arts

Top Colleges:

National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT)
MIT Institute of Design, Pune
National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad
Arch Academy of Fashion Art Design, Jaipur
Pearl Academy of Fashion, New Delhi
National Institute of Fashion Design (NIFD), Chandigarh
JD Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi
KJ Somaiya Institute of Management Studies & Research, Mumbai
Mudra Institute of Communication, Ahmedabad
Footwear Design and Development Institute, Noida

Job Opportunities:

Museums
Jewellery stores
Accessory stores
Fashion retail stores
Books and publishing hours
Galleries
Theatres
Online shopping sites
High-street chain and retail stores
Department stores
Marketing agencies
Entertainment industry

Job Responsibilities:

Create a visual merchandising strategy for the client
Sketching ideas for product displays by hand or using a software
Use artistic skills or computer-aided design (CAD) packages, such as AutoCAD, Mockshop or Adobe Creative Suite, to create visuals and plans
Discussing the designs with clients, teammates, or seniors
Sourcing the required materials to create the displays
Attractively designing window displays and the interiors of the store
Creating and positioning displays for special promotions, events, or seasons
Supervising the implementation of the designs in all branches of the client’s store
Designing the floor plan of the store to promote sales
Train the store staff in placing and showcasing the products in their store
Tracking the effectiveness of displays and their success
Regularly research and update the display designs in the stores
Record and document the budget for the displays

Work Life:

Visual merchandisers usually have a full-time job with fixed working hours
A visual merchandiser works primarily at an office or a location, such as a store or museum
They may be required to travel to-and-fro to procure material and support the set-up of the displays
These professionals work on creating and implementing visual merchandising strategies
They mostly work according to deadline and may also be required to work overtime
Visual merchandisers work with teams for both developing and implementing their designs
As they gain experience, they can opt for part-time or freelancing opportunities as well

Key Skills:

Creative flair and imagination
A strong interest in current and future design trends
Visual/spatial awareness and manual dexterity
Cooperation
Technical knowledge
Organizing skills
Communication skills
Design skills
Leadership skills
Problem-solving skills
Ability to work in a team
The capacity to work with constructive criticism

Designation:

Entry-level

Junior Merchandiser, Visual Merchandiser, Display Designer

Mid-level

Assistant Merchandising Manager, Visual Merchandising Coordinator, Senior Merchandiser, Area Team Leader, Merchandising Consultant

High-level

Store Manager, Visual Merchandising Manager, Brand Manager, Team Manager

Merits & Demerits:

Merits

1. The profession allows you to harness your creativity
2. It can be exciting and dynamic as regular updations of displays are required
3. You can work as a visual merchandiser in a range of fields, so job opportunities are unlimited
4. You get to improve your ideas and skills constantly through customer feedback directly from the customer

Demerits

1. There is high competition in this field
2. Pay can be less in the beginning phases in this profession
3. You may be required to work overtime in certain situations
4. You may also feel stressed due to the pressure to meet deadlines and be creative

Overview
Career Path
Top Colleges
Job Opportunities
Job Responsibilities
Work Life
Key Skills
Designation
Merits & Demerits

Visual Merchandiser

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