What Is a Visual Merchandiser and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

A visual merchandiser oversees product displays in retail store windows and within stores. As a visual merchandiser, you design the store’s exterior and interior displays to showcase products with the desired style and look that entice consumers to make purchases. You are responsible for choosing and installing scenery and merchandise for display. Your job is to ensure that store windows and other displays are intriguing and on brand.

To become a visual merchandiser, you need an education in design and marketing and work experience in retail. Though some jobs require a bachelor’s degree in design or a related field, some visual merchandiser jobs only require an associate degree. You should study color theory, layout, and marketing to gain the skills for this career.

A good visual merchandiser has the right blend of product knowledge, style, marketing skills, and design sense to succeed in this career. You must be familiar with your store’s products and current trends. Work hard to create displays that are enticing and well presented so that they are attractive to customers. Be creative, but remain focused on showing off your store’s products. You should also be a team player—help your fellow associates and manager whenever possible-and work to be a positive influence in your workplace.

Job Summary

The visual merchandiser will design and develop creative visual concepts and merchandising strategies. At the retail store level, the visual merchandiser will create eye-catching displays to attract the customer's attention and increase sales revenue. The goal is to drive brand awareness to the target audience. The visual merchandiser will plan, implement, and document the window displays, signage, floor plan displays, and special promotions that align with company strategy.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Aligning company sales goals and messages with appealing design
• Creating and arranging window displays
• Designing signage and interior displays
• Developing strategies to highlight promotions, price changes, clearance, and holiday/seasonal needs
• Anticipating and maximizing customer interest, reaction, and expectations with visual displays
• If available, collaborating with company plan-o-gram teams to create, build, and display merchandise
• Implementing plan-o-grams and taking photos for comparison
• Maximizing profitability with engaging signage and campaigns
• Creating displays that are creative, on-trend, and appealing
• Monitoring time constraints, costs, and budget
• Arranging in advance new ideas and strategies for displays of new product launches

Requirements and Qualifications

• Self-directed and able to work without supervision
• Energetic and eager to tackle new projects and ideas
• Strong listening skills; confident presentation and decision making skills
• Comfortable in both a leadership and team-player role
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Pays attention to detail
• Comfortable in a fast-paced environment with multiple tasks and projects at hand
• Up-to-date on industry trends, best practices, and market trends
• Customer-focused for positive customer experience and resolution
• High school degree; bachelor's degree in retail, marketing, business or related field preferred
• Creative problem solver who thrives when presented with a challenge
• Previous experience in merchandising or related field
• The ideal candidate will have a positive attitude and be a problem-solver
• Ability to physically stand, bend, squat, and lift up to 25 to 30 pounds
• Strong computer skills; Microsoft Office Suite a must. Experience with design software, scheduling, or similar software preferred
• Strict adherence to company philosophy/mission statement/sales goals
• Extensive knowledge of the brand and product preferred