How to Become a Visual Merchandiser?

Visual Merchandising is the art of attracting customers and increasing sales by employing colors, patterns, lighting, and training the staff. Displays, mannequin arrangements, props, photographs, and product placement are all examples of this. A Visual Merchandiser’s task is to enhance the ambiance of the store and make it visually appealing to the customers. Many visual merchandisers at Zara, H&M, and Forever 21 play with music, lighting, and layout to increase foot traffic and double sales!

Industry	Retail Industry
Eligibility	10+2 in any stream
Average Starting Salary	INR 4,00,000- INR 8,00,000
Job Opportunity	Visual, Retail, Fashion, Retail Buyer Merchandisers

Also Read: How to Become a Graphic Designer?

What is Visual Merchandising?

Visual merchandising is a marketing technique that employs spatial and visual design to entice customers, pique their interest, and keep their attention. Its goal is to increase sales and promote repeat business while also establishing a strong brand image with customers. Visual merchandising provides a wide range of practical applications and specialized options.

What is the Role of a Visual Merchandiser?

A visual merchandiser is a retail expert that is in charge of maximizing the display of services and products to highlight their characteristics and benefits. Visual merchandising’s goal is to engage, motivate, and entice people to make a purchase. Merchandisers assist businesses in increasing efficiency and sales by facilitating scheduled consumer interactions. The visual merchandiser is an important part of any retail team who develops retail strategies that maximize product aesthetics. They play a crucial part in a brand’s look, feel, and identity. This field entails the following:

• Creating innovative layouts and presenting options to stakeholders in the storage industry
• Layouts and displays can be changed.
• Changing the lights
• Putting in new display technology and incorporating it
• Assisting in the creation of graphics

Also Read: How To Become An Illustrator?

How to Become a Visual Merchandiser

Pursue Formal Education

A  bachelor’s degree in art, design, or marketing is a good option. A B.Des (Bachelor of Design) from NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology) or NID (National Institute of Design) can provide you with access to courses that will help you improve your industry knowledge. You could pursue an M.Des (Master of Design) degree at the postgraduate level, which normally takes one to two years to accomplish. Consumer behavior, vendor management, lighting, design, and material investigation are all topics covered in these courses.

Get Certified

Having the appropriate certification helps ensure that you are up to date on the latest market trends. It can assist you to progress from a visual merchandiser to a better position in your career. A recognized diploma in the field gives an aspiring student the confidence and skills to enter the job market, as it provides the abilities needed to succeed in the field. Certifications for the tools and software you use are also an option. Digital design, color theory, art, drawing, and graphic design are some of the abilities that might help you flourish in this profession.

Gain Work Experience

A visual merchandiser’s employment requires a working understanding of a wide range of skills and techniques, therefore gaining work experience is crucial. You may have possibilities to explore and design unusual item displays on the job. Your background might help you better grasp the design process and assess how well various design aspects function together. As a sales associate, begin developing your talents and gaining experience at department shops or boutiques, and progress to being a successful visual merchandiser over time.

Get To Know The Craft

Visual merchandisers aim to draw attention to the best features of a product’s design and use them to market it. Merchandise design is generally complicated and comprises several different elements. Merchandisers are involved in the product development process at various phases, from early design draughts to final installations. To maximize the impact of visual marketing, they may require an eye for selecting the greatest props, fixtures, and signage. Knowing the craft in depth allows you to create excellent lighting, banners, color schemes, layouts, and other storage components.

Identify an industry

After getting a bachelor’s degree, you can pursue a career as a visual merchandiser in a variety of settings. Museums, amusement parks, typical retail establishments, and event sponsors are all places where you can work. Continuing your education in a certain field, such as textiles or appliances, may open up new opportunities.

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Courses to Become a Visual Merchandiser

The following are some of the courses you could take to become a visual merchandiser:

Diploma Courses 

Course	Duration
Diploma in Visual Merchandising	3 months – 1-year
Footwear Design and Manufacture Diploma	1 year
PGD in Product Design and Graphic Design	1 year
PGD in Fashion Designing & Boutique Management	1 year

Certificate Courses 

Platform	Courses	Duration
Udemy	Balance Commercial & Aesthetics in Visual Merchandising	5 hours
New Skills Academy	Visual Merchandising Certification	12 hours
Udemy	Visual Merchandising Course For Retailers and Students	2 hours
Coursera	Graphic Design	6 months
Coursera	Basics of Inclusive Design for Online Education	7 hours
Coursera	Visual Elements of User Interface Design	16 hours
Course marks	Balance Commercial & Aesthetics in Visual Merchandising	4 hours
Udemy	Visual Merchandising and Display	1 hour
Udemy	Basics of Visual Merchandising & Store Design	1 hour
Alison	Visual and Graphic Design	15 hours

Degree Courses 

Course	Duration
BSc Fashion and Apparel Design	3 years
BDes Fashion and Merchandising	4 years
M.Des (Master of Design)	2 years
MBA Design Management	2 years

Eligibility to Become Visual Merchandiser

Meeting the eligibility criteria for a visual merchandiser is a primary goal for anyone interested in pursuing this career path. The following are the educational qualifications and prerequisites for working as a visual merchandiser.

• The candidate must have received a design degree as part of his or her graduating requirements.
• The applicant must get a bachelor’s degree from a reputable university.
• Students can also finish their post-graduate studies before entering the work market. They must, however, hold a master’s degree in Visual Merchandising.
• Candidates who have completed a Visual Merchandising diploma course are also considered for certain positions.
• Having some experience, such as through an internship, will strengthen the student’s case, and he or she will be given priority over others who have no experience.
• Design software and tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and others are required.

Also Read: How to Become a VFX Artist?

Top Colleges Abroad For Visual Merchandising

After learning how to become a visual merchandiser and the best courses to take, let’s look at the best universities abroad for visual merchandising.

• TAFE Queensland
• Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University
• Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
• Conestoga College
• Sheridan College 
• London South Bank University
• Manchester Metropolitan University
• Teesside University
• University of Wyoming
• Oregon State University
• Virginia Tech

Top Colleges in India For Visual Merchandising

Let’s look at the best universities in India for visual merchandising.

• National Institute of Fashion Technology, Navi Mumbai
• National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad
• Arena Animation, Bengaluru 
• National Institute of Design, Bengaluru
• Footwear Design and Development Institute, Noida
• National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi   
• National Institute of Fashion Technology, Chennai
• VIDM Institute of Design and Management, New Delhi
• YMCA Institute for Office Management, New Delhi

Employment Opportunities

There are many different sectors and industries where visual merchandisers are needed. Below is a list of some of the most well-known industries that employ visual merchandisers. The job role can most commonly be found in any of these fields.

• Retail Establishments
• Museums
• Department Stores
• Galleries
• Various Outlets
• Theater Companies
• Fashion Stores
• Marketing Agencies
• Jewelry Stores
• Accessory Lines
• Print Media
• Books and Publishing Houses

Average Salary

Visual Merchandisers in India earn an average of INR 5,00,000. Fresher Visual Merchandisers make INR 3,50,000 per year at the start of their careers. Visual Merchandisers with over 10 years of experience can make more than INR 8,00,000 per year.

Top Recruiting Companies

Here is a list of some of the most well-known employers of visual merchandisers.

• H&M
• Zara
• Shoppers Stop
• Mahindra
• Godrej and Boyce Manufacturing
• Reliance Industries
• Aditya Birla Group
• Puma
• Marks and Spencer
• Kohler
• Big Bazaar
• Forest Essentials
• The Beer Cafe
• Penguin Random House

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