Visual merchandisers develop, deliver and communicate visual concepts and
strategies to promote retail brands, products and services in-store, in
catalogues or online. They may also work with museums and galleries or
create visual concepts for events.

The majority of visual merchandising personnel are employed in retail
stores, the lowest level being assistant visual merchandiser up to visual
merchandising/image controller, employing a staff of fifty plus in a large
organisation.

In general, activities of Visual merchandisers may include some or all of the
following:

-producing design ideas for displays and developing floor plans, or following
a company plan

-creating special displays to promote a specific product or offer

-drawing designs and plans by hand or computer

-deciding how to use space and lighting creatively

-making best use of a store's space and layout

-creating branded visual merchandising packs to send to each branch of a
store

-giving feedback to head office and buying teams

-setting up displays, dressing dummies and arranging screens, fabric and
posters

-sourcing display materials and hiring, borrowing or making props

-making sure that prices and other required details can be seen

-teaching sales staff how goods should be displayed

-taking down old displays.

Income

Starting salaries can be from £12,000 to £16,000 a year.

Senior visual merchandisers can earn around £20,000 to £25,00 a year, and
visual merchandising managers or designers can earn between £25,000 and
£55,000 a year.

Visual merchandising directors can earn £60,000 a year and over.