Visual Merchandising 101 from Udemy

Ever wonder about the process of creating inspiring window displays? Or who changes the floor plan and mannequins every time you visit your favorite store? Visual Merchandising 101 is a class for anyone who is interested in starting a career as a Visual Merchandiser, anyone who is a retail business owner and wants to improve their revenue or brand identity through strong merchandise presentation, or anyone who is simply interested in learning about this sometimes mysterious profession.

Cristina here, a Visual Merchandise Manager who has worked for Bloomingdale's, Neiman Marcus, and IKEA. I'm offering up over 10 years of my knowledge in Visual Merchandising to help you begin your career or improve your retail business. Experience with both luxury and big-box stores gives me a wide perspective on how to visually translate the brand identity of various retailers and meet different customer expectations.

I started my career in 2010 with no experience and worked my way up from Visual Merchandiser to Visual Lead, to Visual Merchandise Manager, and you can too.

What you'll learn in this class:

Role of a Visual Merchandiser
Merchandising fundamentals for apparel
Merchandising fundamentals for accessories
Color Theory
Mannequin Styling
Floor Plan Fundamentals
Window Display Fundamentals
Job Opportunity & Portfolio Tips

In a retail climate with unrelenting online competition, it is more important than ever before to employ strong visual merchandising techniques in a brick & mortar store.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Fundamentals of retail floor plan design; sight-lines, fixtures, safety regulations, customer traffic flow
Fundamentals of mannequin styling and window display; mannequin types, manufacturers, poses, composition, theme, color story, lighting, implementation plan

How to create a visual merchandising portfolio; various options for portfolio design, interview tips and job opportunity insights
Fundamentals of merchandising apparel and accessories; learn techniques to present merchandise in an elevated manner.

Fundamentals of retail floor plan design; sight-lines, fixtures, safety regulations, customer traffic flow
Fundamentals of mannequin styling and window display; mannequin types, manufacturers, poses, composition, theme, color story, lighting, implementation plan
How to create a visual merchandising portfolio; various options for portfolio design, interview tips and job opportunity insights
Fundamentals of merchandising apparel and accessories; learn techniques to present merchandise in an elevated manner.

Syllabus

Learn fundamentals of Retail Mannequin Styling, Windows Displays, and Floor Plans

You will learn techniques of merchandising apparel and accessories, along with fundamentals of mannequin styling, window displays, color theory, floor plans. We'll finish with plenty of portfolio and interview advice.

Understand the importance of visual merchandisers in the retail industry.

Learn techniques to merchandise clothing on racks, shelves, tables with commercial appeal.

Learn techniques to merchandise accessories like ties, jewelry, shoes, handbags, and sunglasses.

Understand how to apply principles of color theory to your work as a visual merchandiser.

Learn how to create a retail floor plan that supports inspiration and profitability.

Learn about different mannequin manufacturers, poses, finishes, and the importance of composition.

How to create a successful window display using theme, props, composition, lighting, scale, and an implementation plan.

We'll review helpful tips to create a visual merchandising portfolio- even without prior work experience! We will also review important interview tips and merchandising job opportunities in the retail industry.

For our class project, you will create a concept for a window display using the knowledge you've gained in this course. I will show you two examples before you get started. This will set you on your way to creating a portfolio to bring to your interviews!

Congratulations! You have completed the course!

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Visual Merchandising 101 with these activities:

Review Color Theory Basics

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Reinforce your understanding of color theory to better grasp its application in visual merchandising.

Browse courses on Color Theory

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Review the color wheel and color relationships.
Study examples of color palettes used in retail.
Practice creating color schemes for different retail environments.

Read 'Windows at Bergdorf Goodman'

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Get inspired by the creativity and artistry of Bergdorf Goodman's window displays.

View Alter Ego on Amazon

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Browse the book and analyze the different window display designs.
Identify the key elements that make each display successful.
Consider how you can apply these elements to your own visual merchandising projects.

Read 'Visual Merchandising and Display, 7th Edition'

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Gain a deeper understanding of visual merchandising principles and techniques through a comprehensive textbook.

View Visual Merchandising and Display + Studio... on Amazon

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Read assigned chapters before each corresponding course module.
Take notes on key concepts and examples.
Apply the concepts learned to real-world retail scenarios.

Four other activities

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Analyze Retail Floor Plans

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Solidify your understanding of floor plan fundamentals by analyzing the layouts of different retail stores.

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Visit several retail stores and observe their floor plans.
Identify key elements such as sightlines and customer traffic flow.
Evaluate the effectiveness of each floor plan in terms of customer experience and profitability.
Document your findings in a report.

Design a Mock Window Display

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Apply the principles learned in the course by designing a mock window display for a specific retail brand.

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Choose a retail brand and target audience.
Develop a theme and concept for the window display.
Sketch the design and select props and mannequins.
Create a presentation showcasing the design and rationale.

Build a Visual Merchandising Portfolio

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Showcase your skills and knowledge by creating a professional visual merchandising portfolio.

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Gather examples of your best work, including window display designs and floor plan analyses.
Create high-quality photographs or renderings of your designs.
Write concise descriptions of each project, highlighting your creative process and results.
Organize your portfolio in a visually appealing and easy-to-navigate format.

Attend Retail Industry Events

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Connect with other professionals in the retail industry and learn about the latest trends in visual merchandising.

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Research local retail industry events and conferences.
Attend events and network with other attendees.
Ask questions and learn from experienced professionals.
Share your own ideas and insights.

Career center

Learners who complete Visual Merchandising 101 will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Visual Merchandising Manager

A Visual Merchandising Manager oversees the visual presentation of merchandise in retail stores to attract customers and maximize sales. This role involves developing and implementing visual merchandising strategies, training staff, and ensuring that displays are consistent with the brand's image. By covering the role of a visual merchandiser, merchandising fundamentals, color theory, mannequin styling, floor plan fundamentals, and window display fundamentals, this course provides a comprehensive foundation for becoming a Visual Merchandising Manager. You will learn how to improve revenue and brand identity through strong merchandise presentation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Visual Merchandising Manager

Display Artist

A Display Artist creates eye-catching displays in various settings, ranging from retail stores to museums and events. This role involves conceptualizing designs, selecting props, and arranging items to create visually stunning presentations. This course emphasizes mannequin styling, window display, color theory, and composition, which are all essential skills for a Display Artist. By learning how to create a successful window display using theme, props, lighting, and scale, you can enhance your skills as a Display Artist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Display Artist

Visual Presentation Specialist

A Visual Presentation Specialist brings products to life within various environments, ensuring they captivate and entice customers. This role focuses on crafting visually appealing displays, arranging merchandise effectively, and maintaining a consistent brand aesthetic. By understanding merchandising fundamentals for apparel and accessories, as taught in this course, you can create displays that drive sales and enhance the customer experience. The instruction on mannequin styling and window display is particularly relevant. You'll learn the ins and outs of the job of a Visual Presentation Specialist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Visual Presentation Specialist

Retail Display Coordinator

The Retail Display Coordinator designs and implements visual displays in retail settings to attract customers and promote sales. This includes creating window displays, arranging in-store merchandise, and ensuring that the overall store layout is visually appealing and easy to navigate. With the knowledge of retail floor plan design, customer traffic flow, and the effective presentation of apparel and accessories provided by this course, you develop a strong foundation for this role. The focus on window display and mannequin styling further helps a Retail Display Coordinator to excel.

See salaries and explore the career path for Retail Display Coordinator

Brand Manager

Brand Managers are responsible for developing and maintaining a consistent brand image across all channels. This involves overseeing marketing, advertising, and public relations efforts. This course's teachings on visual presentation, brand identity, and customer expectations are directly relevant to the responsibilities of a Brand Manager. The course gives you the confidence to create a cohesive brand experience for customers. You'll gain an understanding of how visual merchandising contributes to overall brand perception, making you a more effective Brand Manager.

See salaries and explore the career path for Brand Manager

Retail Operations Manager

Retail Operations Managers oversee the day-to-day operations of retail stores, including inventory management, customer service, and visual merchandising. Understanding visual merchandising principles can help Retail Operations Managers create a more visually appealing and efficient store layout. The course provides a fundamental understanding of retail floor plan design, customer traffic flow, and merchandising techniques. Retail Operations Manager must ensure maximum visual appeal of a retail space.

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Interior designer

Interior Designers plan and design interior spaces of buildings, including homes, offices, and retail stores. This course's focus on retail floor plan design, customer traffic flow, and the use of fixtures may be helpful in designing retail spaces. Interior Designers will learn about the principles of color theory and how to create visually appealing environments. The insights you gain will enhance your ability to design functional and aesthetically pleasing spaces as an Interior Designer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Interior designer

E-commerce Visual Merchandiser

An E-commerce Visual Merchandiser optimizes the presentation of products on a company's online store. While the role is online, the principles of visual merchandising still apply: compelling product photography, strategic layout, and a consistent brand aesthetic. While a physical display is not involved, the principles of this course are applicable. The material on merchandising apparel and accessories, along with color theory, can be applied to optimize product presentation online. An E-commerce Visual Merchandiser will be able to drive sales through visual appeal.

See salaries and explore the career path for E-commerce Visual Merchandiser

Store Planner

A Store Planner designs the layout and visual elements of retail stores to optimize sales and create a positive shopping experience. This involves planning floor layouts, selecting fixtures, and coordinating the visual merchandising aspects of the store. This course may be useful because it covers retail floor plan design, customer traffic flow, and the proper use of fixtures. It also shows you how to make a plan successful. The knowledge you gain will help you understand how visual merchandising impacts store profitability.

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Fashion Stylist

Fashion Stylists select clothing and accessories for photoshoots, fashion shows, and personal clients. They have a keen eye for trends and aesthetics, and understand how to create a visually appealing look. While a Fashion Stylist works in a different environment than a Visual Merchandiser, the course's emphasis on merchandising apparel and accessories, along with color theory, may be useful in developing a strong sense of style and presentation. You will learn to create visually attractive concepts. This course may help you become a Fashion Stylist.

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Retail Buyer

The Retail Buyer selects and purchases merchandise for retail stores. Although buying is primarily about product selection and negotiation, understanding visual merchandising principles can inform buying decisions. A Retail Buyer who understands how merchandise is displayed and presented is better equipped to select products that will resonate with customers. This course may assist retail buyers in understanding how to visually appeal to specific demographics.

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Exhibition Designer

Exhibition Designers are responsible for the layout and visual impact of exhibits in museums, galleries, or trade shows. They must consider the flow of visitors, the placement of artifacts or products, and the overall aesthetic experience. The course's focus on window display, composition, theme, implementation plan, and lighting principles may be helpful for the basics skills needed in exhibition design. This course may give them an advantage in the visual arts.

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Marketing Coordinator

A Marketing Coordinator supports the execution of marketing campaigns and initiatives. This role often involves creating marketing materials, coordinating events, and managing social media content. While a Marketing Coordinator's role is broader than visual merchandising, this course's fundamentals of visual presentation and brand identity may be helpful. Understanding how visual elements impact customer perception will enable you to create more effective marketing campaigns. This course is a great introduction to becoming a Marketing Coordinator.

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Set Designer

Set Designers create the visual environment for theater, film, television, and other live performances. They work closely with directors and other members of the creative team to develop a cohesive and visually appealing stage or set. The course principles of window display, theme, lighting, and composition could prove useful for the basic skill set of a set designer. Your grasp of visual merchandising can contribute to creating immersive and engaging experiences for audiences.

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Visual Communication Designer

Visual Communication Designers use visual elements like typography, images, and layout to convey messages and information. They create designs for a variety of media, including websites, advertisements, and brochures. Although this role is broader than visual merchandising, the course's teachings on color theory, composition, and visual presentation may be beneficial in refining your design skills. A grasp of visual merchandising is relevant to nearly all visual communication designers.

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Visual Merchandising 101

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