What does a visual merchandiser do?
A visual merchandiser is responsible for arranging product displays at retail outlets, attracting customers to purchase the items. Visual merchandisers should be updated with the latest trends in the market to prioritize retail displays and floor plans. They must also be knowledgeable on product information to assist customers with their inquiries and concerns. Visual merchandisers should be creative in setting up the uniformity of the store's visuals within the budget goals. The designs must be appealing enough to drive the customers around the premises, potentially generating revenues and increasing profitability.
Visual merchandiser responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real visual merchandiser resumes:
- Manage backroom/stock room inventory by organizing pallets, stacking and storing product inventory.
- Provide support to all meeting and VTC rooms.
- Merchandise mens, ladies, kids, and accessories departments.
- Operate audio board, PowerPoint, camera, and video switcher.
- Assist outside vendor merchandisers (NIKE) with execution of planograms.
- Assist with prop development and production for the 5 NYC flagship stores.
- Monitor and review KPI's (key performance indicators) to forecast monthly.
- Work with POG's according to company standards & handle all visual merchandising displays.
- Demonstrate creative eye and social media skills by styling outfits for Instagram and Facebook posts.
- Experience with the proper safety usage of manual and power tools, lifting, and ladders.
- Garner hands on experience in the business operations of cosmetic and smart phone accessories e-commerce business.
- Maintain and build customer relations via social media accounts such as Facebook, Instagram, etc.
- Work with marketing department as POS liaison to distribute seasonal POS to national and international sales force.
- Arrange properties, furniture, merchandise, backdrop, and other accessories, as shown in prepare sketch.
- Sketch detail drawings of apparel and write specifications such as color schemes, construction, and material types.
Visual merchandiser skills and personality traits
We calculated that 25% of Visual Merchandisers are proficient in Customer Service, Ladders, and Sales Floor. They’re also known for soft skills such as Computer skills, Manual dexterity, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Visual Merchandisers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 25%
Maintained impeccable standards of customer service to hundreds of customers per day while strategically and visually displaying merchandise.
- Ladders, 17%
Climbed ladders daily to switch out the graphics.
- Sales Floor, 10%
Developed and maintained store merchandising including mannequin design and sales floor displays.
- Store Management, 6%
Established and cultivated strong relationships with store management and staff to drive business initiatives and communicate regularly regarding store information.
- Drive Sales, 6%
Provided the ultimate guest in-store experience through excellent visual merchandising and presentation execution in order to drive sales and maximize profitability.
- Kids, 5%
Launched e-commerce, UNIQLO Kids, 100 plus designer collaborations, and United States market expansion from 3 to 17 stores.
Most visual merchandisers use their skills in "customer service," "ladders," and "sales floor" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential visual merchandiser responsibilities here:
Computer skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a visual merchandiser to have is computer skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "technicians use computer systems to program equipment and edit audio and video recordings." Visual merchandisers often use computer skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "prepared invoices and daily sales reports using various computer software. "
Manual dexterity. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling visual merchandiser duties is manual dexterity. The role rewards competence in this skill because "some technicians set up audio and video equipment and cables, a job that requires a steady hand and good hand-eye coordination." According to a visual merchandiser resume, here's how visual merchandisers can utilize manual dexterity in their job responsibilities: "designed a zone coordinated stockroom and sales manual for maximum efficiency to increase store sales. "
Problem-solving skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of visual merchandisers is problem-solving skills. This skill is critical to many everyday visual merchandiser duties, as "technicians need to recognize equipment problems and propose possible solutions to them." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "communicated successes, opportunities and solutions to the store management team and district team maintains an organized and safe visual stockroom. "
Communication skills. For certain visual merchandiser responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "communication skills." The day-to-day duties of a visual merchandiser rely on this skill, as "technicians need to communicate with supervisors and coworkers to ensure that clients’ needs are met and that equipment is set up properly before broadcasts, live performances, and presentations." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what visual merchandisers do: "point of communication between market visual merchandising manager and in-store management team. "
The three companies that hire the most visual merchandisers are:
- Target251 visual merchandisers jobs
- Ocean State Job Lot151 visual merchandisers jobs
- H&M International
131 visual merchandisers jobs
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Compare different visual merchandisers
Visual merchandiser vs. Production artist
A production artist is responsible for managing digital content, meeting clients' standard specifications and requests for successful project completion. Production artists must have computer proficiency, especially on utilizing various software tools and applications to create illustrations and layouts. They also work closely with the creative team, cooperating in brainstorming sessions to ensure the consistency for each assigned task. A production artist should be keen on details, adjusting outputs as needed to maintain the highest quality for the actual presentation.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, visual merchandiser responsibilities require skills like "customer service," "ladders," "sales floor," and "store management." Meanwhile a typical production artist has skills in areas such as "graphic design," "adobe photoshop," "adobe creative suite," and "adobe illustrator." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
On average, production artists reach similar levels of education than visual merchandisers. Production artists are 0.7% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Visual merchandiser vs. Design specialist
A design specialist is responsible for creating engaging visual images and digital content to improve customers' brand awareness about the organization's products and services. Design specialists may also work for media production, creating graphic animations for viewers depending on production requirements and media demands. A design specialist must have excellent knowledge of utilizing various software tools and programs, coordinating with the whole design team on adjusting plans, improving layouts according to budget limitations, and submitting deliverables within the set deadlines.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, visual merchandiser responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "ladders," "store management," "drive sales," and "kids." Meanwhile, a design specialist has duties that require skills in areas such as "sketch," "cad," "adobe creative suite," and "graphic design." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Design specialists earn similar levels of education than visual merchandisers in general. They're 4.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Visual merchandiser vs. Graphic artist
A graphic artist is either an illustrator or an animator who creates art work that will be used in graphic projects such as advertisements, posters, or even book covers. Although a graphic artist has his/her own style of artwork, he/she may be often commissioned to create art specifically for a particular project. A graphic artist may work with a graphic designer in order to convey the overall message of a project. The portfolio of a graphic artist includes cartoons, illustrations, and graphic novels.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from visual merchandiser resumes include skills like "customer service," "ladders," "sales floor," and "store management," whereas a graphic artist is more likely to list skills in "graphic design," "adobe photoshop," "adobe illustrator," and "art direction. "
Graphic artists earn the highest salary when working in the non profits industry, where they receive an average salary of $68,382. Comparatively, visual merchandisers have the highest earning potential in the retail industry, with an average salary of $37,869.Most graphic artists achieve a similar degree level compared to visual merchandisers. For example, they're 0.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Visual merchandiser vs. Artist
An Artist specializes in creating various artworks or prose; the audience can vary from individuals or the general public. An artist's responsibility depends on the industry, company, or position where they are assigned. However, most of the time, Artists are expected to work under specific guidelines, deliver materials in a required format within an allotted time and perform revisions according to what is preferred by an editor or client. Furthermore, independent artists may work freelance and receive commissions for their craft.
Types of visual merchandiser
Updated January 8, 2025
