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What does a visual merchandising manager do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read

A visual merchandising manager is responsible for facilitating the arrangement of visual displays to attract customers to purchase the products. Visual merchandising managers monitor the sales performance of the store and develop effective merchandise strategies to boost revenues and increase profitability. They also assist in creating promotional events and discount offers, as well as designing the store's layout during special occasions. A visual merchandising manager must have excellent leadership and communication skills, especially on guiding the staff's performance and implementing techniques to maximize productivity.

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Visual merchandising manager responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real visual merchandising manager resumes:

  • Manage entire inventory including receiving, store transfers, RTV's, and damages.
  • Purchase and manage apparel, footwear and accessories inventory for successful regional outdoor and lifestyle retailer.
  • Supervise the implementation of visual plan-o-grams and displays; replenish merchandise by receiving product through trucks and back stock.
  • Install POS collateral as well as new shop concepts and direct departmental floor moves to create an inviting shopping experience.
  • Act as the creative force behind client presentations (PowerPoint) for Disney, AMC, and national cable TV channels.
  • Ensure plan-o-grams are completed timely and correctly.
  • Perform technical duties including monthly POS system security updates.
  • Develop and roll out PowerPoint templates, including implementation guidelines and training.
  • Coordinate designated adoption events with local animal shelters.-train all new employees on pet care procedures.
  • Research overall apparel trends direction in domestic and international markets and interpret customer feedback and concepts to manufacturer.
  • Lead OTB meetings and make changes to strategies as needed to meet/exceed financial goals and adjust to any market changes.
  • Reviewed/Manage OTB forecast with planners and ensure department strategies are aligned with division and company objectives.
  • Receive multiple accomplishment bonuses for surpassing monthly LY conversion percentage.

Visual merchandising manager skills and personality traits

We calculated that 16% of Visual Merchandising Managers are proficient in Customer Service, POS, and Store Operations. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Creativity.

We break down the percentage of Visual Merchandising Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Customer Service, 16%

    Committed to quality customer service performing all responsibilities with professionalism and quality under extreme pressure while implementing established standards and procedures.

  • POS, 6%

    Facilitate POS distribution to Field Sales Representatives and manage on-line warehousing and fulfillment portal.

  • Store Operations, 6%

    Managed daily store operations and merchandise presentation, utilizing visual standards and techniques.

  • Ladders, 6%

    Managed the Ladders, Guttering and Poly Sheeting categories with sales totaling over $525MM - 2 years.

  • Direct Reports, 5%

    Managed approximately 30 direct reports.

  • Loss Prevention, 5%

    Organized and supervised staff training activities including diversity and inclusion programs and loss prevention programs.

Common skills that a visual merchandising manager uses to do their job include "customer service," "pos," and "store operations." You can find details on the most important visual merchandising manager responsibilities below.

Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a visual merchandising manager to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "advertising, promotions, and marketing managers must be able to analyze industry trends to determine the most promising strategies for their organization." Visual merchandising managers often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "generated and analyzed field-merchandise reports, then made necessary product placement adjustments based on sales. "

Communication skills. Many visual merchandising manager duties rely on communication skills. "managers must be able to communicate effectively with a broad-based team made up of other managers or staff members during the advertising, promotions, and marketing process," so a visual merchandising manager will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways visual merchandising manager responsibilities rely on communication skills: "managed visual calendar of execution and communication dates for company visual directives. "

Creativity. This is an important skill for visual merchandising managers to perform their duties. For an example of how visual merchandising manager responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "advertising, promotions, and marketing managers must be able to generate new and imaginative ideas." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a visual merchandising manager: "accepted (received), merchandised, and organized inventory while training other members of management to implement visual directives. ".

Interpersonal skills. visual merchandising manager responsibilities often require "interpersonal skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "managers must deal with a range of people in different roles, both inside and outside the organization." This resume example shows what visual merchandising managers do with interpersonal skills on a typical day: "displayed exceptional customer service and interpersonal skills. "

Organizational skills. Another crucial skill for a visual merchandising manager to carry out their responsibilities is "organizational skills." A big part of what visual merchandising managers relies on this skill, since "advertising, promotions, and marketing managers must manage their time and budget efficiently while directing and motivating staff members." How this skill relates to visual merchandising manager duties can be seen in an example from a visual merchandising manager resume snippet: "selected contributions cost inventory and assisted with organizational activities of store products and inventory management as well. "

All visual merchandising manager skills

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Visual Merchandising Manager Resume
Visual Merchandising Manager Resume
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Visual Merchandising Manager Resume
Visual Merchandising Manager Resume
Visual Merchandising Manager Resume
Visual Merchandising Manager Resume
Visual Merchandising Manager Resume
Visual Merchandising Manager Resume
Visual Merchandising Manager Resume
Visual Merchandising Manager Resume
Visual Merchandising Manager Resume
Visual Merchandising Manager Resume
Visual Merchandising Manager Resume
Visual Merchandising Manager Resume
Visual Merchandising Manager Resume

Compare different visual merchandising managers

Visual merchandising manager vs. Team leader

Team leaders are responsible for managing a team for a specific project or work component. They primarily guide the team members and ensure that they are still working towards the set goals. Team leaders create strategies to reach goals, cascade the goals and strategies to team members, assign tasks, conduct periodic check-ups on the roadmap towards the goals, foster an engaging work environment, motivate and coach team members, monitor team performance, evaluate the strategies and come up with mitigating plans as needed. They are also responsible for reporting the team's progress to higher management.

We looked at the average visual merchandising manager salary and compared it with the wages of a team leader. Generally speaking, team leaders are paid $28,433 lower than visual merchandising managers per year.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both visual merchandising manager and team leader positions are skilled in customer service, pos, and ladders.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between visual merchandising managers and team leader. For instance, visual merchandising manager responsibilities require skills such as "store operations," "loss prevention," "excellent interpersonal," and "visual presentation." Whereas a team leader is skilled in "patients," "pet," "safety procedures," and "asphalt." This is part of what separates the two careers.

The education levels that team leaders earn slightly differ from visual merchandising managers. In particular, team leaders are 5.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a visual merchandising manager. Additionally, they're 0.6% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Visual merchandising manager vs. Co-manager

A co-manager's role is to supervise business operations and perform administrative tasks as support to a manager. One of the primary functions of a co-manager is to delegate tasks of team members and arrange schedules. They also evaluate progress, produce the necessary documentation, maintain a record of data, identify issues and opportunities, and assist in coordinating with other employees. A co-manager may also have the task of hiring and training new workforce members, enforcing policies and regulations at all times.

On average, co-managers earn a $32,288 lower salary than visual merchandising managers a year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Visual merchandising managers and co-managers both require similar skills like "customer service," "pos," and "store operations" to carry out their responsibilities.

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, visual merchandising manager responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "direct reports," "store management," "store environment," and "presentation standards." Meanwhile, a co-manager has duties that require skills in areas such as "payroll," "food safety," "perform routine maintenance," and "basic math." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Co-managers earn a lower average salary than visual merchandising managers. But co-managers earn the highest pay in the retail industry, with an average salary of $64,497. Additionally, visual merchandising managers earn the highest salaries in the retail with average pay of $84,988 annually.co-managers earn similar levels of education than visual merchandising managers in general. They're 1.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.6% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Visual merchandising manager vs. Manager

Managers are responsible for a specific department, function, or employee group. They oversee their assigned departments and all the employees under the department. Managers are responsible that the department they are handling is functioning well. They set the department goals and the steps they must take to achieve the goals. They are also in charge of assessing the performance of their departments and their employees. Additionally, managers are responsible for interviewing prospective candidates for department vacancies and assessing their fit to the needs of the department. Managers also set the general working environment in the department, and they are expected to ensure that their employees remain motivated.

On average scale, managers bring in lower salaries than visual merchandising managers. In fact, they earn a $38,599 lower salary per year.Using the responsibilities included on visual merchandising managers and managers resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "customer service," "pos," and "store operations.rdquo;

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a visual merchandising manager is likely to be skilled in "ladders," "excellent interpersonal," "visual presentation," and "store management," while a typical manager is skilled in "payroll," "food safety," "financial statements," and "management."

Managers earn the best pay in the finance industry, where they command an average salary of $71,781. Visual merchandising managers earn the highest pay from the retail industry, with an average salary of $84,988.When it comes to education, managers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to visual merchandising managers. In fact, they're 4.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.6% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Visual merchandising manager vs. Showroom manager

A showroom manager works in retail showrooms that sell vehicles, appliances, furniture, and electronics. Aside from promoting sales, a showroom manager supervises teams and ensures that the sales floor is visually appealing and inviting towards customers. They also address and resolve issues and concerns, delegate tasks among staff in maintaining the cleanliness and order in showrooms, negotiate deals with customers, and maintain product knowledge, utilizing their expertise by training employees and enhancing their skills. Moreover, as a showroom manager, they have the responsibility to monitor showroom operations, all while implementing the company's standards and policies.

Showroom managers tend to earn a lower pay than visual merchandising managers by an average of $24,613 per year.While their salaries may vary, visual merchandising managers and showroom managers both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "store operations," "sales floor," and "retail store. "While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "customer service," "pos," "ladders," and "direct reports" are skills that commonly show up on visual merchandising manager resumes. On the other hand, showroom managers use skills like cleanliness, customer satisfaction, retail sales, and sales training on their resumes.showroom managers enjoy the best pay in the retail industry, with an average salary of $69,785. For comparison, visual merchandising managers earn the highest salary in the retail industry.The average resume of showroom managers showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to visual merchandising managers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 0.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.0%.

Types of visual merchandising manager

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.