Visual Merchandising Career Course Institutions in India and Abroad

Visual Merchandising (VM) is the art of presentation, which puts the merchandise in focus. It educates the customers, creates desire and finally augments the selling process.

This is an area where the Indian textile and clothing industry, particularly, the small scale enterprises lack adequate knowledge and expertise. This inadequacy is best reflected in poor presentation/display and communication in various national and international exhibitions. Therefore there are several training programme being conducted to fill this inadequacy.

Where does one start? There are two alternatives. Work with an established visual merchandiser as an apprentice/assistant and learn while you earn or be daring and start small. Opportunities abound especially during festivals like Diwali and Dassera, Christmas,Valentine's Day etc.

Being a seasonal business, approaching the right kind of shop at the correct time can provide the break. The idea is to start small and think big. As one proceeds down this line one discovers the dearth of ready-made props and moulds in the country. Therefore, the next need is fabricators/carpenters besides the correct supplies.

Sourcing materials is a key factor in a visual merchandiser's success. Often visual merchandisers travel overseas to procure the right kind of props. On the fabrication front, however, getting what one visualizes is very important. Usually a team of workers for the busiest of merchandisers does not go beyond seven.

There are many allied fields that can expand the scope for a visual merchandiser. Exhibition displays, birthdays, set design (theatrical sets included), theme parties, hotel lobbies, home and wedding decorations are some of these areas. Many up market, chic departmental shops, like Shopper's Stop, Ebony, Big Jo's, Akbarally's, Benzer's et al and several prominent business house maintain in-house teams

On the other hand, single shops can rely on experts on a 'per display' or contract basis. Whether one is displaying fashion products, technical products, cars, or anything, colours, positioning and choice of props is extremely essential. That, and the fact that the glass should, in no way, interfere with the design.