UK

There are 20 posts tagged UK (this is page 3 of 4).

Visual Merchandising: Window Display Artist

I like to look at interesting jobs in the arts/ crafts area. So many unique and interesting jobs we just never hear about or never stop to think that someone actually does that and gets paid for it!

Have you thought about being the person who creates window displays before? I have. Even back in high school I considered it as a career option. Too bad I didn’t do more about it then. But, you can’t be the person you are now in your past life. I’m still hoping for time machines so I could at least whisper in my ear a few times. Until then… I can research and live vicariously. The best overall name for this type of career seems to be Visual Merchandising.

First, what do you need to get there?

Seneca: Visual Merchandising Arts

Sheridan: Visual Merchandising Arts

Conestoga: Visual Merchandising Arts

Swinburne University of Technology (AU): Diploma of Visual Merchandising

Fashion Academy (UK): Level 4 Diploma in Visual Merchandising

From Schools in the USA.com:

In order to become a window display designer, it is suggested to get some college or university training in graphic design, fine art, construction, carpentry, architecture, lighting, or theatrical design. There are also a few college courses available in visual merchandising and design. Some business and marketing courses would also help individuals promote their skills.

Before going to school, however, consider working in retail. Ask to help with the window displays, as employers look for experience as well as education.

I found industry resource sites for visual merchandisers and retailers:

  • The Asia Society of Visual Merchandisers
  • VMSD is the leading resource for retail designers and store display professionals, serving the retail industry since 1869 (then called Display World). VMSD showcases the latest store designs and visual presentations, presents merchandising strategies and new products, and reports on industry news and events.

Further resources:

Advice for Retailers: Retail Window Displays

About.com: Retailing: Creating Attractive Displays (Visual Display Tips)

eHow: How to Become a Window Display Artist

About.com: Retail Industry: Job Profile: Visual Merchandising Associate

Merchandise Display Artist Job Profile

Visual Merchandiser Job Description

Careers Advice (UK): Visual Merchandiser

M Windows – Visual display and retail design consultants. Visual merchandising as a freelance career. Based in New York City, US.

Following is a real job for a window display artist/ visual presentation technician. You can see what the company wants and expects from someone with this job. This post is taken today from Monster.ca and is for Laura Canada.

Role Summary
The Visual Presentation Technician/In-Store Merchandiser will demonstrate effective in-store merchandising and window presentation techniques in order to support financial and customer service objectives and be proactive in approaching all aspects of store’s visual presentations.

Critical Functions

1. Merchandising Techniques

  • Completes Pre Plan Visual Checklist in conjunction with management on each visit as a coaching and preplanning tool.
  • Ensures merchandising standard is achieved as per Company’s directives
  • Confirms merchandising and fashion directives from Head Office are being followed with appropriate discretion for individual store circumstances.
  • Follow proper placement of display according to traffic flow requirement and symmetry.
  • Ensures display reflects adjacent sections as well as promoting a fashionable message.
  • Maintains standards regarding folding, sizing, usage of hangers and foam strips, removal of excess tags.
  • Analyzes retailers to identify new fixturing and new merchandising ideas.
  • Merchandises the store by using a strong knowledge and understanding of current season’s fashion trends (Look Books, fashion magazines, product Knowledge sessions, shopping competition).
  • Ensures proper placement of all floor bunks, t-stands, bust forms and mannequins according to traffic flow requirement and symmetry.
  • Ensures displays (face-outs, t-stands) reflect adjacent sections as well as promoting a fashionable accessorized message.
  • Maintains standards regarding folding and sizing, proper usage of hangers and foam strips, removal of excess tags.
  • Assists store Management Team in proper execution of all Marketing directives with a high sense of urgency.
  • Ensures all visual elements (when not in use) are properly stored in a designated area in the backroom only, discarding old banners and signage as per Marketing directive.
  • Communicates deficiencies and unsafe store conditions to appropriate department.
  • Orders and replaces light bulbs in the store, stockroom and exit signs ensuring sufficient lighting throughout the store.

2. Window Presentation Techniques

§ Demonstrates creativity in windows by using a strong knowledge and understanding of current season’s fashion trends

§ Ensures mannequins and bust forms placement is done according to standards and all pinning and adjustments made on mannequins result in the most natural and realistic look to the presentation.

§ Confirms Orders, replaces and focuses lights in windows, store, stockroom and exit signs ensuring sufficient lighting.

3. Customer Service

§ Has constant customer awareness and knows to stop, drop and serve.

§ Executes all POS procedures accurately and efficiently (i.e. special orders, no sales, refunds, etc.).

4.   Shipping & Receiving

§ Prepares all incoming and outgoing merchandise in a timely manner.

§ Ensures all housekeeping standards are maintained.

§ Completes markdowns efficiently and accurately.

§ Ensures Health and Safety standards are met at all times

Qualifications:

§ Experience in fashion with a strong background in display/merchandising

§ Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, detail oriented with strong follow-through skills

§ Able to adapt to changes and work on adaptable schedules

§ Demonstrates fashion flair and creativity.

Hyperlocal, What is It?

I’ve seen the term hyperlocal come up three times lately. I decided to spend some time to find out what it is exactly and how it is being used.
Of course, Wikipedia comes up first in the results I get from Google. : Hyperlocal –

refers to the emergent ecology of data (including textual content), aggregators, publication mechanism and user interactions and behaviours which centre on a resident of a location and the business of being a resident. Hyperlocal content, often referred to as hyperlocal news, is characterized by three major elements. Firstly, it refers to entities and events that are located within a well defined, community scale area. Secondly, it is intended primarily for consumption by residents of that area. Thirdly, it is created by a resident of the location (but this last point is discussed because for example a photo can be hyperlocal but not locally produced).

Hyperlocal World – Developments in news, people and the first law of geography.
HyperlocalBlogger.com – Tips and discussion for local bloggers.
Hyperlocal 101 – Tools and technique for the hyperlocal revolution.

Blog TO is a hyperlocal news blog from Toronto. It comes from a network, Freshdaily.ca (site is not up).

Other hyperlocal blog networks:

Individual hyperlocal content blogs:

If hyperlocal blogging is interesting you take a look at TwitterLocal, which gives you a Twitter feed by location and LocalTweeps which is a directory built with zip codes. Also, look for blog directories based on regional locations, each blog you find there is a possible source of news and events locally. You may find other locals to post their perspectives, advertising, photos and news stories on your hyperlocal blog. Of course everything local is a marketing/ promotion resource for a hyperlocal blog. You don’t need to be in to top rank of international lists for blogs, keep your focus on local in every way.

The links for networks and especially those for individual hyperlocal blogs are just a few I found when I went looking. There are masses of sites once you know what to look for. Some don’t use the term hyperlocal, they may call themselves citizen journalists, or maybe cell journalists.

Storytelling

What the ear does not hear cannot move the heart. — Cape Breton saying

March 25th I am attending a local Storytelling workshop. I’m looking forward to it and I really like Joanne, the woman who does the workshop. Today I looked up storytelling to find out a bit more and see what we might be doing in the workshop, just curious. There are a vast amount of resources for storytelling online.

From Wikipedia: Storytelling is the conveying of events in words, images, and sounds often by improvisation or embellishment. Stories or narratives have been shared in every culture and in every land as a means of entertainment, education, preservation of culture and in order to instill moral values. Crucial elements of stories and storytelling include plot and characters, as well as the narrative point of view.

Storytellers of Canada

Storytelling Toronto

Vancouver Storytelling

Ottawa Storytellers

National Storytelling Network (USA)

International Storytelling Center

Society for Storytelling (UK)

Australian Storytelling

Professional Storyteller Network

World Storytelling Day is March 20th. Great timing for my workshop.

Digital Storytelling and Digistories

Pink Grapefruit Splash


This is my favourite shower soap now. It is Pink Grapefruit Splash from Softsoap. It must be in the US but I’m not sure if it will be in the UK and farther. If you see it at the store pop open the top and give it a smell. It is very fresh and pretty. Does not give me a problem with allergies either.

This is not a paid ad. I just love the stuff and I use it every shower. I went to the website to look for a better picture of their graphic with the pink grapfruits but there wasn’t one. Very disappointing. They even offer ecards, but none of them have that same picture. I’d wear that picture as a dress if I was young and skinny. Not so young or skinny I can still use the soap and enjoy the smell every evening.

UK Derelict Locations

I never thought of looking at sites about film locations for abandoned buildings. This one is for the UK, called Location Works. They have a whole subcategory for Derelict buildings/ locations. Nice photos too. Even if you can’t go see for yourself I just like seeing the photos and I’m glad someone has kept something of those old places before they completely fall apart and become forgotten. They all have some kind of history. Someone built them, lived in them and cared about them.