Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 161,600 people employed as merchandise displayers and window trimmers in the United States. The median annual salary is $32,060. Entry level employees earn approximately $26,560 per year and senior employees earn approximately $47,290 per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime pay, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• Supervise or train staff members on daily tasks, such as visual merchandising.
• Store, pack, and maintain inventory records of props, products, or display items.
• Use computers to produce signage.
• Prepare sketches, floor plans, or models of proposed displays.
• Instruct sales staff in color coordination of clothing racks or counter displays.
• Install decorations, such as flags, banners, festive lights, or bunting on or in building, street, exhibit hall, or booth.
• Cut out designs on cardboard, hardboard, or plywood, according to motif of event.
• Create or enhance mannequin faces by mixing and applying paint or attaching measured eyelash strips, using artist's brush, airbrush, pins, ruler, or scissors.
• Place prices or descriptive signs on backdrops, fixtures, merchandise, or floor.
• Plan commercial displays to entice and appeal to customers.
• Arrange properties, furniture, merchandise, backdrops, or other accessories, as shown in prepared sketches.
• Change or rotate window displays, interior display areas, or signage to reflect changes in inventory or promotion.
• Consult with store managers, buyers, sales associates, housekeeping staff, or engineering staff to determine appropriate placement of displays or products.
• Maintain props, products, or mannequins, inspecting them for imperfections, doing touch-ups, cleaning up after customers, or applying preservative coatings as necessary.
• Develop ideas or plans for merchandise displays or window decorations.
• Assemble or set up displays, furniture, or products in store space, using colors, lights, pictures, or other accessories to display the product.
• Take photographs of displays or signage.
• Dress mannequins for displays.
• Install booths, exhibits, displays, carpets, or drapes, as guided by floor plan of building or specifications.
• Select themes, lighting, colors, or props to be used.
• Consult with advertising or sales staff to determine type of merchandise to be featured and time and place for each display.
• Attend training sessions or corporate planning meetings to obtain new ideas for product launches.
• Collaborate with others to obtain products or other display items.
• Construct or assemble displays or display components from fabric, glass, paper, or plastic, using hand tools or woodworking power tools, according to specifications.
• Obtain plans from display designers or display managers and discuss their implementation with clients or supervisors.

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