Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers

Career Description: Plan and erect commercial displays, such as those in windows and interiors of retail stores and at trade exhibitions.

Industry: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media

Other Job Titles for Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers:

• Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
• Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
• Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
• Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

• Take photographs of displays and signage.
• Plan commercial displays to entice and appeal to customers.
• Place prices and descriptive signs on backdrops, fixtures, merchandise, or floor.
• Change or rotate window displays, interior display areas, and signage to reflect changes in inventory or promotion.
• Obtain plans from display designers or display managers, and discuss their implementation with clients or supervisors.
• Develop ideas or plans for merchandise displays or window decorations.
• Consult with advertising and sales staff to determine type of merchandise to be featured and time and place for each display.
• Arrange properties, furniture, merchandise, backdrops, and other accessories, as shown in prepared sketches.
• Construct or assemble displays and display components from fabric, glass, paper, and plastic, using hand tools and woodworking power tools, according to specifications.
• Collaborate with others to obtain products and other display items.
• Use computers to produce signage.
• Dress mannequins for displays.
• Maintain props and mannequins, inspecting them for imperfections and applying preservative coatings as necessary.
• Select themes, lighting, colors, and props to be used.
• Attend training sessions and corporate planning meetings to obtain new ideas for product launches.
• Instruct sales staff in color coordination of clothing racks and counter displays.
• Store, pack, and maintain records of props and display items.
• Prepare sketches, floor plans or models of proposed displays.
• Cut out designs on cardboard, hardboard, and plywood, according to motif of event.
• Install booths, exhibits, displays, carpets, and drapes, as guided by floor plan of building and specifications.
• Install decorations such as flags, banners, festive lights, and bunting on or in building, street, exhibit hall, or booth.
• Create and enhance mannequin faces by mixing and applying paint and attaching measured eyelash strips, using artist's brush, airbrush, pins, ruler, and scissors.
• Model substances such as clay or wax, using fingers and small hand tools to form objects.
• Collaborate with writers who create ideas, stories, or captions that are combined with artists' work.
• Provide entertainment at special events by performing activities such as drawing cartoons.
• Render sequential drawings that can be turned into animated films or advertisements.
• Perform narration of productions, or present announcements.

Emerging Tasks

• Assemble and set-up displays, furniture, and products in store space while utilizing colors, lights, pictures, and other accessories to display the product.
• Consult with store managers, buyers, sales associates, housekeeping and engineering to determine appropriate placement of displays (for example, furniture) or products.
• Maintain props, products, and mannequins, inspecting them for imperfections, doing touchups, cleaning up after customers, and applying preservative coatings as necessary.
• Store, pack, and maintain inventory records of props, products, and display items.
• Supervise and train staff members on daily tasks such as visual merchandising.
• Teach artistic techniques to children and adults.
• Monitor the academic eligibility of student athletes.
• Oversee the development and management of the sports program budget and fundraising activities.
• Perform activities that support a team or a specific sport, such as participating in community outreach activities, meeting with media representatives, and appearing at fundraising events.
• Provide training direction, encouragement, motivation, and nutritional advice to prepare athletes for games, competitive events, and/or tours.
• Teach instructional courses and advise students.

• Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

• achieve special lighting or sound effects
• arrange merchandise display
• assemble advertising displays
• conduct or attend staff meetings
• conduct training for personnel
• confer with client regarding type of arrangement desired
• consult with managerial or supervisory personnel
• create art from ideas
• cut, shape, fit, or join wood or other construction materials
• decorate using hand or power tools
• design decorative displays
• draw prototypes, plans, or maps to scale
• identify color or balance
• maintain records, reports, or files
• measure construction dimensions
• operate specialized photo equipment
• organize commercial artistic or design projects
• participate in staff training programs
• plan construction of structures or facilities
• price merchandise
• sketch or draw subjects or items
• understand construction specifications
• use airbrush techniques
• use creativity in designing interior spaces
• use creativity in graphics
• use creativity to art or design work
• use film production techniques
• retrieve or place goods from/into storage
• sell merchandise
• stock or organize goods
• use creativity to art or design work
• use telephone communication techniques
• wrap products
• use creativity in graphics
• use creativity in industrial artistry
• use creativity to art or design work
• use engraving techniques
• use knowledge of multi-media technology
• use spot or tack welding techniques
• use spray paint equipment
• weld together metal parts, components, or structures
• use computer graphics design software
• use creativity in graphics
• use graphic arts techniques
• use knowledge of multi-media technology
• use library or online Internet research techniques
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use public speaking techniques
• use stage lighting controls or instruments

Overall Experience
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed. For example, a teller might benefit from experience working directly with the public, but an inexperienced person could still learn to be a teller with little difficulty.

Job Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees.

Education
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work. In some cases, an associate's or bachelor's degree could be needed.

Examples
These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include sheet metal workers, forest fire fighters, customer service representatives, pharmacy technicians, salespersons (retail), and tellers.

• Average hourly wage (2007) -$11.94
• Average annual wage (2007) - $24,830.00

• Projected growth (2006-2016): 10.67%
• Projected need (2006-2016): 9,284
• Employment (2006): 87,001

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