Developing Competency-Based Curriculum Using the Visual Merchandising Position

The purpose of this paper are three fold 1) to outline the dynamic nature and organization of visual merchandising careers, 2) to establish the visual merchandiser’s expected responsibilities in department chains and specialty store environments, and 3) to extrapolate from these functions and responsibilities a set of competencies and skills that could be developed by training programs. A case study methodology was used to collect data. Interviews were conducted with a director of a large national department chain, and a field visual manager of a well-known national specialty chain. The paper outlines the nature, organization, and function of visual merchandising careers. It also identifies knowledge domains and competencies and skills necessary for developing a visual merchandising curriculum.