MCH140: Visual Merchandising

This course introduces students to the basic elements of design in contemporary visual merchandising.Topics include exterior and interior display, coordination with other related departments, the use of color, equipment, lighting and display materials. Upon completion of this course, students should be able to plan, install, and evaluate a merchandising display.

Exterior and Interior Display

DDI Design Center
Signage and graphics for retail stores

International Sign Association
Supporting, improving, and promoting the sign industry

Signage for Your Business
Information from the Small Business Administration

Use of Color, Equipment, Lighting, & Display Materials

Color Matters
Different areas of research that exclusively address color

Colorize
Brief definition with related resources on visual merchandising from About.com

Econoco
Retail store fixtures and visual displays

NASFM
National Association of Store Fixture Manufacturers

Store Design/Remodeling
Store display, design concepts, and information on fixtures from About.com

VisualStore
Site for visual merchandising products

Additional Sites of Interest

ARMS
The Association of Retail Marketing Services

ACCESSORIESmagazine.com
2004 census statistics on trends in women's accessories

American Association of Advertising Agencies
National trade association representing the advertising agency business

American Marketing Association
Professional association for marketers

Baker Library Research Guide (Harvard)
Academic and career research guide to retail and wholesale industry in general

Best Franchise Opportunities
Franchising and small business information

Better Business Bureau
Consumer ratings and reports on businesses and charities

Business 2.0
Business and technology news

Business Week
Business news

CNN/Money
Business news from CNN and Money magazine

Chain Store Age
News for retail executives

DSA
Direct Selling Association

Direct Marketing Association
Telephone, mail, and internet marketing

Entrepreneur
Solutions for growing businesses

FedWorld
U.S. Department of Commerce

Federal Trade Commission
Information for businesses

FranchiseHandbook.com
Franchise directory and franchising opportunities

Hoover's Online
View company profiles and view stats and biographies for individual business people

ICSC
International Council of Shopping Centers

ISBC
International Small Business Consortium

International Franchise Association
Membership organization for franchisors, franchisees, and suppliers

NAFE
National Association for Female Executives

National Retail Federation
World's largest retail trade association

RILA
Retail Industry Leaders Association

Radio Advertising Bureau
Trade promotional arm of the commercial radio industry in the U.S.

Retail Advertising & Marketing Association
International organization for retail marketing and advertising professionals

Small Business Grants
Resources from About.com

StartupJournal
The Wall Street Journal Center for Entrepreneurs

Style Guide
Visual merchandising, retail design, and sales promotion

TSNN
Trade show directory for exposition and exhibitor tradeshow services

Top 100 Retailers
Nation's 2005 top retailers from Stores.org

United States Small Business Association
Resources for small businesses

Visual Store
Retail design and visual merchandising resource

Wall Street Journal
Business and stock market news

Coordination With Related Departments

DDI Design Center
In-store marketing design strategies

Merchandising for Sales and Profit
Article by Donna Geary that focuses on presentation of store merchandise for promoting impulse sales

Retail Store Design and Atmospherics
Elements of retail store design, atmospherics, visual merchandising, and presentation from About.com

Worth Global Style Network

WGSN
This is a free resource that provides fashion forecasting and trend analysis, the latest fashion news, reports from trade shows and runways, and color images. Access requires a PIN. Please ask your instructor, or contact wolresources@westwood.edu.