Visual Merchandising and the 'C' word....

The C word is thrown around these days so casually in the visual merchandising vocabulary it is sometimes quiet offensive to the customers. Said too early causes the old 'is it that time already' conversation. But we, as visual merchandisers, spend so much time out of the seasonal year planning, preparing and implementing one thing: CHRISTMAS!

No sooner have we put away the Christmas decorations from yesteryear, we are getting them out again - dusting off the three month (if that!) layers of dust and starting it all again. From updating the old decs, unpacking and unwrapping newly delivered ones and then organizing when the sensation that is Christmas will hit in store, a critical path is key to the success. Critical paths include the 4-8 week set up period for the season and includes everything from prep, to instore displays right through to the implementation of the window displays. Christmas is mayhem for VM's; but the most wonderful time of the year (or so the classic song says....).

Today I spotted the first Christmas windows of the year! In Yorkshire it seems that Next is the first brand to brave the customer backlash by launching their Christmas windows earlier than most of the other stores on the high street. Marks and Spencer, Debenhams and House of Fraser may be all Christmassy instore but as all VM's know, windows are the face of the store so once these are launched there's no going back - ooh what will the customers say!?

I was very sneaky here and managed to take a few snaps inside my local shopping centre! As a known VM convict with the security guards here they are used to me snapping photographs on my mobile quickly and discreetly (or not in some cases!!)

 Hanging baubles at different heights creates depth and effect within the window space. Using mirrored glitter balls amongst the matt baubles causes the window lighting to bounce off and create a dazzling reflection that hits the pavement concluding in a snowy Christmassy effect - ahhhh!

 I love this giant bauble made of fairy lights with the mannequin perched elegently inside!

Home product placement is an art within itself, taking direction from the old school 'pyramid concept' notice how the grouping starts high and then filters downwards like, a er, pyramid...?


I can't wait to start seeing other retail stores follow suit with their Christmas windows!

Happy window shopping

xoxo