Days 13, 14, & 15

Day 13

            On today’s date I was able to assist the Lead Visual Merchandiser with a new display she was doing. She was changing mannequins and tables. I was able to see how the mannequins came apart. She also spoke to me about how we were getting our Fall B shipment in. these articles of clothing become heavier so they are harder to carry and dress the mannequins. She then went on to show me how she wanted the table set and I filled in after her. I filled the denim table, cashmere sweaters, and the shirts. When I was done with that I moved sale shoes to another part of the floor. Then put all the regular price shoes together.  I switched hangers on items that were in stock and had the wooden hangers; to the plastic hangers. Any item in the stock room is supposed to be hung on a plastic hanger, if it is hung. I re-ticked items that were not tagged to store standards. My last task of the day was to take out new bags for display; anything that was sold and not replaced. I enjoyed having lots of projects to do today. It kept me very busy and it reminded me that this is a glimpse of the tasks of what the merchandisers do on a daily basis.

Day 14

            On this lovely day I began by working on the men’s undergarments. I refilled and organized the male underwear/briefs display. I then went into the other side of the men’s department and saw what needed more merchandise. I went down to the men’s stockroom to bring up more t-shirts and jeans. There were racks of sale clothing that had to be put away in the correct stock room. Sale items are sometimes taken on and off the floor; from what I have seen. They put out full price merchandise and condense the sale, so more profit is made. My last task of the day was to make sure that all accessories that were on mannequins were represented in the display cases. Customers usually go to the cases to shop for jewelry, not the mannequins. You want to make sure you are able to sell every piece. If we only had one piece you would put a necklace that we had more than one of on the mannequin and the other in the case. 

Day 15

            Today I was only given two tasks. I was told to organize the floor and steam all clothing that needed to be worked on. I was taught how to correctly use the steamer. Making sure the items look their best, not with wrinkles from shipment or people trying it on. The best way to steam the clothing is hanging it up and putting the head of the steamer inside the clothing (facing you), and do streams up and down. You also do vertical streaks outside. Make sure you hold out the fabric so you are grasping each crease. It is a very simple, yet tedious task. As I steamed the garments I made sure everything was organized. This means being sized, with color its according colors, and when it is hung make sure the hangers are a finger-width apart within each set of clothing. Group like items together, this gives it a sense of unity. Keeping a set of rules on how things should be displayed makes it easier for when associates or interns have down time. They will see that the floor needs work on they know exactly what to do, even when the Lead Merchandiser is not there.