About This Career

Plans and erects commercial displays, such as those in windows and interiors of retail stores and at trade exhibitions.

This career is part of the Marketing cluster Merchandising pathway.

A person in this career:

• Plans commercial displays to entice and appeal to customers.
• Arranges properties, furniture, merchandise, backdrops, or other accessories, as shown in prepared sketches.
• Changes or rotates window displays, interior display areas, or signage to reflect changes in inventory or promotion.
• Places prices or descriptive signs on backdrops, fixtures, merchandise, or floor.
• Consults with store managers, buyers, sales associates, housekeeping staff, or engineering staff to determine appropriate placement of displays or products.
• Maintains props, products, or mannequins, inspecting them for imperfections, doing touch-ups, cleaning up after customers, or applying preservative coatings as necessary.
• Develops ideas or plans for merchandise displays or window decorations.
• Assembles or sets up displays, furniture, or products in store space, using colors, lights, pictures, or other accessories to display the product.
• Selects themes, lighting, colors, or props to be used.
• Installs booths, exhibits, displays, carpets, or drapes, as guided by floor plan of building or specifications.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
• Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
• Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation involves walking or running more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Identifying color and seeing differences in color, including shades and brightness
• Moving the arms, legs and torso together when the whole body is in motion
• Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching
• Seeing clearly at a distance
• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person
• Exerting oneself physically over long periods of time without getting out of breath
• Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying objects
• Using abdominal and lower back muscles repeatedly or over time without tiring

Work Hours and Travel

• Weekend work