Purely by accident, like most VM's I imagine. My waitressing job at a prestigious local garden centre allowed me to get in contact with a couple of high fashion folk, and resulted in me obtaining an internship at Stella McCartney's press office. From there I managed to move departments, in search of a permanent and more creative postition, to the VM team. I knew straight away that I'd found my niche - I loved the mix of design and organisation - and made sure I learnt enough to apply for a full time, paid job at Mulberry.
I remember you mentioning in the workshop we did with you did that you studied fine art do you think that’s been beneficial in your job role?
Beneficial, but not absolutely vital. It helps being able to draw as I often have to sketch up ideas for internal approval and external job briefs.
What Mulberry windows do you work on?
All of them! I am part of a creative team that designs the windows, sources props, reviews prototypes and rolls a scheme out to both our retail stores and internationa franchises. Every store has to buy into the key seasonal windows, but we also work on one-off windows for our flagship and new stores every once in a while.
How far ahead do you have to work in advance of each season for the windows?
The season really starts a year or so before you see it in store. The creative team are given the next seasonal inspiration from the product design team in order to create elements within VM, marketing and web that complement the new collection. We start by designing our showrooms for buyers to preview the collection, then dressing our London Fashion Week venue for the fashion press, and finally installing the windows for customers.
You work within a team how many members are within a Visual Merchandising team?
It varies from company to company, depending on the structure and number of stores - for example at Stella Mccartney there were only two of us! Mulberry's VM team has grown quite a bit over the last couple of years in order to keep up with the growth of the company, and now we are twelve. With more international stores opening up, however I know there will be more soon!
Do Visual Merchandisers have to sit and design the windows themselves?
There are different roles within the VM team - There are a few of us who design the window schemes at head office, whilst others travel daily from the store to store implementing new displays.
What is the most interesting piece of Visual Merchandising you’ve done?
Putting up a HUGE bell tent in the middle of our Bond Street store to concide with Glastonbury - we made it very 'Mulberry' by applying loads of bright stickers on the outside, and projected images of festival goers inside.
What would you say has been the hardest window you’ve had to assemble?
Our haybale window was a bit of a balance nightmare! And the stores' cleaners didn't like us very much during the three months it was in, due to all the stray shreds!
Have you ever had any disasters when putting together a window?
Nothing that hasn't been speedily fixable - forgotten tools, broken ceiling bars, even props that weren't made to spec can all be rectified in the blink of an eye!
What do you look at or where do you always go to get inspiration for the windows?
Inspiration research will initially start with the chosen films behind the new collection - then I widen the search to books and magazines (Tim Walker, ancient Vogues) I will always keep an eye out on our competitors windows, bt most of the time inspiration comes when you're not really looking. I will always make time for visiting exhibitions, seeing films and generally keeping my eyes open
What’s your favorite part of the job?
Seeing a season through from start to finish - When the elements you have been working on for a year finally hit the stores, you can be happy that the job's complete and move on.
In a way Visual Merchandising reminds me little bit like styling, would you agree? do you think your job role could be compared a little to that of a stylists?
I think both Visual Merchandising and styling require an eye for detail, but our job isn't to personally interpret the collection however we please. We make sure that the bag and clothes displays look their best at ALL times, but the styling aspect tends to be in place before we handle the product. We ar just there to enhance it!!
There’s a lot you have to take into consideration when doing your job like tools and placement of the products so for instance people cant shoplift as well as lighting. Does all of this information ever get a little overwhelming having to remember to do so much?
I'd compare it to driving a car - You never think you'll be able to pull it off at the start, but it soon becomes second nature!
If you could pick three words to describe your job what would they be?
Never - endind, exhausting, rewarding
Now what words pop into your head when you think of a Mulberry window?
Eye catching, beautiful, original
In the workshop we did with you, in groups we were given brands and a theme to create a window for a specific time of year or an event. What is your favorite time of year/event to do a window for?
I'm not sure I am biased towards a particular time of the year; it all depends on the scheme itself, and how it has evolved from showroom to show to store. My favourite window is always the one I have just installed!
Who has Mulberry collaborated with on sets for their windows?
Quite a few people/organisations before my time - Fred Gallery, McQueens florists and a couple of photographers since I started - Chris Craymer and Venetis Dearden
You mentioned in class that you love working for Mulberry but is there any other brands or shops whose windows you think you would like to work for?
For me, it's important to have a real love for the product and admiration for the brand i am displaying, which limits my choice somewhat! Both Hermes and Sonia Rykiel's windows never fail to draw me in. I am also aware of the limitations of designing a window for multiple stores, so would love at some point to be able to use one-off props just for one store!
Do you have any advice for anyone who wants to get into Visual Merchandising on how to go about it?
Try to get experience within a VM team, expect to recieve little or no payment, work ard to impress and use all contacts you come across!
I remember you saying in class you get a good discount on Mulberry items (uber jealous.) name five things that would be on your Mulberry wish list.
- A Bengal tiger lily bag - because this is a hypothetical question and I could never afford it!
- A bella bib dress in burnt peach - because it is so beautiful!
- A scotchgrain messenger - for a tom-boy, classic Mulberry days
- An I-phone cover - because they are too popular with our customers for us to buy at the moment!
- A large trolley - because you can never have too much luggage!
