The History of Visual Merchandising

The History of Visual Merchandising

So I had a bit of difficulty finding info on the history of Window display and even more difficulty on Visual Merchandising.  But here is what I got.

Visual Merchandising is part drama, part fantasy and always dripping with objects of desire. 

Window in London

With Historical roots in merchandising and theatre it’s little wonder that dressing windows for display is as much a art as it is commerce.

The Origins of Window Dressing  came to light with the use of the plated glass in the 1890’s.  Before that lovely invention (plated glass) window dressing was almost in non-existent.  Store owners used true standbys as painted billboards, wooden signs and poster to advertise their wares.

In the early windows displays it was focused on the quantity of products rather than the quality of design.  In these early stages windows had no impression to the consumer  and needed a “little drama” to catch their eyes.

Thats when the fun started.   More lifelike mannequins contributed to more creative window displays.  A wide variety of innovations came to light in the turn of the century and sparked a creative outburst in the window dressing industry.  Electric lights was used to make windows more visible in day and night, mannequins were used instead of dressmakers bust.

A window of a store selling hats - see quantity

Its wasn’t long before major forms of movies, musicals, actors and artists alike impacted the overall approach to window dressing in the 1930’s.

                    

What I could find of the term “visual merchandising” wasn’t much only that it became the popular in 2004 and replaced window dressing.

window in 1918

Window 1923

Window in the 1950's

Olympic inspired window in 1948

Hope you enjoyed this little bit of history..........

xoxo