Mannequin Dressing Day!!!!!!!

First before I forgot to add in this is pictures of the in store table Jubilee display and the big outside window Jubilee display! Do you like!!??

It's been a long day very tired this working days are really busy but soo rewarding!!! I love how you can get so much do in one day!! So today was mannequin dressing day which is what this placement to me a most importantly about, to help grow and development my styling, as I love being creative and styling something new and exciting to look at. In the morning I undressed the mannequins and dressed and styled them all. I got the chance to do all of it myself and Neesha even though i’ve been calling her Natasha which she corrected me today, so Neesha NOT Natasha is the part of the Visual Merchandising team who is helping me this week! Anyway Neesha after lunch helped me finish off and add accessories. They look soo good she were both well proud of the way they look.

Then after finishing the mannequins which took nearly all day but I loved every minute of it, we started styling for the two men’s mannequins which needed changing. We decided to match the styling with the women’s, making the styling bright, fresh and also layer. I had to stay just a little later to help finish them off but they looked really good in the end. Not as good as the women’s I have to say, as I feel they put way more time and effort into the women’s styling and of mannequins and everything else really. I knew women’s wear makes more money but I feel if they put more effort and attention into the men’s styling and everything they would see the difference! But that’s just my option!

The shop floor styled mannequins

The window display styled mannequins

Eventful Second Day at Urban

Firstly I forgot to take the picture of the Jubilee window display, but promise I will tomorrow!!!!!

 Well today was busy... firstly I got the job of putting all Now sale tags on the sale jewellery and accessories, as they don’t have a sale section for my and are being put out with all the fully prices products so they have to put a Now tag on instead of a Sale tag. Well it wasn’t too boring as I got feed ‘Double filled Oreo Cookies’, listened to Disney music and played games with the two of the workers down in the stock room, Urban knows how to be cool!!!!????? Then after my fun filled morning, I then just helped out with bits and bobs.     

Then had lunch at 12 and brought in a pack up today Philadelphia and tuna pasta which I made for my tea yesterday, I reenergised and started back.

 After lunch was all about getting the new styling chosen to put on the mannequins tomorrow, Natasha showed me the information head office has sent on what they want on the mannequins and ideas on the styling. They want to sell up on the dresses as they aren’t selling so well, so they want the mannequins to be all in dresses. What I like about the information the head office gives them is the freedom and creative input the Visual Merchandising team have, as yes they show them examples but thats all it is, you don’t have to stick to the dresses they have chosen and you don’t have to style them the same you have chose to style them exactly the way you want to.

This is all the pages of the information head office emailed Urban on the Styling of the Mannequins....    

I was so happy as Natasha had to go somewhere to pick up something, we had already picked the dresses together but I got the chance to style all the dresses go around the store and pick whatever I thought would work in the styling of the dresses!!!! Natasha came back and loved my styling which I was soo happy about and we then just worked together to pick more bits and pieces and finalise all the final 8 outfits.

After we were happy about each outfit we steamed all the garments so they looked smart and tidy. I loved how they steam each garment they are putting on the mannequins it proves they have standards and know they have a good credibility to uphold!

This are all the final styled outfits which are ready to be put on the mannequins tomorrow, which I am being allowed to do myself!

These are my two favourite outfits and my favourite accessories loving the bum bag in a cowboy style with studs and tassels.   

   

First Day at Urban

I have so much to talk about here goes....

Well I woke up and felt excited and eager to see what the first day had install for me! I decided on wearing a navy blue Top Shop dress with Brogue style shoes smart but casual I went for!

I also felt nervous but the morning coffee at Caffe Nero helped that!  

My first day at Urban Outfitters was a chance to learn about what working in Visual Merchandising and window displaying is like, what I loved was they gave me loads to do but it didn’t feel like work as it was enjoyable.

Paul the head of Merchandising who I went to see last Wednesday to talk about starting is down London, so Natasha how also works in Merchandising is showing me the ropes this week.

I’ll let you know what I got up to, firstly we had a walk around the women sections to look at where to put new stock out and what store to take off, which sounds a lot easier than it is as you have to put out more stock than actually fits and then you have to decide what looks/trends the stock is meant for, as at the moment they have two key looks ‘Womenswear : Paris Texas’ and ‘Womenswear: Venice Beach’. Some of the stock are very similar for example the same print that would fit with both trends, so you have to look at the colours, fabrics and use your own judgment a little.

After all that we had to then create a brand new bag display, as they usually just dot the bags around the store but the company wants them display them all together to make it much simpler to find the bag you want.  This is a picture of the final display...

This was my favourite bag, it’s a red suede clutch/shoulder bag and I want it! But it £48 which is far too much for me...

Then it was lunch before I knew it, I went to Tesco and got myself a meal deal cheap but nice.... and then sat in the canteen/staff room which is huge, they even have another room where they have a pool table which is called the ‘GUYS ROOM’. Lunch was a chance to chat to more of the staff and I got to hear all the store gossip which I enjoyed!

After chatting and gossiping, Natasha showed me the emails that the Visual Merchandising team send them from head office to inform then on returning stock, new key trends for example these are the two at the moment....

Then they also show them styling mannequin ideas, not to copy just to give them inspiration, these are some of the styling examples they have sent them...

Paris Texas: Styling Guides

Venice Beach: Style Guide

This pictures.....

Show how they grade there designer wear, so they Visual Merchandising team know how they are meant to lay out the store and to keep them informed on the designer price ranges, from entry, mild and premium clothing designer ranges...  

The head office also sends out Window Treatment ideas what they need to change for example....

They don’t have to copy it exactly as all the stores are different, it’s just to show the colour scheme, patterns and layout ect...

At the moment the displays are all about the Jubilee I will take a picture of the Jubilee display tomorrow.

When we had finished looking at the emails from head office, we had to put more new stock out find where to display it and where to move other stock to make room for the new stock and what stock to move off the floor altogether.

Then it was 4 o’clock before I knew it, such as good day! I have learnt so much about what’s involved in Merchandising, we didn’t get a change to do any window displaying today, and tomorrow I am being allowed to style the guy mannequins by myself!