Course Title: Work effectively as a visual merchandiser

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2007

Course Code: MKTG5697C

Course Title: Work effectively as a visual merchandiser

School: 320T Design (TAFE)

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5177 - Diploma of Visual Merchandising

Course Contact : Jo Beckerleg

Course Contact Phone: 9925 4211

Course Contact Email:joanne.beckerleg@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

johno.young@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 32

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This unit provides an overview of the visual merchandising area of the retail industry and the skills and knowledge required to work effectively and develop a career in visual merchandising.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

WRRVM1A Work effectively as a visual merchandiser

Element:

Determine roles and responsibilities in a visual merchandising work environment

Performance Criteria:

The retail organisation structure and related departments are identified.

The roles of retail organisation-based and freelance visual merchandisers are identified and compared in the context of typical specific responsibilities.

Common career paths and employment opportunities for visual merchandisers are identified.

Element:

Develop knowledge of the visual merchandising area in the retail and exhibition industries

Performance Criteria:

The ability to differentiate between the following retail visual merchandising components is demonstrated:

Element:

Work effectively in a visual merchandising environment

Performance Criteria:

Notification of shift availability, non-attendance for shift given without undue delay and according to organisation policies and procedures.

Staff rosters interpreted accurately.

Non-discriminatory attitudes displayed when interacting with clients, staff or management.

Relevant award/agreement identified and interpreted accurately.

Role of employee and employer associations in industrial relations system identified and analysed.


Learning Outcomes


1 Develop knowledge of the visual merchandising area in the retail and exhibition industries
2 Determine roles and responsibilities in a visual merchandising work environment
3 Work effectively in a visual merchandising environment


Details of Learning Activities

On your timetable this competency will be referred to as Professional Practice (PP).
This competency is delivered and assessed with MKTG 5697
• Industry visits
• Role play
• Sourcing
• Design
• Manage and facilitate
• Group work
• Presentations
• Research
• Lead a team


Teaching Schedule

SEMESTER ONE

WEEK CLASS CONTENT WRRO9A WRRVM1A
 1

 
Introduction and welcome to VM

• General RMIT information and guided walk

Overview of subject


• Getting to know each other - the ‘ME Map’ class exercise


 1.2
3.2
3.3
4.1
 
 2  
Been Now Going (WK 4)
• ‘Been-Now-Going’ discussion
• Brainstorming
• Presentation techniques
• Verbal skills required when presenting
 2.1
2.4
 
 3  Site visit to the Immigration Museum  4.4 6.4
5.5 6.2
 1.1
 4  Been-Now-Going presentations to class  1.2
1.3
3.2
3.3
 
 5  
VM Survival Kit (WK 7)
• VM Survival Kit discussion
• Different types of survival kits
• VM point of difference discussion
• Presentation options for personal style and identity

 4.1
4.2
6.4
1.4
1.5
 
 6  International Research (WK 16)
• Groups are chosen for research brief

Training Session (WK 8 & 9)
• Groups selected for training session
• Explanation of the difference between a training session and a presentation
• Time management discussion
• How to conduct an effective training session

 1.4
1.5
2.2
2.3
2.4
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5

 1.1
 7  
VM Survival Kit Presentations


Secondary School Talk (WK 16)
 1.2 6.3
1.3 6.4
6.1 5.2
6.2 5.4
 2.2
2.3
1.1
 8 Training session presentations  4.1 5.3
4.2 5.4
4.3 5.5
5.1 6.1
5.2 6.2
6.3 6.4
 
 9  Training session presentations  4.1 5.3
4.2 5.4
4.3 5.5
5.1 6.1
5.2 6.2
6.3 6.4
 
 10  
• Discussion on the secondary school talks
• Who is going where?
• Contacts for the secondary school?
• What do we know about Visual Merchandising?
• Show the power point slide show for secondary schools
• Show bag of brochures to be given and evaluation forms

 4.1
4.2
4.4
2.3
2.2
3.1
3.2
3.3

 
 11  
Site visit to the City Library or State Library for international research brief

 1.3
1.4
2.4
 1.1
 12  
VM interview (WK 16)

• Interview and research techniques
• Who to interview?
• How to interview?
• Different types of interview strategy’s and questions

 2.1
2.4
4.4
5.4
5.5
6.2
6.3
6.4
 2.1
2.2
2.3
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
 13  
Students to conduct interview of a Visual Merchandiser during this time

 2.1
2.4
4.4
5.4
5.5
6.2
6.3
6.4
 1.1
2.1
2.2
2.3
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
 14  
• Progress check on secondary school talk
• Progress check on interview of a visual merchandiser
• Progress check on international store research
• Problems occurring
 6.2
6.3
6.4
 
 15  
Site visit to a Visual Merchandising company

 5.5
6.2
 1.1
 16  
Secondary School Talk diary DUE

International research DUE
 
Interview of a Visual Merchandiser DUE

   
 17

 
Tutorial

Approved resubmissions

   

 

SEMESTER TWO

WEEK CLASS CONTENT WRRO9A WRRVM1A
 1 Introduction
• Articles about shopping or retail environments
• Types of places to source articles
• Nominate a date for each student to bring their article
• Read an example article

VM Articles (WK 16)
 2.2
3.3
4.2
4.4
5.4

 
 2  Articles from two students
• Source a career path you would like to investigate and a company
 
Career Pack (WK 11)
   2.3
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
 3  • Articles from two students
• Existing students resumes
• Steps in building a resume
• Start mock-up for new resume
 
2.2
2.3
3.3
3.5
 4  • Articles from two students
• Progress check on new resume
• All students to have sourced a company they would like to work for
• Discuss companies available within the VM industry
   2.1
2.2
2.3
 5  • Articles from two students
• Steps in writing a cover letter for the chosen company
• Start mock-up for cover letter
• Verbal presentations of interview brief
Resume DUE
   2.3
3.5
 6  • Articles from two students
• Progress check on cover letter
• Business card and letter head design progress check from Design class
• Find 2 VM jobs and bring in adverts for next class
   2.3
 7  • Articles from two students
• Introduce Career Statements
• Start mock-up of career statements in class using the two job adverts sourced
Cover Letter DUE 
Business Card DUE 
Letterhead DUE
   2.1
2.2
2.3
 8  • Articles from two students
• Introduce Calling Cards
• Start mock-up of calling cards in class using the two job adverts
   2.1
2.2
2.3
 9  • Articles from two students
• Introduce Budgets
• What is a budget and how to create one?
• What is your hourly rate of pay?
• Record keeping
• Discuss budget brief in class
Budget (WK 12) 
Calling Cards DUE 
Career Statements DUE

   2.3
 10  • Articles from two students
• Discussion on meeting client expectations, contacting and sourcing suppliers.
• Source and contact details for suppliers used to give to class
• Site walk to French Connection for brief
   2.3
3.4
 11  Career Pack DUE    
 12  Site visit
 
Budget DUE
 3.3  
 13  • Required to bring in drawing equipment and magazines for this class exercise
• Team B 
Hit the Ground Running (WK 13)
Hit the Ground Running DUE
 4.4
5.4
 2.3
 14  • Articles from two students
• Press/Media Release
• What is a press/media release
Press/Media Release (WK 15)
 5.3 6.2
5.5 6.3
 2.3
 15  • Articles from two students
• Articles from two students
• Class exercise – write a press/media release
Press/Media release DUE
 5.3 6.2
5.5 6.3
 2.3
 16  • Articles from two students
• Career Pack Test
 2.2 3.3
4.2 4.4
5.4
 
 17  Approved Re-submissions
Tutorial
   


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References

What will I need access to for this course?

1. Students are advised to purchase a photocopy card to use with the library photocopiers and printers.
2. Computer workstation (Mac or PC)
3. Print presentation equipment & facilities
4. A notebook and pens/pencils suitable to take class notes will be required.
5. A folder to store the VM Principles & Presentation 1 (Theory) handouts and notes taken.
6. Additional materials or equipment will be supplied in class.


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

• Group presentations
• Reflective journaling
• Research project
• Report writing


Assessment Tasks

Assessment may include :
A range of methods to asses performance and the application of essential underpinning knowledge, and might include:
 Direct observation in class
 Participation in group work
 Evaluation of subject matter
 Oral and/or written questioning
 Discussion of the selected subject matter
 Written and/or verbal reports

Semester 1
1. Been Now Going = 10% WK 4
2. VM Survival Kit = 15% WK 7
3. Training Session = 15% WK 8 & 9
4. International Research = 20% WK 16
5. Secondary School Talk = 30% WK 16
6. VM Interview = 10% WK 16

Semester 2
7. Articles = 10% WK 16
8. Career Pack = 40% WK 11
9. Budget = 20% WK 12
10. Hit the Ground Running = 10% WK 13
11. Press Media Release = 10% WK 15
12. Career Pack Test = 10% WK 16


Assessment Matrix

Marks recorded
HD High Distinction 80-100% competency achieved
DI Distinction 70-79% competency achieved
CR Credit 60-69% competency achieved
PA Pass (higher grading available) 50-59% competency achieved
PX Pass (no higher grading available) competency achieved
NN Fail NN 0-49% not yet competent

• Assessment is ongoing throughout the semester


• Students must pass all assessment tasks in order to pass this course


• Attendance
The major learning experience involves group work, class interaction, presentations and installations. It is strongly advised that students attend all sessions in order to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring the maximum opportunity to gain the competency.


• Work not seen in progress
If a student hands in any work that the teacher has never seen in class or discussed with the student prior to the submission, the teacher can refuse the work on the basis of authentication issues.


• Late submissions
Late submissions may be considered at the teacher’s discretion, provided that:
a. A medical certificate has been produced; or
b. 48 hours notice is given re the inability to meet the nominated deadline; or
c. Special consideration forms have been completed.
Late submissions must be in consultation with the teacher and penalties may occur.
This is aligned with standard visual merchandising industry practice.


• Students may be permitted to resubmit work upon application with course teacher.


• Course guide is subject to change in relation to industry demands and availability.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview