VM Courses

This course is designed to enable those who may not be able to attend a college based BDS course to  attain a comprehensive range of display/visual merchandising (VM) skills whilst still having the support of a tutor. 

This course will enable you to learn the foundations of visual merchandising and display. You will learn about  how to arrange a presentation and group merchandise, how to select striking combinations of items,  how to light them effectively and what you will need to do to enhance them with backgrounds, props, and accessories. 

VM skills are relevant to many creative roles and can be used for digital styling too.  It covers elements of company image, balance, layout, production, props, lighting, interiors, and scale  drawing. In addition, there are practical exercises to hone your all-important hands-on abilities. 

The course can be progressed in your own time and at your own pace, with a tutor assigned to you for  support when required. On successful completion of the course, you will be awarded a certificate  accredited by the BDS which will be a valuable addition to your CV whether you are already working in  the industry, looking for an extra qualification, or are keen to obtain a position in VM for the first time. 

Although a shorter course and without tutor support, you’ll still be guided through the basic principles, composition and building blocks of display whether you have a long run of windows, or you just want to group a few items together. 

The guidelines of display apply whether you sell jewellery, hair and beauty products, packets of biscuits, are in retail, a service industry, hospitality, have no merchandise as such - you’re selling yourself or you just want your business to look attractive from outside. Networking or Market stalls - there’s something for you too!

Eight modules of videos, narratives, illustrations, and photographs, a downloadable Workbook too, you’ll be guided through the Six Steps of display with short tasks to do throughout,  offering you fresh ideas you may not have considered before. 

Working with Business Improvement Districts and councils over the last fifteen years and having forty years of experience in window dressing and display behind us, we’ve helped inspire many small businesses with this short course. 

First Impressions and High Street Regeneration are our aim! So do you need to create impact? Then this Starter Course in Window Dressing & Display is perfect for you and your business, achievable in a day and at your own pace and time.