I’ve just come back from London after visiting the VM & Display Show, and once again it was such a great experience. As someone who has always had a passion for visual merchandising, retail design and creativity, being surrounded by people working within the industry was really inspiring.
One of the things I love about visiting an industry exhibition like this is seeing just how much visual merchandising continues to change. There are always new ideas, technologies and services being developed to help people working in the industry. It reminds me that visual merchandising isn’t just about creating a beautiful window display — there is so much happening behind the scenes to bring an idea to life.
Walking around the show, there was so much to take in, from mannequins, props and graphics to lighting, fabrics, printing, Christmas decorations and display services. I loved being able to see everything together under one roof and speak to people who actually work within different areas of the industry.
For me, it is also about learning and getting inspired. You can discover new trends, find out about different companies and learn more about how businesses create displays that attract customers and bring their brands to life.
Spending two days at the show is definitely worth it because there is so much information to take in. You don’t realise how many different skills, companies and creative ideas are involved in visual merchandising until you see them all together.
The industry is incredibly competitive, so I think experiences like this are important. You have to keep learning, developing your ideas and understanding how the industry is changing. Seeing new technology especially made me think about how different visual merchandising could look in the future.
It also reminded me why I became interested in this career in the first place. I love creativity, retail and seeing an idea develop from something on paper into a real display that customers can experience.
Every year the show feels different. There are new exhibitors, new products, new technology and new people entering the industry with their own ideas. That’s what makes me want to keep going back.
I came away from London with new ideas, inspiration and even more excitement about visual merchandising.
I already can’t wait to see what next year’s show brings! ❤️
Until next time, London — and roll on the next VM & Display Show!
