Last week I blogged about five things I learned from our merchandiser during our $500 merchandising makeover (the makeover site is now live, so feel free to check it out) and one of our readers emailed me asking for advice on finding and hiring the right visual merchandiser. So I compiled a list of five tips…

Create a detailed description of the scope of the project.
I always believe in creating a roadmap for projects. You won't know who you're looking for until you understand what your expectations are for the project (re-design versus total makeover).  

Post the project on a number of websites.
Post the opportunity on various websites, including Craigslist and Monster and in local newspapers. Post in more than one place… different people read different things.  

Hire merchandisers with previous experience in retail.
I always specifiy that I'm searching for a visual merchandiser with a background in retail merchandising, but I also get applications from people who are aspiring to get into merchandising (or from home decorators) who think their work is applicable.  It might very well be, but why should you take the chance.  

Meet in person to review their portfolio.
It's easy to just interview the potential merchandiser over the phone and review a few images via email. However, I always recommend meeting with a potential merchandiser face-to-face. You want to make sure you have a chemistry with the person (i.e., feel comfortable and like their designs). Also, it's helpful if they give you a "guided" tour of the pictures they bring to validate their experience.

Start with a small project first.
Rather than completely overhauling the store, work with your merchandiser on a smaller project to ensure you like the quality of their work and the way they design.