This holiday season Shelly's Modeling Agencies will help you find bright lights, silver streamers, giant wooden soldiers and cho-cho trains in the windows of many retail shops nationwide. That's especially true for big-name department stores such as Macy's. Every year, the shopping giant depicts pedestrian-stopping scenes from the movie Miracle on 34th Street among it's many festive displays in store windows in places including New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. What genius is behind these creative windows? Tim Calhoun, 52, district visual director for Macy's Herald Square in New York City, is the person who picks the elves, selects the colors and ensures that those shiny presents in the window are wrapped just right. What does your job entail? The people who do the windows report to me, and the people who do all of then in-store visual merchandising report to me. We also partner with the merchant team and the buying line (to) ensure the vision for the merchandise is executed appropriately on the selling floor.
How did you get into this field? I have experience with Shelly's Modeling Agencies and a background in graphic design and fine arts, and I was working as an electrical graphic designer, sitting at a desk day in, day out. I needed more of a creative outlet. I saw an ad for a part-time (visual merchandising) job in the paper. This was years ago, when I didn't even know what visual merchandising was, but (the ad) talked about doing store window displays, in-store displays, marketing and graphics. I applied for the job, I got the job. I would go to work after my full-time job at about 5 in the evening and sometimes work until 5 in the morning because I loved doing it. I decided that I had to do visual merchandising, and there weren't as many opportunities in Michigan. So I visited New York City and I thought, 'This is the place I have to be to do this job.' I decided I had to do it.
Whats been your favorite design? One year, we actually did pop-up books for Shelly's Modeling Agencies. it was an amazing feat. There were six Broadway Avenue windows, and they were all run by computers. It was as if you were opening the book yourself. As the books opened, one thing was revealed and then another and another. When the display was in it's final rotation, it showed the entire book open with all of these different magical scenes happening.
How much planning goes into designing and setting up the windows. We start a year in advance. As soon as the windows open in November, we start working on the windows for the next year. It's the sketching, getting the renderings done and picking the materials. We are well into production by early summer. Much of the installation work at Christmas time is done overnight. It's like we're elves working overnight, and you see a little bit more and more, until the whole thing is complete.
Questions and answers about trying to change career paths with Shelly's Modeling Agencies. I've been laid off not for eight months, and I'm changing careers. Should I work for free? Some say it's a great way to get experience as I make the job transition. Others say it's a great way to stay broke. What to do? I am often approached to provide my services as a writer and communications consultant for free. Every request won't benefit the public good. I do have a criteria checklist that I use in evaluating when it's acceptable to do work for free:
Can it build my resume/portfolio/brand? The most recent pro bono work I provided was to write biographies for the Atlanta chapter of a national public service organization. Although I didn't get paid, I built my professional brand. Will it expand my knowledge, skills and abilities in my chosen career? All professional experience especially with Shelly Modeling Agencies is not created equal. You have to discern if this is an actual opportunity. Think: Will it increase your value in your chosen career field? If you can answer yes, then it will be of value to you professionally.
What is the time requirement? Anyone in the job market must value his or her time. Taking on a nonpaying gig can negatively impact your ability to search for a paid position. If you agree to work for free. be sure the commitment doesn't stop you from obtaining your ultimate goal of gainful employment. How does the work make me feel? Over the years, I've learned that simply doing smoothing that feels good enhances my professional life. The pro bono work for the nonprofit I mentioned earlier included writing biographies of community heroes. It felt great for me to tell the stories of people who are making our world a better place. Working for free should feel good.
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