Curb Appeal: The Art of Visual Merchandising

Many entrepreneurs struggle to translate the quality of their products into compelling in‑store displays that actually drive sales. Without a clear merchandising strategy, even great products can be overlooked by customers.

This interactive, 45‑minute, in‑person workshop helps small business owners turn their spaces into powerful sales tools using proven visual merchandising techniques. Led by two experienced female speakers, this session delivers practical, actionable guidance tailored to businesses in apparel, hard goods, food, and salon industries.

Workshop objectives:

• Understand the fundamentals of effective visual merchandising
• Learn how to use vertical and horizontal merchandising to guide customer flow
• Apply color blocking techniques to create eye-catching displays
• Merchandise by key item to highlight bestsellers and increase sales
• Gain actionable tips to immediately improve product presentation in your space

Emily Moldovan is a dynamic leader in retail and visual merchandising with a deep-rooted passion for art and fashion. A graduate of the Columbus College of Art & Design, Emily has worked with iconic brands like Gap Inc., Limited Too, Justice, and Victoria's Secret, building a reputation for her creativity and positivity. Her leadership style focuses on empowerment, inspiring teams through mentorship and example. Currently, she serves as the Director of Visual Merchandising and Events at ZenGenius, Inc., where she continues to drive innovation and bring visions to life.

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Stephanie Bair-Garant is a creative leader in visual merchandising and retail experience design with over 20 years of experience, including 10+ cumulative years with ZenGenius. She has led visual merchandising for Anthropologie and Free People, and driven initiatives across the U.S. for brands including New Balance, Wayfair, and Ohio Liquor. As Director of Visual Merchandising + Talent at ZenGenius, she builds high-performing teams and delivers innovative, results-driven visual strategies for retail and experiential environments.

The Economic & Community Development Institute's Women's Business Centers of Ohio guide individuals at any stage of the business process. Through one-on-one counseling sessions with WBC staff and volunteers, you can get the direction and resources to meet your goals. Business advisers want to help you successfully start a business, or grow and expand your existing business -- increasing revenue and creating jobs for the local economy.

The WBCs present training workshops regularly to provide access to small business knowledge at no charge. They are the only SBA-funded Women's Business Centers in the state.

Funded (in part) through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.

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Host or Publisher Women's Business Center of Central Ohio