EP 127: FRAMING UP THE MERCHANDISING VISION WITH MELISSA HESSE

This week’s episode is sponsored by MC Design Academy. MC Design Academy is designed to be a space where I get to share my expertise with you, where you'll get to learn all about visual merchandising, design, display, retail, and everything in between. Come along as I practice my craft and be sure to like, subscribe, and follow our socials to keep updated. See you in the merchandising land of MC Design Academy!

Melissa Hesse doesn't have a degree in art, but somehow, she made it her career. She started at Z Gallerie back in 1993 as a part-time sales associate while going to college. Melissa then spent the next 14 years there, holding almost every position possible, but she always found the art department her home.

After six years in the stores, she moved into the corporate office and spent the next eight years in the art department as the Merchandise Planner and Assistant Buyer. Melissa would help select the artwork for over 70 stores.  She went on buying trips and worked with publishers and wholesale framers on new merchandise for the stores. Fun was the best way she could describe her experience at Z Gallerie, where she met lifelong friends.

After 14 years, Melissa made the leap to Third and Wall Art Group, which was a vendor she had purchased posters from. She’s been with Third and Wall for almost 15 years and was recently promoted to Creative Director. Today, Melissa services a small number of accounts, which helps her keep a finger on the pulse of her clients’ needs. At Third and Wall, Melissa and her team can customize artwork to fit the scope of any project by changing color, creating pieces, or cropping existing imagery to fit a certain size. She’s always amazed at what the creative team can do.

Melissa’s a Southern California native raised in the San Gabriel Valley. She’s a mom to two amazing young men, Jake (22) and Zach (21) and she’s been happily married (ok, not all day every day, but most days) to her husband of 25 years, Bill. Her kids call her an 'Art Editor' and, in some ways, that might be the most accurate description of what she does.

Michelle and Melissa discuss her journey from Z Gallerie to Third and Wall Art Group and how she curates custom work for her clients. They talk about how Melissa works with merchandisers and retailers to help tie their vision together. Melissa also shares insights into her process, how she curates custom looks for stores to help them stand out, and much more.


What’s Inside:

• How Melissa and her team work with clients at Third and Wall.
• How Melissa works with merchandisers and retailers to tie their vision together.
• How Melissa selects submissions from artists.

Mentioned In This Episode:
Third and Wall Website
Third and Wall on Twitter
Third and Wall on Instagram
Third and Wall on Facebook
Third and Wall on YouTube
Third and Wall on LinkedIn
Third and Wall on Pinterest