Visual Merchandizing Initiative came to life in July 2005 in Cologne. The founders were the international commercial enterprises Bizerba, BrandLogistics.NET, Checkpoint Systems, Online Software, Microsoft and Wincor Nixdorf.

They share a common goal – to promote sales culture in the broadest meaning and linked with it, to support the appreciation of consumers. These goals were defined in the Articles of Association and registered in the Cologne Register of Associations.

The association is open to all companies from trade and industry, service providers and interest associations, dealing with visual merchandising.