Applications are open for a number of jobs in the fashion business for anyone with an interest in clothing brands and merchandise. Fashion merchandising is the art of using eye-catching displays and advertising to persuade consumers to purchase specific apparel items and adhere to current trends. It might be beneficial for you to learn more about this industry if you have a strong marketing background and a passion for fashion.
This page explains fashion merchandising, including its definition, functions, employment opportunities, and necessary qualifications.
Fashion merchandising: what is it?
Presenting a clothing item or accessory to a buyer at the perfect moment and price is known as fashion merchandising. A product’s popularity and likelihood of success are determined by meticulous planning and promotion, which is a skill of successful fashion merchandisers. Fashion merchandising teams are employed by brands to provide design guidance and assist in presenting products to target consumers. Selling more products and increasing brand profitability are the two main objectives of fashion retailing.
What is involved in fashion merchandising?
Fashion merchandising professionals carry out a range of duties in an effort to boost revenue and sell more goods. Fashion merchandisers are employed in a variety of settings, such as trade or fashion exhibitions, retail stores, and company offices. They frequently work along with sales and marketing teams, suppliers, visual merchandisers, and fashion designers. Fashion merchandising encompasses the subsequent tasks:
-} Promotion: To draw in new clients, fashion experts such as merchandisers build a range of promotional displays and campaigns.
-} Advertising: To promote new sales and promotional deals, merchandising companies typically create print ads and social media ads.
-} Research: To ascertain what is most likely to sell, merchandisers must also conduct research and make predictions about upcoming fashion trends, consumer demographics, and vogue apparel styles.
-} Pricing: In addition to setting retail pricing, merchandisers must also examine purchasing patterns to ascertain how prices may fluctuate in response to demand.
-} In order: to make sure they get the greatest deal, merchandisers frequently need to bargain with clothes producers.
-} Travel: Attending fashion shows, conventions, and other retail venues is sometimes required in the fashion merchandising sector, particularly for larger projects.
Careers in fashion retailing
1.] Merchandiser of fashion
The average annual wage nationwide is $47,290.
Principal responsibilities: Fashion merchandisers oversee a range of branding and promotion initiatives in addition to showcasing apparel and fashion items in retail settings like department stores. They set retail prices, create eye-catching store displays, and oversee the production and manufacturing processes. They also create marketing campaigns to advertise new products.
2.] Sales representative in retail
$43,169 year is the average pay nationwide.
Principal responsibilities: Retail sales assistants assist clients in finding items by interacting closely with them. They could inform clients about exclusive deals and promotions and provide product recommendations based on current fashion trends. In addition, they manage returns, restock products, process payments and refunds, and keep an eye on the changing rooms.
3.] Merchandiser with visuals
$44,863 annually is the average pay nationwide.
Principal responsibilities: Visual merchandisers design the store’s layout and choose the finest locations for advertising and signage. They create plans for enhancing the area and setting up display goods to increase sales. In addition, they create displays and floor plans for unique marketing campaigns and deals.
4.] Marketing expert
$57,173 annually is the average salary nationwide.
Principal responsibilities: Fashion merchandising professionals that specialize in marketing develop advertising and marketing campaigns to showcase new products. They create price plans, carry out market research to evaluate the demographic data pertaining to their target audience, and oversee the brand’s social media accounts. They might also produce content to pique the interest of potential clients.
5.] Manager of merchandise
$54,920 year is the average pay nationwide.
Principal responsibilities: item managers plan store displays, arrange for special promotions, and place orders for item delivery. They oversee product sales, replenish shelves, and assess which promotions and discounts are most likely to be successful. They can also hire and manage other merchandising staff members as needed thanks to their merchandise manager skill set.
6.] Retail purchaser
The average annual pay nationwide is $71,123.
Principal responsibilities: Products are chosen by retail buyers to be resold at department stores and other establishments. In order to predict customer demand, they evaluate historical sales data and attend fashion and trade fairs. They oversee every facet of the purchasing procedure and prepare comprehensive purchasing strategies that specify the retailer’s preferences.
Qualifications for employment in fashion retailing
In addition to some internship or entry-level experience, fashion merchandisers often hold a diploma or degree in fashion, retail sales, or a similar discipline. The following are typical prerequisites for employment in the field:
Instruction
Candidates with an associate degree in fashion merchandising or who have finished certificate programs in similar subjects are sometimes given preference by businesses when hiring for merchandising positions. For those who want to work in management or at a higher level, a bachelor’s degree in fashion design or merchandising may be helpful. Graduates of this four-year undergraduate program gain instruction in the liberal arts while also improving their business and fashion acumen. A typical degree program in fashion might include the following courses:
-} Theory of color and textiles
-} Fashion’s past
-} Store administration
-} Planning and managing merchandise
-} Chain of supply
-} Predicting fashion
-} Customer conduct
Experience at work
Aspiring fashion merchandisers might obtain some work experience by interning with a fashion brand during or soon after they graduate from college. They can learn the fundamentals of fashion merchandising outside of the classroom through an internship. Career centers at certain colleges and universities provide tools to assist students in applying for internships. Also, internships can provide students with beneficial networking possibilities.
Prospective fashion merchandisers may also wish to look into volunteer opportunities with textile manufacturers, retail establishments, or designers. These people can apply for entry-level positions as junior merchandisers, sales or brand representatives, marketing assistants, assistant buyers, or assistants with a basic awareness of fashion and purchasing trends. They may be able to apply for jobs as fashion merchandisers after a year of working in entry-level roles.
Expert portfolio
Applications for positions as fashion merchandisers frequently require applicants to submit a polished portfolio of their work. A biography outlining their experience, images of their displays, a list of the brands or goods they’ve endorsed, and their thoughts on current fashion trends could all be included. A well-rounded portfolio enables them to demonstrate not just their knowledge of current trends but also their inventiveness and analytical abilities. Aspiring fashion merchandisers can begin developing their portfolio during their degree program and add to it as they work on new campaigns and get expertise.
Competencies needed for a career in fashion retailing
The following abilities are particularly beneficial in employment involving fashion merchandising:
Understanding of fashion
Working in fashion merchandising necessitates having a solid awareness of both the newest trends and popular products. Having a solid understanding of fashion can help with item pricing and campaign design. Additionally, it can assist merchandisers in making better-informed choices about apparel displays.
Originality
Fashion merchandisers handle a wide range of patterns, materials, and aesthetics. It’s critical that they have the eye for fashionable goods and the imagination to present them to buyers. Their ability to be creative enables them to create eye-catching displays and campaigns that highlight the newest designs and trends in fashion.
Interaction
Fashion merchandising professionals use their written and spoken communication abilities to persuade customers that they need a particular product. They are also in charge of providing thorough product descriptions and responding to inquiries from clients. Their ability to speak effectively also enables them to work well with colleagues while placing orders for new accessories or stocking shelves.
Convincing
Persuading clients to acquire things is a requirement for many roles in fashion retailing that are related to sales and marketing. Persuasive abilities can facilitate the identification and expression of an object’s appeal. Persuasion is also required while negotiating with suppliers and manufacturers to make sure the store pays a reasonable price for a new item.
Making decisions
Fashion merchandisers are in charge of determining which products to promote the most and which are likely to be in demand. A brand’s sales may be impacted by their decisions. Proficient decision-making abilities enable them to make better-informed choices that enhance the company’s reputation.
Paying close attention to details
Working in merchandising requires you to notice the little things that add up to a good design. It can be particularly crucial to be able to carefully assess trends, materials, colors, and styles. Merchandisers can create displays and store layouts that are more effective by paying close attention to detail.
Analytical
Employees in charge of fashion merchandising and marketers frequently assess recent, upcoming, and historical fashion trends. They can examine consumer data more extensively and estimate sales more accurately if they possess strong analytical skills. For instance, in order to determine the appropriate price for the new pair of jeans, they could want to know how many clients bought from a particular brand.
