What Is a Fashion Merchandiser?
Fashion merchandisers make selections as to what clothing and accessory items will be available for sale in a retail store. They find apparel from clothing distributors, wholesalers, manufacturing companies, and designers and then act as buyers for boutiques, department stores, and chain stores.
To ensure that the most marketable merchandize is ordered, they must stay up to date on current fashion trends and predict upcoming trends. They must take into consideration their store’s target market and study consumer behavior and buyer preferences. Fashion merchandisers can also work with manufacturers and provide input on fabrics and construction so that pieces of clothing can be produced at the best quality and price.
Fashion merchandisers work during regular business hours in professional office environments. These offices can be at the retail store itself or at corporate headquarters. Sometimes, they may be required to work evenings or weekends to participate in special sales, attend conferences, or make production deadlines. It is not uncommon for them to travel to visit suppliers and manufacturers or attend trade and fashions shows.
How to Become a Fashion Merchandiser
Those who are interested in working in fashion merchandizing should pursue a bachelor’s degree in fashion merchandizing or a related area like fashion design, consumer sciences, or fashion marketing. In these types of degree programs, students learn about the fashion and retail industry as well as the processes of manufacturing, buying, promoting, and selling clothing items. Common courses include fashion buying, retail management, textile fibers and fabrics, apparel construction techniques, apparel manufacturing, and marketing.
As this type of merchandizing deals with the business side of fashion, courses in areas like economics, finance, management, and sales and marketing could prove beneficial. To be a fashion merchandiser, you must be business-minded, able to pay attention to detail, and have a keen eye for fashion trends. An internship in fashion design, retail, or marketing can help you develop the skills and abilities necessary to succeed in this field.
Fashion Merchandiser Career Outlook & Salary
Those interested in the business of buying and selling are likely to be able to pursue careers doing so. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents is projected to increase by 7% within the next decade. This is due to more companies requiring purchased goods and services and large companies expanding their purchasing departments.
Yet, within the retail industry, not much growth is expected as the employment of wholesale and retail buyers is expected to decline by 2%. This is because of an increasing number of mergers which are causing some buying departments to consolidate and other buying departments to relocate from local stores to centralized company headquarters.
The best candidates for fashion merchandising jobs will have a strong knowledge of business, be familiar with the fashion industry, and possess a solid understanding of the consumer market. The Bureau reported that the median annual wages of wholesale and retail buyers was $48,710 in May 2008.
