Fashion Merchandiser | Salary & Careers (2024)

A sense of style and the willingness to wear or display current fashions themselves are additional ingredients of a successful fashion merchandiser. While it might seem the opposite to art and fashion, a person in this role needs strong analytical skills to do well. As an example, he or she needs to consider the company budget whenpurchasing inventory. An equally important component is the ability to determine whether certain products meet the needs and demands of customers and determining how long something might stay in fashion. Knowing thelife cycleof a product helps stores avoid having to liquidate excess inventory later.

Some of the specific duties of a fashion merchandiser include:

• Researching current fashion trends and predicting what may be popular in the future
• Attending fashion shows
• Creating advertising and marketing campaigns
• Developing a budget and making sure that everyone stays within it
• Negotiating with manufacturers and suppliers

• Researching customer demographics to determine how to market to them
• Coordinate efforts with sales, design, and merchandise planning teams
• Buying inventory
• Creating store displays to highlight certain products

• Theory of Textiles and Colors
• History of Fashion
• Merchandise Planning and Management Strategies
• Fashion Forecasting and Research
• Supply Chain Management
• Psychology of Consumer Behavior
• Retail Management

When creating a professional portfolio, it is crucial to include only work that displays current or recent fashion trends. A portfolio with work that is even a year outdated tells the employer or client that the applicant is not as in touch with current fashions as he or she should be. The portfolio can include biographical text about experiences relevant to the position, photographs of recent work, personal reflections on fashion merchandising and trends, and essays about the driving forces behind certain trends. The work should show increasing complexity and problem-solving abilities.

Since most people hiring someone to complete fashion design are more interested in the portfolio than other credentials, students should choose a school with instructors who spend significant time teaching how to create a portfolio and what to include. Any item that shows unique work and futuristic thinking is likely to be well-received by employers and clients.

A fashion merchandising internship exposes students to actual work environments outside of a classroom setting. Most colleges offering a certificate or degree in this field require students to complete at least one internship off campus. Students earn credits towards their degree for this work experience in addition to a small financial stipend in some cases. The third year of college is often the ideal time to complete an internship because students have learned the basics of fashion merchandising and will return to learn more advanced skills during the senior year.

Finding an internship is usually left to the student, although most schools have career centers to obtain resources and guidance counselors to help with the process. A counselor may assist students with preparing for an interview and providing leads for him or her to pursue. In addition to offering an opportunity to learn hands-on job skills, internships allow students to make industry contacts, gain experience and references for their resume, and explore different aspects of this career.

Finding volunteer work in fashion merchandising can be a challenge. Most retail outlets and textile manufacturers require skilled and educated staff in order to meet their client’s needs. Due to the high-end nature of some of the fashions, students are less likely to find a volunteer opportunity with a charitable organization or non-profit agency. One place to start might be sorting and displaying clothing donations at churches, second-hand stores, or social services agencies. This experience will come in handy when moving on to a paying position.

After working in the industry for a while, some people decide to pursue a specialty certification or an advanced degree. Popular areas of specialization in fashion merchandising include advertising, communications, retail management, design, and marketing. Those who seek these certifications complete several courses on specific subjects to demonstrate mastery in that particular area.

Goingback to schoolto get a master degree is another popular option for those who already work as a fashion merchandiser. Colleges typically require previous industry experience along with a bachelor degree to admit students into a post-graduate program. It takes approximately two years of full-time study to earn this degree. Examples of courses at this level include:

• Fashion Analysis and Theory
• Fashion Buying Strategies
• Textile Markets
• Consumer Buying Behavior
• Operations Control
• Apparel and Accessory Production

This career offers a variety of work environments depending on the specific interests of the employee or self-employed individual. Some of the most common environments include retail stores, manufacturing companies, textile companies, theater, and dance organizations, and design firms. Fashion merchandisers certainly don’t sit at a desk all day. They use the computer and telephone to secure deals and plan displays, but more of their time is spent traveling or managing the retail environment.

Approximately 25 percent of people working in this industry are self-employed. More than other fashion merchandisers, those who work for themselves offer independent clothing lines and custom apparel. The hours can be long in this field and may include regular evenings and weekends, especially for those who work in the retail industry.Wholesalersand manufacturers employ the highest percentage offashion merchandisers.

• Retail Buyer: $58,532 to $115,348
• Visual Merchandiser: $27,129 to $62,997
• Wholesale Account Representative: $43,112 to $86,114
• Retail Fashion Store Manager: $37,656 to $80,016
• Merchandise Planner: $44,949 to $85,927
• Market Analyst: $55,804 to $136,842

Fashion merchandising is often confused with fashion design, but they are not the same thing.Fashion designerscreate new lines of clothing, shoes, and accessories while fashion merchandisers plan the best way to advertise and sell them. Fashion design uses more creative skills while merchandising requires stronger business skills. Either may be a good fit for someone interested in fashion. Other skills designers use on the job include sketching and drawing, creating new fashions using computer-aided design (CAD), and selection of fabric, color, and style for new projects.

Fashion modeling is another popular related career. People in this occupation pose for photographers and artists to display new lines of clothing and accessories. The resulting advertisem*nt may end up in a magazine, newspaper, direct mail flyer, email, or a banner ad on the Internet. Modeling does not require any formal education and may be an excellent way for people to break into the world of fashion.

Graphic designersuse some of the same skills as fashion merchandisers except that their work is more often with computers programs than physical properties. They create compelling images either by hand or with the help of a CAD program. After creating the images, graphic designers decide how they will appear on websites, brochures, and other printed media. This is similar to how those in fashion merchandising careers plan and display new fashion items to make them most attractive to buyers.

• International Textile and Apparel Association
• International Association of Fashion Designers and Executives
• National Retail Federation
• Fashion Industry Association
• Fashion Group International

• Fashion Consultant
• Fashion Designer
• Fashion Model
• Jewelry Designer
• Makeup Artist
• Pattern Maker
• Shoe Designer
• Textile Designer