Students will have a diverse education because they need to have knowledge about the past as well as the present and the skills to help them in the future. Students in the program will spend a significant amount of time on projects where they will gain hands-on experience but students will also have the opportunity to learn from their teachers' experiences, guest speakers, and textbooks as well.
They may even have the opportunity to visit a fashion magazine or large clothing company, or even attend a fashion show in order to gain insight into the world of fashion and retail merchandising. Because students need to learn about manufacturing, buying, promoting, and selling fashion items including clothing, jewelry, makeup and even furniture. And this will help creative individuals become savvy business professionals ready for the fashion world.
It is important for fashion merchandisers to help their customers connect to fashion and this may involve merchandisers to do a number of tasks including:
- Negotiating with Manufacturers and Suppliers
- Managing Stores
- Setting up Displays
- Advertising and Marketing
- Attending Fashion Shows
Skills Necessary for a Career in Fashion Merchandising
- Decision Making
- Business Savvy
- Analytical Skills
- Communication Skills
- Creativity
Since there are many opportunities awaiting fashion merchandising professionals it's important for them to not only know about the fashion industry but also about the stores they work in. They should know how to analyze changing market trends, oversee production costs, supervise sales, and create potential income projections. They should also be creating market strategies to increase sales, ensure products are presented in an appealing manner, track store profits, produce store inventories and supervise the store as well as displays.
Individuals in the fashion merchandising field must also be flexible in order to adapt to the changing world of fashion. They also need business skills in order to be an asset to their company. Skilled professionals should have the ability to navigate the fashion business which means understanding and predicting the changing needs of consumers and how that relates to trends, along with how to promote their fashion products.
Careers in Fashion Merchandising
- Fashion Promotion Specialist
- Event Planner
- Set Designer
- Interior Designer
- Retail Manager
- Fashion Photographer
- Fashion Designer
- Fashion Stylist
The majority of professionals in fashion design earn a median salary between $35,000 and $75,000. But for merchandise displayers the average is from $15,000 to $40,000. For fashion merchandisers growth is expected to grow around 21% to 35% over the next ten years and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics there are over 77,000 fashion merchandisers currently working in the U.S.
Because of the training and knowledge that are needed to be successful in this career, there are many design schools and universities, colleges, and trade schools offering fashion merchandising degrees. And students may have the opportunity to participate in an internship program or volunteer for a job in their field. Then after graduation students are ready to start their career in fashion merchandising.
For those that love shopping, chic clothing and accessorizing a degree in fashion merchandising is perfect for them. Individuals will not only get to study past and professional designs but also the cultures and subcultures that shape how people dress. And students will also learn about fabrics and textiles because that is crucial to working in the fashion world.
* Area of Study
