Choosing a Fashion Merchandising Major

March 27, 2012 By

For many people choosing a fashion merchandising major is not an easy decision. Unlike law or medicine, there is no surefire path to a comfortable living. Even getting the best grades in school will not insure that you have a great job after graduation. Still, working towards a fashion merchandising major can be fun and worthwhile later in life.

What many people do not realize is that a fashion merchandising major can be lucrative if the proper amount of work is put into the education and networking while in school. Naturally, it is important for students to learn about the different elements of fashion merchandising.

The three sections students will focus on in the classroom are fashion, business and marketing. The fashion section of the fashion merchandising major will most likely be the most fun. There you will learn the basics of fashion, how to spot fashion, and what to look for in the latest fashion trends. You will also take classes in business, which will help you prepare for negotiating and creating proposals, which are both key aspects of being a fashion merchandiser. Finally, you will spend a great deal of time learning how to market your goods to a public audience. This will be exceedingly important as your job as a fashion merchandiser will rely almost exclusively on your ability to sell clothing to other people.

fashion merchandising major

One aspect of getting a fashion merchandising major that many people overlook are the connections made during your four years at school. Your focus of study will put you into contact with people who are just like you are. While getting your fashion merchandising major you will meet some of the future executives, entrepreneurs, and experts within the fashion merchandising fields. Although you will not know it at the time, your friends will be the face of the industry when you grow older so it is important to befriend them now and remain in their good graces.

In order for you to succeed later in your career you are going to need to build this network. You will get a chance to do so while in entry level positions as a fashion merchandiser, but getting your fashion merchandising major with hundreds of other students is an opportunity you simply cannot pass up. While learning the material in class is extremely important, much of it could technically be done from a book. However, all of the contacts that you meet while getting your fashion merchandising major are only available by attending school.

It is never too late to get a degree in fashion merchandising. There are many people who first study liberal arts or business, but are either unable to get a job or are unhappy with their day to day routine. For many of these people, fashion is their true calling and there is no reason that they can’t go back to college to get another degree. If you are thinking about making a change in your life, consider getting a fashion merchandising major!

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Finding and Getting Accepted to the Top Fashion Merchandising Schools

March 26, 2012 By

If you are looking to find the top fashion merchandising schools it is obvious that you are serious about entering the fashion merchandising industry. This is a good indicator that you can be extremely successful in your career because it is obvious that you are willing to go the distance for the best education and a great chance at creating a great career.

Although it should not discourage you, it is important to note that the top fashion merchandising schools in the United States are often very expensive. The reason for the cost of the top fashion merchandising schools is because of the faculty that is involved. Many of the professors at the top fashion merchandising schools have been successful businessmen and women in the industry already. They know what it takes to be the best and they are more than willing to impart that wisdom on their students.

These professors will also be important for networking. Usually, many of the fashion merchandising professors are well connected because of their previous jobs in executive positions. They have the ability to get you an internship right after you graduate and they will most likely be able to point you in the direction of a successful career in fashion merchandising.

Top Fashion Merchandising Schools

Finding the top fashion merchandising schools is also great for the networking opportunities that arise from being a part of such a great community. Just like you are dedicated to your field, these students are also passionate about what they do. This passion will help them get to managerial or executive positions very fast. Having fellow students that are so dedicated and willing to work hard will greatly increase the strength of your network and allow you to excel in the job market after you graduate.

Obviously, one of the most important benefits of the top fashion merchandising schools is the education that you will receive. While having professors that have industry experience and building a network is crucial for success, you will also need to learn the basics of fashion merchandising while you are at school. The basics include topics like fashion, business and marketing, which are all equally important in the industry.

Many of the top fashion merchandising schools have great fashion and arts departments that will help you gain a perspective on the fashion industry and what is popular today. Although it is difficult to develop a fashion sense, the top fashion merchandising schools are probably the best place to do it because of the constant bombardment of what is “good” and fashionable and what is not. Fashion merchandising is more than just the fashion, however it is nearly impossible to have a successful career in fashion merchandising without being able to properly explain what is fashionable and not.

If you are interested in a career in fashion merchandising, then you need to seek the top fashion merchandising schools as soon as possible. Not only will it be a great experience, but you will learn a lot and put yourself on the right path to success.

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Finding More Information on Fashion Merchandising

March 25, 2012 By

This is a guide to helping you find more information on fashion merchandising. As a career, fashion merchandising is rewarding and profitable, but is also a lot of work. If you are interested in starting a career in fashion merchandising, this is a good guide to help you understand the industry and attain more information on fashion merchandising as a whole.

The first thing you should understand about fashion merchandising is what they do on a day to day basis. Having a full outline of an employee’s day will give you more information on fashion merchandising and what exactly the job entails. Hopefully this can help you make your decision about whether you would like to be a fashion merchandiser or not.

The first thing that most successful fashion merchandisers do is eat a healthy breakfast. This may sound cliché or obvious, but many fashion merchandisers have to work long hours into the night because they must attend fashion shows. They must remain up to date on all the latest fashions which means that they often do not have a long time to get full meals in the afternoon. After a nice healthy breakfast, most fashion merchandisers go into their office to spend some time speaking with their bosses about developments in the industry and company. The managers will give fashion merchandisers assignments and information on fashion merchandising jobs that they must do that day or within the next couple of days. Usually this means that they must complete their existing tasks as soon as possible because there are other projects waiting to be completed. After discussing the new assignments, most fashion merchandisers write down the work to be done in the future and get back to projects they were working on before.

Information on Fashion Merchandising

During the day there are a number of aspects of fashion merchandising that someone in the industry must deal with. One common aspect of the job is budgeting, which is often excluded from information on fashion merchandising. This is the least glamorous part of the job and is therefore forgotten when discussing how great the profession is. Nonetheless, many hours in the day are spent doing some kind of budgeting for the company. Sometimes this consists of budgets for producing clothes that can be sold at retail stores, or the budgets are for transporting clothing from one place to another. Whatever the case, the amount of time spent on budgeting is immense.

Sometimes fashion merchandisers will spend a great deal of time setting up displays as well. It is their role to create in-store displays for the products that are to be sold to consumers. The final part of the day is usually spent at a fashion show that can go late in the night. Although most people are able to sit and enjoy the fashion show, a fashion merchandiser must constantly take notes to understand the latest fashions.

Hopefully this guide provided you with plenty of information on fashion merchandising that you can use to determine whether you would like to enter the industry.

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Getting a Good Fashion Merchandising Salary

March 25, 2012 By

Getting a good fashion merchandising salary is easier than you think once you are in the industry. However, as many people know, getting fashion merchandising jobs is sometimes very difficult. Although it doesn’t sound like a highly technical profession many companies require a fashion merchandising degree or, at the very least, a solid fashion merchandising resume.

This may seem like a barrier to entry for most people, but it conversely means that fashion merchandising is a specialized profession. As any doctor or lawyer knows, this is incredibly important for getting a high fashion merchandising salary.

Another reason why you should get a good fashion merchandising salary is the amount of work that is involved. Fashion merchandising jobs are very laborious jobs that require lots of travel. Most fashion merchandisers must frequently go to fashion shows to stay up to date with the latest styles and fashions. Additionally, they have to go shopping for designer clothes in retail stores so they can understand what sells and why. Although this may seem like a dream job to many, it is actually quite tedious and time consuming.

Fashion Merchandising Salary

In addition to these tasks, fashion merchandisers are expected to be able to negotiate with suppliers and manufacturers so that they can get the best deals for their lines and products. Managing retail contacts and meetings is also an important aspect of fashion merchandising. In order to pay for these tasks, your boss will have to pay a hefty fashion merchandising salary.

Finally, those in the industry are expected to complete number of marketing tasks that promote the fashions to retail stores and customers. The in-store displays must be designed by fashion merchandisers, which adds yet another specialized skill they must perform.

Despite all of these specialized skills and the amount of work that is put into fashion merchandising, your boss will most likely try to pay a low fashion merchandising salary. It is only natural for him or her to try to save money, but you must understand exactly what you are worth to the company. Without reputable and efficient fashion merchandisers, their company would not be able to function properly. You are a key member of the team and must perform a number of specific tasks in order to get the job done. In addition to that, fashion merchandisers have must likely already graduated with a fashion merchandising degree or have a great fashion merchandising resume. You have put in the work and you deserve a high fashion merchandising salary.

Never sell yourself short when negotiating your fashion merchandising salary. Although you will be eager to enter the industry you can easily make over $50,000 dollars if you negotiate with your employer well. When you are negotiating your fashion merchandising salary, make sure that you remember all the work you put into school or your previous work experience. Let them know that you are worth the money for their company and they will not only respect you, but also provide you with a higher fashion merchandising salary.

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How to Get Fashion Merchandising Jobs

March 25, 2012 By

Although most kids do not grow up hoping to get fashion merchandising jobs, the profession is both rewarding and enriching for those who complete the necessary coursework and prove themselves in a work setting. Obviously there are many factors that dictate whether you desire to enter the profession or not, but understanding what fashion merchandising jobs entail could make help make that decision.

Most fashion merchandising jobs entail many hours of hard work like many other professions. You will quickly realize that fashion merchandising jobs combine a keen sense for fashion with a savvy marketing sense. The purpose of fashion merchandising is to market specific garments to retail stores in the hope that they will stock them for the consumers to buy. In order to do this, merchandisers must have an eye for what is fashionable or in style for the time period. As a fashion merchandiser it is beneficial to remain up-to-date on the latest styles and fashions within your niche. In fact, along with marketing, this aspect of fashion merchandising jobs is the most important. If you are unable to make a connection with consumers and provide them with value, you will not be successful.

In addition to the fashion side of fashion merchandising, you must be able to market your wares properly. As with most marketing, this means that you cannot be insulting or rude to retail store representatives in any way. While your boss is certainly an important figure, the retail store representatives will ultimately make the decision of whether you fail or are successful.

fashion merchandising jobs

If you decide that fashion merchandising jobs are for you, make sure you fully understand these two fundamental aspects of the job. In addition to understanding fashion and marketing your wares to retail representatives, fashion merchandising jobs involve a great deal of group interaction. Developing a fashion line by yourself is very difficult and riddled with biases. In order to produce garments that consumers want to buy, you must work with groups to get a cross section of the population as a whole. This will enable you to develop great ideas together instead of mediocre fashion designs by yourself. For those who are not team players, fashion merchandising jobs may be difficult.

Although fashion merchandising jobs often require fashion merchandising courses, not having a fashion merchandising degree does not necessarily mean you will not be able to enter the profession. There are ways to build your fashion merchandising resume without having a fashion merchandising major from school, but they often take much more work. Starting from the bottom of a merchandising company can be a great way to get better fashion merchandising jobs in the future. Make sure that you learn as much as you can about tips and tricks in the industry because the field is highly competitive.

Fashion merchandising jobs can be lucrative and enriching, but only if you have the knowledge and are willing to put in the work. Remain up-to-date in the fashion world and understand how to market to retail representatives and you will find the perfect job within the fashion merchandising field.

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What Exactly is the Fashion Merchandising Job Description

March 24, 2012 By

The fashion merchandising industry is like any other. Easy to succeed with the dedication, drive, and passion that it requires, but extremely difficult for those who are not able to put in the time to be successful. But what is the fashion merchandising job description? What is it that makes someone successful or not?

There are a number of factors that make fashion merchandisers successful or not. Many of the most successful people in the industry are extremely passionate from a young age. While they may not spend all of their time displaying clothes or negotiating deals with retail stores, many have an early start in fashion merchandising when they become interested in clothes and fashion in general. This passion can be seen in the ways that children view clothing (whether it is important to them or not), but also in the interest in what other people are wearing. As teenagers some of the more successful people do not understand what the fashion merchandising job description entails, but know that they love fashion.

That is where the hard work and determination comes in. The fashion merchandising job description does not always include long hours spent out of the house negotiating budgets and promotions with retail store representatives. Most of these jobs are not enjoyable to fashion merchandisers, but the ability to deal with fashion and clothes is. The only way people have successful careers in fashion merchandising is to be able to work hard even when they are doing things that they do not enjoy.

fashion merchandising job description

One aspect of the job that is not explained in the fashion merchandising job description is the amount of business, marketing and analytics that are involved on a day to day basis. Much of the fashion merchandising job description is related to the actual fashion and clothing, but this is not the case. Over half the time is spent developing business proposals and displays that will sell clothing to the general public.

Another aspect of the job that is not explained in the fashion merchandising job description is the amount of time that is spent at work outside of the normal 9 am – 5 pm routine. Although the fashion aspects of the job are highly prized by most practitioners, going to fashion shows in the evening and being forced to take notes and analyze fashion is not exactly their idea of a good time. It is unfortunate that the fashion merchandising job description does not explain these things beforehand, but many people grow to love their jobs anyway.

Despite the fact that there are many drawbacks to careers in fashion merchandising, there are also many rewards that are not in the fashion merchandising job description. Naturally, helping people find the clothes that they want for the prices they can afford is fulfilling and enriching. Being able to set the trends for people and see your clothing worn by others is also greatly rewarding and worth the drawbacks in the profession.

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Landing Jobs in Fashion Merchandising

March 23, 2012 By

If you have ever wondered who is behind the glitz and glamour of fashion shows, models, and the industry, perhaps finding jobs in fashion merchandising is for you. While they are mostly behind the scenes in the fashion world, people with jobs in fashion merchandising are actually crucial for all of the products you see at stores.

If being the backbone of the fashion merchandising industry appeals to you, perhaps you should find jobs in fashion merchandising near you. Obviously finding these jobs is not as simple as looking through your local classified ads, but there are steps that you can take to land yourself in your dream job.

The first thing you would do to find jobs in fashion merchandising would be to research the top fashion merchandising schools. Try to find where the greatest people in the industry went to school and why the education is so good. Determine if the professors at the school were as high a quality as they are rumored to be (check if they have real world experience in the industry) and then determine if the cost is worth the education. Finding the best fashion merchandising degree that you can is necessary for finding jobs in fashion merchandising when you graduate.

Jobs in Fashion Merchandising

Your degree is an important aspect of finding jobs in fashion merchandising so make sure you research the school well. Although you will certainly learn a lot of information about the fashion merchandising industry, the most important aspect of going to the best school is the networking connections that you can make. At the best fashion merchandising school your peers will be the next executives, presidents, and managers in the fashion merchandising industry. They are already the best and will be the best in the years to come as well.

Once you graduate you will most likely already have jobs in fashion merchandising lined up. Your network will be so large because of your four years of study that you will be able to tap in to the network of graduates who already have lucrative jobs. They will be able to help you get an internship or lower level job to their business, which is the first step in having successful careers in fashion merchandising.

If you wanted to be behind the scenes in the fashion industry than the internship or entry level job is perfect for those desires. Inevitably you will want to move up the ladder to a position with more power and more money, but everyone has to start off somewhere. Being able to tap into your network of friends and professionals will help you immensely in those endeavors as well. Before you know it, your friends will be executives in large companies and you will be able to become managers as well. Finding jobs in fashion merchandising is not hard, but it takes time and dedication. You must have the patience to stay in entry level positions long enough for your networks to help you find your dream job.

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Building a Fashion Merchandising Resume

March 22, 2012 By

Building your fashion merchandising resume can seem like a daunting task simply because most of the higher level firms expect so much from a job applicant. Nonetheless, there are a few things that you can do with your fashion merchandising resume to make sure that you are successful when applying for your dream job.

The first thing you can do is check that there are no lies. Fashion merchandisers are extremely connected people. If you have a fashion merchandising resume that states you were a mid-level employee at another company, you can probably bet that the manager at the other company is friends with your potential boss. Don’t lie on your fashion merchandising resume or else it will be easily discovered.

Another tip for someone creating a fashion merchandising resume is to make sure to put every achievement and award you have. Even if you think it was small and not noteworthy, your interviewer may not. For all they know it is an extremely prestigious award. Do not sell yourself short just because you feel like it isn’t worth putting on your resume.

Fashion Merchandising Resume

If you have prior work experience, try to make sure your roles are moving upwards. Unless it is the number one fashion merchandiser in the country, it is not advised for you to go from an entry level employee to an internship at another company. This is considered moving backwards and is a questionable move for anyone who is dedicated to their profession.

Building your fashion merchandising resume can be a long process, but you must make sure to also have references that are willing to promote your skills to an employer. Just having the credentials alone is usually not enough for most employers. You are going to need to present someone that thinks highly of you. These references need to have extensive experience working with you and it is far better if you have someone that is well known in the fashion merchandising industry.

This is where your networking will come in very handy. Having a successful fashion merchandising resume often depends on your network that you have built. If you went to the top fashion merchandising schools then you probably have a huge network of students and professors. The students could already be a contact within the company that will help you get a job, while the professors will be your references that will beef up your fashion merchandising resume for potential employers.

The fashion merchandising resume and your personal network go hand in hand. If you are not committed to the profession of fashion merchandising, it will be very difficult to get the resume and references needed to get your dream job. Conversely, if you are dedicated to the profession and have a fashion merchandising degree, you will be far better off.

Finally, whatever you do in the fashion merchandising resume should be with your utmost effort. You never know when you are going to have references checked so make sure every position you have ever worked will have good things to say about you.

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What You Can Do with a Fashion Merchandising Degree

March 22, 2012 By

Choosing your industry or profession at a young age can be difficult. Nonetheless, having a fashion merchandising degree will keep you employed for many years to come. A fashion merchandising degree is so valuable mostly due to the number of people that are able to graduate with one and the demand for great employees. Although fashion is a competitive field in general, fashion merchandising is actually much easier to penetrate.

The reasons for this are manifold. First of all, a fashion merchandising degree can sometimes be very expensive. Attending the Parsons School of Design in New York City, New York can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars for a four year degree. Many students are unwilling to go into hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of debt for a fashion merchandising degree. Even public schools like the Houston Community College System cost a great deal of money.

Why are fashion merchandising degrees so expensive? Well, the costs of college educations are rising as a whole, but the amount of materials needed for practicing fashion merchandising is astronomical. To understand this you must consider how much practice is required to fully master designer fashions and creating garments that can be sold to consumers.

Therefore, the number of people who end up with fashion merchandising degrees is already few because of high costs. For those who have graduated with their degrees, there are a number of things that can be done straight out of college.

fashion merchandising degree

First, you will want to find an internship or entry level job that you can learn about the industry. You may have to re-learn much of the information you learned while you were in college, but real world experience is usually this way. Getting your fashion merchandising degree will help you understand some of the theoretical issues within the industry, but only job experience can teach you how the industry works today. Additionally, your internship or entry level job may not pay well, but will be a fantastic learning experience for your career. Do not simply spend your time trudging through the job, but make sure to learn the industry and find a specific niche that you can focus on.

After you have spent some time at an internship you have a decent fashion merchandising resume to advance your career to the next step. Having some prior job experience and a fashion merchandising degree will allow you to pursue some positions in higher level firms. In order to really advance your career you should debate moving to a city that has a large fashion industry. In the United States you could move to Los Angeles or New York City, but there are also locations in Europe such as Rome and Paris.

Once you get into these positions your fashion merchandising degree will mean much less. Depending on where you went to school that could be a good or a bad thing. Either way, getting a fashion merchandising degree is the first step to having a successful career.

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What is the Fashion Merchandising Definition?

March 21, 2012 By

What is the fashion merchandising definition? What do fashion merchandisers do? How can I be a fashion merchandiser? If you ever decide to have a career day at a local school, these are just a few of the questions that children will ask you. The fashion merchandising definition is not something that children can understand immediately. Unfortunately, it is a complex job that sometimes takes a great deal of explaining even to adults.

No fashion merchandising definition would be complete without discussing the three main components that make the industry. The first component is the sense of fashion that every fashion merchandiser needs to have. An immense bank of fashion knowledge is required by any successful fashion merchandiser and they must always be evolving their ideas to keep in touch with customers who are both fickle and demanding. The second component of the fashion merchandising industry is business, which is difficult for many children at career day to comprehend. This is where the fashion merchandising definition is lost with them. The business aspect of fashion merchandising is important because people in the field must be able to negotiate proposals and sell garments to retail stores and customers without losing money. Being able to plan for a budget is a huge part of being a fashion merchandiser. The final component of the fashion merchandising definition is the marketing that is required to be successful in the industry. Any fashion merchandiser that is worth their weight must be able to sell garments and clothing and do so very well. While the combination of key components may seem hard to comprehend at first, it is actually a very straightforward job.

Fashion Merchandising Definition

A proper fashion merchandising definition wouldn’t be complete without answering how the children can become a fashion merchandiser or enter the industry. Many of them hear how interesting the fashion aspect of the job is and forget that business and marketing are as important as or more important than the fashion aspect. Nonetheless, becoming a fashion merchandiser depends solely on the person trying to attain the job. For people who are willing to work hard and have patience and determination, fashion merchandising can be very easy. Getting a fashion merchandising degree is one of the first steps towards getting fashion merchandising jobs. After that, there are entry level jobs they need to consider or even internships that will give them the basics of the industry. In both the fashion merchandising college and the internship they will need to network well in order to be highly successful.

This is about the point where the fashion merchandising definition is too much for children to handle. Although many are genuinely interested in the industry, fashion merchandising is not a simple profession to explain. It is not possible to simply say “we help people” like a doctor does or “we put out fires” like a fireman. The truth is that the fashion merchandising definition is far more vague than many other professions.

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