When fashion jobs come into mind, models come into mind, designers come into mind. Does anything else come into mind when there’s a discussion of jobs in fashion? There should be a lot options because when there’s talk of fashion, there should also be talk of retail.
Here are a few job options for those who want to start a career in fashion but are not finding an interest or the talent to model and design.
1. Sales Associate- It may not be much for some but if you do start and do well with this job, it could open a lot of doors for you. Here, you can get a good view of the company and know where you would want to go. Most sales associate move up to being a sales supervisor because who else would know better right? As a sales associate, you are exposed to customers. So get to know their spending patterns, make a profile of those who walk in the store and make a purchase. Provide them with excellent service and ensure that they will put in a good word for you, should they be asked about your performance by your immediate superior.
2. Management - In retail fashion, there are different things to manage. In a boutique, you have to ensure a smooth flow of operations by looking out for your staff. Get to know their selling capabilities, their customer service skills, and their personal attitudes towards the job. Other than this, there’s a challenge to study your market and know how to raise sales or meet the given sales target. In this job, a sense in fashion is needed but a good sense is also an advantage.
3. Visual Merchandising- If as a kid, you had fun dressing up dolls or dressing up your younger sister, know that activity is also something you can get paid for in retail fashion. Just note that your sister has transformed into a mannequin. In visual merchandising, you get to decide how to showcase your boutique or highlight the brand’s latest collection. Be in charge of how the store looks by designing the show windows and the atmosphere in the boutique. It’s your first contact to the customer and an excellent showcase of visual merchandising can become a magnet for wholesales. Thus, increasing the store’s sales per day!
4. Product Development- You may not get to design for numerous reasons but in retail fashion, you get to work with product development or ensure quality before the items are displayed in store or are delivered to your customers. This is an interesting job as you get to work with designers, know their input with their product and other reasons for their creations! Here, you can also work with the sales team and know what customers are mostly into or what they are looking for. With the presence of different personalities, product development can begin to look into the specifics of the item. Are the garters too tight? Are the pants too short? The final look of a dress, a top, or any bottom would depend on you.
5. Marketing Executive- I believe marketing is the most fun job in fashion. In marketing, you are challenged mentally as you study the market and apply different strategies that could help your sales team generate more sales! It also brings together all the different departments and thus, give way to working together as a team to achieve a common goal.
Once you’ve come up with the appropriate strategies, your next task is execution. A well known marketing activity and one that everyone has an interest of watching or becoming a part of is a fashion show. As previously mentioned, the other departments get together to work on having a successful fashion show. Designers are pressured to come up with quality designs because their work are being highlighted and it could benefit them in numerous ways. Product Developers need to scrutinize every item for damages to prevent wardrobe malfunctions while on the runway. Visual merchandisers need to know how to set up the stage, make sure there’s appropriate lighting because the look, and feel of the event would greatly depend on them. Of course, the sales team need to be alert because purchases can be made on site or after the show. They need to ensure the availability of their products and be on their feet when it comes to providing excellent customer service.
The fashion world is fun and interesting! It’s not just about models and size zero issues. There’s a lot of people involved and a lot of jobs are also available in the industry. I’ve only listed five but there are a lot more options. So, if you are seeking a career in fashion, then get to know your skills and explore the industry further. Who knows, you may just find yourself working with Nigel Barker in the days to come!
