# data[].attributes.headline
Stage 1: Reflective skills in education/ values and interests

# data[].attributes.subject
Stage 1: Reflective skills in education/ values and interests

# data[].attributes.body
During my time at the FRA, the modules were extremely industry based, using real-life scenarios. The modules which I felt I gained most use from were:

Range planning and the advanced use of excel for example, balancing, pricing, manufacturing, sourcing / trend vs core.

Financial range planning follows on from this whereby more numerical skills were learnt and taught e.g units, formulas, margins, options.

6 week excel programme - I achieved a first e.g trends within data, amending errors.

Creating presentations and performing them - how to break down and present professionally at industry level.

Global brand extensions with real briefs e.g The White Company and Harrods with trading module.

Boden brand extension - children's shared - exploring new areas of the industry.

Learning how to use data and statistics to support our work.

Sourcing and supply chain.

# data[].attributes.body
Mulberry Product merchandising and buying - 3 month industry work placement; able to put my taught academic skills into industry use.

Skills I have acquired in my first three weeks are; price tracking, advanced comp shop, sitting in trade meeting, assisted in making buying presentations, attended buying and merchandising meetings.

Primark - retail assistant; customer service, analysing best and worst sellers in the fitting rooms, till training staff, maintenance, stock, delivery, orders.

Lifeguard: ability to remain calm under pressure, life saving and first aid skills, critical thinking.

# data[].attributes.headline
Stage 2: knowledge/ talents/ strengths and skills

# data[].attributes.subject
Stage 2: knowledge/ talents/ strengths and skills

# data[].attributes.body
Some of the modules I achieved highest in were;

Internationalisation and globalisation

Merchandising for fashion retail

Fashion Retail Landscape and Environment - magazine

Fashion Retail Landscape and Environment - brand extension report

Hard skills;

ADOBE - e.g photoshop, creating ranges etc

Microsoft

Edited

WGSN

Excel - financial range planning

Soft skills;

Communication

Organisation and prioritising, presenting, financial range planning

# data[].attributes.headline
Stage 3/4: analysing skills needed for industry and best fit for me

# data[].attributes.subject
Stage 3/4: analysing skills needed for industry and best fit for me

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Fashion merchandisers need a variety of hard skills to succeed in their role. These skills include customer service, sales floor management, visual presentation, and inventory control. They must also have a strong understanding of merchandise presentation, product development, and retail store operations. According to Leslie Stoel Ph.D., Professor of Marketing and Fashion at Miami University, "analytics and anything digital skills stand out" on fashion merchandiser resumes.

In addition to hard skills, fashion merchandisers need a range of soft skills to excel in their careers. These skills include strong speaking and presenting skills, the ability to work well in teams, empathy for shoppers, and confidence. As Stoel Ph.D. notes, "the ability to tell the story behind the numbers (what happened and why it happened)" is also important.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical fashion merchandiser skills. We ranked the top skills for fashion merchandisers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 33.7% of fashion merchandiser resumes contained customer service as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a fashion merchandiser needs to be successful in the workplace.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Discover the key skills that are required for a Fashion Merchandiser to succeed. Customer Service, Sales Floor, Visual Presentation skills are good to have on your resume.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
What is Fashion Merchandising?

The fashion industry is one of the largest industries present, this is because there is a lot that goes on from the creation of designs by the manufacturers down to its acceptance by the final users. As such, there are several career paths available for various talents to explore.

Fashion merchandising works towards ensuring a manufacturer or retailer has the right products available at the right price, in the right places, at the right time and in the right quantities. Fashion merchandisers serve as a sort of bridge between the designers who want their products brought to the market, and the market (retailers and consumers), who want the trendiest items in fashion.

The entire purpose of fashion merchandise to both manufacturers and retailers is to sell at a profit. For this reason, a fashion merchandiser should have a passion for fashion and business for a start and understand how to predict and respond to customers' wants in a way that will maximize business sales and increase revenue.

It is the responsibility of Fashion Merchandisers to predict fashion trends, plan and design store layouts, purchase apparel, and collaborate with designers to align with their customer's taste.

Relevance to the Fashion Industry

Fashion merchandising at the manufacturing stage is needed to predict the significance of trends and preferences, estimating the consumer's demand in terms of style, size, colour, and quantity.

Fashion merchandisers at this stage would work closely with designers in selecting the fabrics, designing the packaging, pricing, and sales promotion activities, ensuring that products are affordable to the target market while making a profit for the whole chain of departments involved in the product from manufacturing to sales.

For retail fashion merchandising, their job is more focused on forecasting trends their target market would want and when they would be in demand. They would be expected to predict consumer's needs by considering past sales and understanding and predicting correctly the fashion trends that would be attractive to their target customers.

Fashion merchandising for retailers includes influencing the arrangement and display of products in both physical and online stores in a manner attractive to the consumers, as well as promotions and pricing that would result in target sales.

Skills Required in Fashion Merchandising

In addition to a love for fashion and personality traits such as time management, an eye for detail, and a positive work ethic, fashion merchandisers are also required to have the following skills:

Strong communication skills: Several fashion merchandising roles require excellent communication skills. The work of Fashion merchandisers requires that they negotiate with designers, get marketing messages out to customers, to convince prospective buyers; all of these duties require effective communication skills.

Forecasting Ability: Fashion merchandisers constantly research and observe past and current trends and try to predict the products and sizes that would be appealing to the target market while making a profit for their client. To make an accurate prediction, they must be very much aware of current industry developments.

Analytical Ability: While making decisions and predictions to suit a target market, you must also determine how well things fit into existing budgets and whether they meet the needs of consumers. It is necessary you have skills to help analyze a complex set of issues, including the client's sales history and brand image that may influence marketing strategies alongside other decisions.

Vast Fashion Knowledge: Fashion merchandisers are expected to be well-versed in all aspects of fashion, from garment construction to textile types. This is to allow them to give an accurate prediction of what consumers want before they even step into the store, so the more knowledge about fashion, the better. Fashion merchandisers would likely frequent fashion shows and explore resources such as industry magazines and blogs to keep up to date with fashion trends.

Careers paths in fashion merchandising

There are several career paths for people who have a love for fashion and an eye for business to explore in fashion merchandising. In most cases, more than one person is involved in the entire process, with everyone focused on particular job responsibility.

Some of the career paths in Fashion Merchandising are:

Visual Merchandising: This role requires creative individuals with great attention to detail. They develop visual merchandising strategies for storefronts, online stores, or catalogues. They are skilled with the creativity to determine point-of-sale displays, stands and panels for exhibition, attractive to capture the attention of customers, promote products and services of fashion businesses, and stay up to date with fashion trends. These artists earn around the range of $27,129 to $62,997 annually.

Fashion Buyer: This role requires observing fashion trends and working with designers by attending trade shows and showrooms. It is important that people who work in this role, have vast fashion knowledge and a natural ability to predict fashion trends, possess strong negotiation skills, fashion industry savvy, and retail experience. It is common for fashion buyers to build experience by working as assistants first. Fashion Buyers typically earn between$58,532 to $115,348 annually, depending on their level of experience.

Fashion Marketing: This role requires analytical skills to assist in forecasting and making strategic recommendations for product marketing, using customer reactions to previous market trends. These professionals help their clients analyze marketing campaigns and branding efforts. Individuals in this role must be creative, have excellent communication and writing skills, and be able to handle a team. The annual salary range of professionals in these field falls between $42,282 to$99,362.

Fashion Store Manager: A fashion store manager is responsible for the overall performance of a store to ensure it runs smoothly and meets sales target. This role may also come with the job of handling human resources and may require creating and maintaining budgets, to report to senior management. It is also necessary to have an in-depth knowledge of the fashion market, leadership skills, sales and marketing expertise, and previous experience in retail. To succeed in this role, managers should understand how to merchandise the product to be attractive to the customers, while balancing inventories as well as encourage staff productivity. The annual salary of Store Managers falls between $37,656 and $80,016.

Fashion Coordinator/Director: This role requires an individual who would oversee the day-to-day functions of an entire fashion design department by working with creative and developmental fashion-team members to ensure all projects are running smoothly. A thorough understanding of the fashion industry, excellent networking and communication skills, leadership, and a creative mind is needed for this role. They would work with major designers to get new information on current fashion trends, organize photoshoots, fashion shows, and magazine events. Professionals in this field earn between $40,000 and $100,000 annually.

Account Executive: This requires persons in this role to work closely with media outlets and advertising agencies to sell and promote brands to stores. Account Executives are responsible for presenting new lines to buyers and sharing product and promotional details. Account Executives typically earn between$43,112 and $86,114annually.

Educational requirements For a Career in Fashion Merchandising

A degree in fashion merchandising or a closely related field is the typical educational requirement for entry-level work in fashion merchandising. Fashion merchandisers typically have a well-rounded education in both business and fashion. Many schools offer Diplomas, Associate or Bachelor's degrees in fashion merchandising.

Typically, Diplomas and Associate's programs have the advantage of being shorter, but a Bachelor's degree would be required for positions beyond entry-level.

Fashion merchandising courses would typically cover basic classes such as fashion marketing, retail marketing and promotion, fashion buying, retail management, consumer behaviour, textile design and production, history of fashion, and economics of the fashion industry.

It is also expected that during your degree programme, you will be equipped with skills relating to problem-solving, communication, business, and marketing to improve your forecasting abilities.

Universities ad Colleges where you can study Fashion Merchandising or related courses:

If you intend to study fashion merchandising or a related course either as a Diploma or a Degree programme, here are some of the universities to explore in the US:

* Fashion Institute of Technology, New York.
* Kent State University, Ohio.
* De Montfort University, Leicester UK
* Berkeley College, New Jersey
* Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, Los Angeles
If you have any queries regarding degree options and career paths in Fashion merchandising, please click here to chat with our counsellors.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Career Options In Fashion Merchandising | Skills Required and Educational Requirements - Degrees & Careers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What is Fashion Merchandising? The fashion industry is one of the largest industries present, this is because there is a lot that goes on from the creation of designs by the manufacturers down to its acceptance by the final users. As such, there are several career paths available for various talents to explore.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Skills You Need for Fashion Merchandising

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Fashion buyers have significant roles in the fashion industry. They make decisions that help companies stay up to date with fashion trends and supply them with goods. The fashion industry is very competitive and becoming a fashion buyer can be challenging. In this article, we discuss what a fashion buyer is, what they do, how to become a fashion buyer, skills, salary and job outlook.

What is a fashion buyer?

A fashion buyer is an individual who works with a clothing retailer or fashion company to help them make purchasing decisions that promote their brand. A fashion buyer plays an important role in department stores and corporate offices-their choices can influence the revenue of the company, promote its brand and affect sales. Companies and retail stores rely on them to bring in stock that can achieve their goals.

What does a fashion buyer do?

A fashion buyer is responsible for discovering the latest trends, along with updating and managing product inventory to offer customer satisfaction and satisfy customer needs. Fashion buyers also commute to different manufacturing locations and showrooms to look for new products to purchase and negotiate with suppliers on the costs. Other responsibilities include:

Setting retail prices for the products

Developing sales strategies

Keeping up with industry trends and competition

Building relationships with suppliers

Ensuring suppliers meet deadlines

Discerning buying trends

Placing bids on clothes and accessories

Inspecting products

Overseeing budgets

How to become a fashion buyer

There are prerequisites that can increase your chances of breaking into the fashion industry. These prerequisites are:

1. Earning a high school diploma

There are companies that require a bachelor's degree with careers related to retail, while others require a high school diploma or a GED. Take courses in accounting, mathematics and business to prepare you for a career in fashion buying. Also, participate in any activity that can develop your interpersonal skills.
Related: 21 Good-Paying Jobs You Can Get with a High School Diploma
2. Get a bachelor's degree

A bachelor's degree can provide you with more opportunities, while a high school diploma, in some cases, can only get you an entry-level job. Large companies require fashion buyers to have a bachelor's degree because they prefer their employees to have knowledge in marketing. Degrees that offer courses in statistical analysis, accounting, economic theory and consumer behavior are advantageous. Here are some degrees you can choose to pursue:

Bachelor of Science in Merchandising: This degree equips you with Knowledge of product development, communications and manufacturing processes.

Bachelor of Science in Marketing: This degree prepares you for jobs related to advertising, public relations and marketing.

Bachelor in Fashion Design: This degree provides you with knowledge of the fashion industry, garment construction and fashion illustration.

Bachelor of Science in business administration: This degree educates you on accounting, management and finance.

Related: 9 Benefits of Going to College
3. Gain knowledge of the fashion industry

As a fashion buyer, you must keep up with industry trends and understand the customers' needs. Knowledge is your greatest asset, so the learning never stops. Make an effort to study the fashion industry, read fashion blogs and magazines to gain extra information. Additionally, you can visit shopping malls and observe clothing styles on display and observe people's style preferences.
Related: 15 Popular Careers in the Fashion Industry
4. Gain experience

You need to put your skills into practice, and getting experience can help you recognize your strengths and weaknesses. Here are ways you can gain experience:

Apply for Fashion Internships: Some companies hire people after they complete their internships. Research websites of fashion companies that have internships or contact a department store to see any available positions.

Get an entry-level position: You can find an entry-level position as an assistant buyer, retail salesperson or purchasing clerk. These jobs can educate you on inventory, negotiating prices, and the processes involved with sales systems.

Join an organization: There are organizations like the American Purchasing Society (APS) and the National Retail Federation (NRF) that provide networking opportunities, training, scholarships and professional development. These organizations also inform their members on current industry trends. People with different career levels can join these organizations.

If you don't know where to start to look for opportunities, look for professional recruitment agencies that help you find available opportunities for fashion buyers with their retailer clients. The agencies arrange an interview for you with the company once they find a match.
Related: Work Experience and Your Career: Definition, Importance and Tips
5. Obtain a certification

There are certifications that can increase your knowledge of the fashion industry and boost your resume. Some of these certifications are:

The National Retail Federation (NRF): This certification helps you develop mathematical skills to help with sales transactions and basic customer services skills, sales credentials and customer service. The minimum age requirement is 18.

The American Purchasing Society (APS): The APS provides five different certifications that include the Certified Purchasing Manager (CPPM), the Certified Purchasing Professional (CPP), the Certified Green Purchasing Professional (CGPP), the Certified Professional in Distribution and Warehousing (CPDW) and the Certified Professional Purchasing Consultant (CPPC). The recommended certification for a fashion buyer is the Certified Purchasing Professional (CPP). You must have three years of experience or a bachelor's degree to be eligible for the CPP exam.

6. Prepare for the interview

Before doing an interview, do research on the company's culture by looking at their websites and social media profiles. This helps you familiarize yourself with the company's style. Additionally, if you want to make an impression, it is important to dress the part. Ensure your outfit demonstrates your understanding of current trends, professionalism and personal style.
Related: 21 Job Interview Tips: How To Make a Great Impression
Skills for a fashion buyer

Becoming a fashion buyer requires you to have a wide variety of skills. Here are skills for a fashion buyer:

Knowledge in mathematics: You need to have mathematical skills to perform calculations and compare different prices from different suppliers. You must also ensure the company is getting the best price or discounts.

Organized: Fashion buyers handle a lot of information and tasks. You need to have the ability to remain organized.

Negotiation skills: You need to have the ability to negotiate with suppliers on contract agreements, handle other formalities and find the best deals for the company.

Decision-making skills: You must have the ability to make purchasing decisions on behalf of the company and decide what product is appealing to customers.

Analytical skills: As a fashion buyer, you need to make good purchases that are profitable for the retailer. Having the ability to analyze the quality, price and profitability of the items help make informed decisions.

Interpersonal skills: You must have the ability to build professional and strong relationships with suppliers and coworkers to prevent any future problems and also maintain a great workflow.

Related: Top Hard Skills to Put on a Resume (And How to Improve Yours)
Salary and job outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a projection of about 36,600 jobs will be available for buyers and purchasing agents yearly from 2019 to 2029. The average salary of a fashion buyer is $32,082 per year ($13.87 per hour).

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How To Become a Fashion Buyer (With Steps)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Fashion buyers have significant roles in the fashion industry. They make decisions that help companies stay up to date with fashion trends and supply them with goods. The fashion industry is very competitive and becoming a fashion buyer can be challenging.

# data[].attributes.headline
Stage 5: steps to creating a visual career plan

# data[].attributes.subject
Stage 5: steps to creating a visual career plan

# data[].attributes.body
Taking all this into consideration I would like to look for a hybrid job combining both Buying and Merchandising - these types of jobs are becoming increasingly popular and I have experienced this during my time at my Mulberry placement.

Creativity mixed with numerical aspect

Working alongside design teams

Reviewing samples

Creating and presenting buying presentations including price tracking for competitors etc.

Good team working skills

Negotiation

Monitoring sales strategies and budgets