How to Become a Fashion Merchandiser

If you are interested in fashion, pursuing a career in this field is probably something that interests you. One of the most lucrative careers in the industry is fashion merchandising. Some of the responsibilities of a fashion merchandiser include buying merchandise, predicting future fashion trends, and determining what the needs of the current fashion market is. Department stores are the most popular type of job setting for a fashion merchandiser. Here are some of the different things that someone interested in becoming a fashion merchandiser should be sure to take into consideration. 

Sense of Fashion

In order to pursue a career in fashion merchandising, you must be very interested in fashion. The main factor that differentiates fashion from other industries is that it is consistently changing. You need to be able to keep up to date with the changes that take place in the fashion industry. It can be very complex but if you are very interested in fashion, then it should be no problem for you. Learning about styles of the past is very important, since many are reoccurring over the years.

Education

While a college degree is not required for fashion merchandisers, it will really improve your chances of getting a decent job. Degrees related to fashion, fashion merchandising, and art are often deemed acceptable. Keep in mind that while an associate’s degree can help you get a job, a bachelor’s degree will look better on your resume in this competitive field. It would also not hurt to take some courses in business or accounting, as many fashion merchandisers also need to know about managing a business.

Internship

Nothing will improve your chances of becoming a fashion merchandiser more than doing an internship. Attending a college for a degree that is related to fashion is one of the best ways to ensure that you will learn about any available internships. Since many fashion merchandisers end up getting jobs based on the contacts that they make, an internship can be really beneficial to your future career. If you are able to land an internship with a popular designer or store, it will look very appealing on your resume. 

A career in fashion merchandising can be very profitable, depending on the area that you live in. Fashion merchandisers may earn anywhere from $50,000 to $90,000. They may earn more or less. Although there are a fairly decent amount of job openings available for fashion merchandisers, it is important to keep in mind that this is not a field that is expected to see a whole lot of growth. The reason is because the economy’s impact on shoppers may prevent many from spending money, which ultimately causes the need for fashion merchandisers to decline.