The ABCs of Fashion Merchandising

February 24, 2005

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Fashion merchandising revolves around the business side of fashion and offers incredible opportunities for students who love fashion and want to make a career of buying, product development, management, or fashion marketing. They're demanding jobs, but incredibly rewarding too.

Overview

A merchandiser is involved in every stage of the process from design to sales. They advise the designer on market trends, collect specifications from the buyers, get the samples approved and also negotiate the price. They are even responsible for ensuring that consignments are delivered to the customers in time. Fashion merchandisers usually have bottom-line responsibility for projects or departments at all levels of their careers.

The Life of a Merchandiser

Most work in fashion merchandising involves juggling the past, present, and future. Merchandisers spend a great deal evaluating sales from previous time periods in order to plan and make decisions for future sales. Merchandising isn't just shopping; fashion merchandisers have to analyze and create a complex business plan aimed at specific customers. This requires an ability to forecast trends and then translate them into a profitable business plan for the company.

Anytime a decision is made to create a fashion product and offer it to the consumer, fashion merchandising is involved, including product development, buying, marketing, or management of the product. Even if it's just deciding which mannequin should face which direction -- odds are good that someone involved with fashion merchandising has the final "OK".

Breaking Into The Field

As with most fashion jobs, the key is to start with disciplined study to direct your talent into a successful career. As competition for fashion jobs is high, you'll want to be as prepared as possible, which may mean considering campus and online degree programs in fashion. There are also many opportunities -- whether you're in school or not -- for internships and these should be considered vital for advancing your career. Indeed, any work with experienced industry connections -- be it in a design house or in retail -- provides a key stepping stone for students to meet important industry personnel who have open positions and knowledge to share.

Prospects for the Future

As with many industries and professions, the Internet has brought a number of changes in the world of fashion merchandising. New planning and distribution organizations have been created via networking to assist the buyers and merchandise managers to manage the business more profitably. As e-commerce grows and users become more comfortable shopping online, fashion merchandisers will spend more time with this nascent medium -- trying to identify target customers and creating a merchandising strategy uniquely suited to them in order to create a differentiation among brands and retail operations.

Featured Schools
Campus International Academy of Design & Technology Online First and foremost, the Academy's faculty comprises industry-experienced creative professionals in graphic design, web design and web development. Creative students have a tendency to learn best from creative instructors, and IADT Online's faculty infuses every virtual classroom with enthusiasm, understanding and real-world perspectives. See more facts about International Academy of Design & Technology Online Program Offer: Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Merchandising Campus Locations: Tampa Campus The Art Institutes The Art Institutes system of schools is a leading educator of students in the creative and applied arts, including design, media, fashion, and culinary programs. Every program of study offered to you is regularly reviewed by industry leaders, advisors, and employers for relevance in the marketplace. Changes are made, if necessary, to integrate subject matter into the curriculum so that our degree programs reflect the way things are done in the real world of work. Programs listed are not offered at all locations. See more facts about The Art Institutes Program Offer: Fashion Marketing (BS) Fashion Marketing (AAA) Fashion Marketing & Management (BA) And more... Campus Locations: Arlington Atlanta Austin Charleston Charlotte Chicago Cincinnati Dallas Decatur Denver Draper Durham Fort Lauderdale Fort Worth Houston Indianapolis Miami Milwaukee Minneapolis Nashville New York North Hollywood Novi Overland Park Philadelphia Phoenix Portland Sacramento San Antonio San Bernardino San Diego San Francisco Santa Ana Santa Monica Schaumburg Seattle Sterling Sunnyvale Tampa Tinley Park Troy Tucson Vancouver Virginia Beach Campus College of Westchester At The College of Westchester, you'll experience a real-world education that will give you an edge in a highly competitive job market. Your professors and advisors are committed to providing you with the skills you need for a successful future. Your success is our success! For more information about College of Westchester’s graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please click here. Not all programs are offered online The College of Westchester is accredited by: The Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (267-284-5000). The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U. S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Authorized by the New York State Board of Regents to confer: Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.), Associate in Applied Science Degree (A.A.S), and the Associate in Occupational Studies Degree (A.O.S). All programs offered are registered by the New York State Education Department. See more facts about College of Westchester Program Offer: Fashion Retail Merchandising Campus Locations: White Plains Campus Harrison College Get started on your career with an education from Harrison College. We offer more than 30 degree, certificate, and diploma programs in the fields of health sciences, veterinary technology, information technology, criminal justice, and business, in addition to our culinary arts academy. We have 13 campuses in Indiana and Ohio, and, depending on the field of study, some or all classes may be taken online. See more facts about Harrison College Program Offer: Fashion Merchandising Campus Locations: Indianapolis Campus International Academy of Design and Tech Start planning for your future. No matter what you want to achieve in your career, the International Academy of Design & Technology in Chicago can help. The Academy offers diverse and comprehensive degree programs in numerous Design disciplines as wel See more facts about International Academy of Design and Tech Program Offer: Fashion Design and Merchandising Campus Locations: Chicago Nashville Orlando Sacramento Seattle Campus Visual College of Art and Design Follow your passion! For over 35 years, the Visual College of Art and Design (VCAD) has taught artists and imaginative people just like you. VCAD's Fine Arts diploma program is highly regarded for providing a well-rounded arts education in an environment that emphasizes creativity and individuality. Which program is right for you? Choose from Graphic Design, Marketing & Merchandising for Fashion, 3D Modelling Animation Art & Design, Fashion Design, and Interior Design. We know that employers want graduates who are knowledgeable about their field and possess the most up-to-date technical skills. That's why our students receive focused and specialized training on the tools, techniques, and technology used in their chosen career field. Visual College of Art and Design offers courses at one campus in Vancouver, British Columbia Get started today by answering a few questions.>>> See more facts about Visual College of Art and Design Program Offer: Marketing & Merchandising for Fashion Campus Locations: Vancouver Online Stratford Career Institute Earn Your Diploma from Home! Stratford Career Institute can help you earn your diploma from home in as little as six months, thanks to their proven study methods. See more facts about Stratford Career Institute Program Offer: Fashion Merchandising and Design Campus Collins College Prepare yourself for the future. Collins College, located in Tempe, AZ, is your gateway to the world of design and technology. Get the education you need to start a new career in Visual Communication, Multimedia Production, Animation, Digital Video, or PC See more facts about Collins College Program Offer: Fashion Design and Merchandising Campus Locations: Phoenix Campus John Casablancas Institute of Applied Arts For over 25 years, the John Casablancas Institute (JCI) has been widely recognized as the industry leader in providing job-ready training. With burgeoning careers as award-winning makeup artists, international fashion stylists, and cutting-edge hairdressers, graduates of the JC Institute continue to shine. See more facts about John Casablancas Institute of Applied Arts Program Offer: Fashion Business & Creative Arts Campus Locations: Vancouver Online Ashworth College You don't have to rearrange your life to get a quality education. Ashworth College, a respected worldwide leader in distance education, offers high school diploma programs, professional-level career diploma programs, associate's programs, and master's degree programs in a variety of career fields. Ashworth College can teach you the practical, hands-on techniques you need to succeed in the real world. Study on your own schedule, at a pace that makes sense for you. See more facts about Ashworth College Program Offer: Fashion Retailing Campus Berkeley College *The Berkeley Advantage® Widely recognized among colleges and universities, Berkeley College offers a proven approach to career education that provides students with a competitive edge and the skills sought by employers. This innovative combination of benefits is known as The Berkeley Advantage®. A supportive faculty chosen for academic excellence and relevant professional experience Flexible scheduling: day, evening/weekend, and online classes More than $37 million in Berkeley College grants and scholarships for qualified students provided in the past award year Valuable, real-world experience through program-related, faculty-monitored internships or job-related assignments Bachelor’s and Associate’s degree programs developed and updated to meet current business and professional demands Tuition freeze for full-time students who meet continuous enrollment requirements More than 20 Career Services specialists who assist students in identifying and pursuing job opportunities Extensive employer connections with leading firms and organizations Free lifetime career assistance for Berkeley College graduates See more facts about Berkeley College Program Offer:* AAS, Fashion Marketing & Mgmt BBA, Fashion Marketing & Mgmt BS in Fashion Marketing & Management Campus Locations: Little Falls New York Newark Paramus White Plains Woodbridge