Fashion Merchandising: Where Fashion Meets Business
What is Fashion Merchandising?
Fashion merchandising is a rather broad term that can be used to describe the business side of the fashion industry. Professionals with a fashion merchandising career must still have an eye for style, but they should also have a head for business as well.
This field involves buying, pricing, marketing, displaying, and selling certain types of garments and accessories.
What Does a Fashion Merchandiser Do?
A fashion merchandiser may have several different duties.
Most fashion merchandisers must be able to predict future fashion and market trends. In order to do this, these professionals will often need to rely on their own research as well as current trend reports.
After predicting future fashion trends, fashion merchandisers will also determine which fashions and garments that a particular store should stock. The type of merchandise that a garment store will stock is not only determined by fashion trends, but also by the type of clientel that a store caters to. For instance, a chic boutique will usually stock high end expensive fashions, while a large chain retailer will typically stock trendy yet affordable fashions.
Buying different garments in order to stock stores is another responsibility of some fashion merchandisers. Buyers will usually need to travel often and interact with suppliers and manufacturers. When purchasing the different fashions, a fashion merchandiser must usually follow a strict budget. Finding the best deals for the merchandise usually requires a certain type of charisma and assertiveness.
Fashion merchandisers will also usually have a hand in setting prices and displaying the different types of fashion as well. Pricing garments can be somewhat difficult, as the prices must reflect the quality of the garment as well as be affordable for the intended clientele Some fashion merchandisers will also help create window displays and direct fashion photography shoots.
What is the Average Salary for a Fashion Merchandiser?
According to Salary.com, fashion merchandisers can make anywhere from $40,384 to $124,728 annually. As with most professions, very successful and experienced fashion merchandisers are usually able to command higher salaries.
The salary of a fashion merchandiser might also be affected by her location as well. For instance, fashion merchandisers located in large “Fashion Meccas”, like Milan or New York City, will also usually make more money than merchandisers that live in small rural or suburban towns.
What are the Education Requirements for a Fashion Merchandising Career?
A degree in fashion merchandising is usually an intricate blend of fashion and business. Many traditional colleges and universities, as well as art schools, offer targeted fashion merchandising degree programs. Some individuals may prefer to specialize in specific areas of fashion merchandising, like marketing or buying, while others may prefer to do it all.
Some retail stores also offer special fashion merchandising training programs in lieu of a degree. In these training programs, individuals will often be able to learn the ins and outs of fashion merchandising while they earn money as well. Upon successful completion of this type of program, a participant will often be able to secure steady employment with the company that offered it.
| Education Requirements | Education Length | Available Programs | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studying Fashion Merchandising | Find an Associate’s Degree Program in Your Area | 2 Years | Online or Campus |
| Studying Fashion Merchandising | Find a Bachelor’s Degree Program in Your Area | 4-5 Years | Online or Campus |
What can I do With a Degree in Fashion Merchandising?
A degree in fashion merchandising is generally the one of the first steps toward a fashion merchandising career. Several different types of garment industries hire individuals with these types of degrees, including garment manufacturers, wholesalers, and retail stores. If you are more interested in high fashion rather than mainstream fashion, you can also try to secure employment with high end specialty boutiques or fashion designers.
Hard working fashion merchandisers will often be offered promotions and be able to take positions with more responsibilities as well as more generous wages.
Those interested in a fashion merchandising career may also want to consider opening their own garment store. This business move allows them to utilize their fashion merchandising degree, but also be in complete control of their career.
Your creativity is a big part of who you are and where you're going. To take it, and your future, as far as you want, you need an education that's focused on developing your talents and putting you on the path toward the creative career that stirs your imagination.
Programs:
Continue your education with Strayer University. We offer convenient degree options designed with the working adult in mind — study online, on campus in the evening and weekends, or through a combination of both.
Programs:
Academy of Art University, founded in 1929 by artists for artists, is the nation's largest accredited, private art and design university with over 18,000 students. Having state-of-the-art campuses online and in San Francisco, the Academy guides students to creative professional futures.
As the largest private university in North America, University of Phoenix has locations nationwide, and is available online in most countries around the world. Whether you're seeking a college degree at an associate's, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral level, we can help you reach your academic goal and sooner than you might think.
Programs:
Continue your education with Strayer University. We offer convenient degree options designed with the working adult in mind — study online, on campus in the evening and weekends, or through a combination of both.
Programs:
Turn your talent for design or technology into a viable career at the Academy online. You'll learn from experienced industry pros and gain valuable real-world knowledge. You'll complete your coursework 100% online, at the times and places that fit your schedule. And you'll get the skills and confidence you need to succeed.
Your creativity is a big part of who you are and where you’re going. To take it, and your future, as far as you want, you need an education that’s focused on developing your talents and putting you on the path toward the creative career that stirs your imagination. A collaborative education at The Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur, a branch of The Art Institute of Atlanta, is all about the work, the students who create it, and the instructors who guide them.
The first step is to explore these areas of study, and think about where you fit in an industry that runs on ideas.
Programs:
Kaplan University is focused on recognizing the achievements of military and veteran students and offers the flexibility of an online education. Eligible students can receive college credit for prior military experience and coursework—up to 75 percent of the credit needed for a Kaplan University undergraduate degree.*
As the largest private university in North America, University of Phoenix has locations nationwide, and is available online in most countries around the world. Whether you're seeking a college degree at an associate's, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral level, we can help you reach your academic goal and sooner than you might think.