What is Fashion Merchandising? 3 Things to Know about the Field
The field of fashion is considered as a big business with several verticals offering much more than designing and construction of garments. A lot of time, energy and hard work goes into getting clothes and accessories on the rack for customers. With manufacturers and retail stores in between the whole cycle, fashion merchandising is an emerging favourite career choice for many.
By definition, fashion merchandising refers to the study of the latest trends to determine the strategy of communication for a retail store. The field is quite exciting, while it demands an instinct for emerging trends and in-depth knowledge of fashion business management.
Even in present times, fashion is only about designing clothes for many. However, the industry has evolved with several opportunities at one’s disposal to establish a successful career. After a fashion designer is done with the conceptualizing part of clothing, it has to make it to a retail store, where it needs to be displayed and marketed well to the target customers. This business side is a growing vertical known as fashion merchandising or fashion marketing to some.
A sense of style is essential to explore any vertical inside the fashion world, but the role of merchandisers requires strong analytical skills. This might sound the opposite of the standard conception about the industry. It is these creative minds with strong business knowledge that determine the products’ and services’ age in fashion. Knowing this life cycle helps stores avoid liquidation of excess inventory later.
Some responsibilities of a fashion merchandiser is to:
- Research prevailing trends and conduct fashion forecasting
- Attend fashion shows to stay at the top of the latest happenings, build contacts, and analyze what’s trending in the market.
- Create creative and new-age advertising and marketing campaigns
- Develop a budget and make sure it is followed
- Negotiate with suppliers and manufacturers
- Research customer demographics to regulate strategy to reach them with relevant marketing strategies
- Creating interesting and innovative store displays
The role is an amalgamation of fashion and merchandising. And, in simple words, one can say, merchandisers are multitaskers with exceptional ideating skills.
Here are 3 things one should know about the field:
A passion for fashion and business is vital
One cannot succeed with a laid back approach which mostly comes when one is doing something that doesn’t excite them. Having a passion for fashion and business will drive excitement in aspiring individuals. Hence, it is the only way to establish a strong foothold in the industry while enjoying each step of handling a variety of responsibilities.
Education is important
A degree in fashion merchandising gives a chance to explore the liberal curriculum and inculcates the leadership and artistic skills required to ace the role. One can attain formal education with fashion business management courses in Delhi to develop problem-solving abilities and get an idea of how it will be to work in an industry worth trillions of dollars.
Gaining practical experience is the key
An internship or a training program is essential to go outside the classroom setting and evaluate student’s abilities in the actual work environment. Most colleges, including the Indian Institute of Art and Design (IIAD), include an internship module to provide work experience to their students after having learnt the basics. The industry exposure helps gain practical experience, which serves as the key to ensure a smooth transition from the relaxed college environment to the competitive work environment.
Fashion merchandising is ideal for those intrigued by the creative energy of the field and at the same time, are indulgent to explore the business wing of the glamorous industry.
