Preparing for a career For the reason that this career combines style with business sense, a flair for fashion (alone) will not bring you success. Rather, there are three primary (and divergent) skills that a fashion designer, merchandiser and marketer must possess in order to succeed in this field. Forecasting ability . The ability to forecast fashion trends is an essential part of this career.
This requires a thorough knowledge of past future trends, current future trends (as represented by sometimes minute changes within the fashion industry) and an awareness of how the marketing of an item contributes to these fashion trends. Moreover, they must be able to keep well ahead of these fashion trends to capitalise on them in time. Analytical ability . Fashion merchandisers and marketers must be able to analyse the ‘dollars and sense’ part of their jobs.
This means that they must keep abreast of the economy as a whole, the economy of their particular companies, and how certain styles will fit into a consumer’s budget. They must juggle a complex set of factors to ensure that they make a profit for their employers. A ctivity Visit a market place. Observe, identify and list the various types of store in the market.
Communication ability . Excellent communication skills are absolutely essential in this field. They must be able to negotiate prices with manufacturers and sell their fashion choices to the public. To this end, they frequently write advertising copy, press releases, and even personalised letters to consumers.
All of this takes skilled communication skills. Fashion designers typically need an associate or a bachelor’s degree in fashion design. Some fashion designers also combine a fashion design degree with a business, marketing, or fashion merchandising degree, especially those who want to run their own business or retail store. There are several different degree programmes in fashion design and merchandising.
You can earn a certificate, a diploma, an associate’s, or a bachelor’s degree in this field. Your choice depends upon a number of factors that take into consideration the unique qualities of each degree programme. Certificate or diploma degree programmes in fashion merchandising can usually be completed in months to year. The programme duration is so short because the coursework will focus on the actual job of fashion merchandising.
A certificate or diploma programme may suit you if you do not have the patience for long-term schooling and if you want to be able to enter the fashion field more quickly. Fashion Merchandising related degrees are -year Master’s programmes that combine a certain amount of liberal arts (or general educational) requirements with fashion and business courses. Bachelors’ degrees in fashion design or fashion merchandising are -year programmes that combine a substantial amount of liberal arts requirements with fashion and business courses. If you have the patience for long-term schooling, the desire for a broad education and yearning for various promotional opportunities, a bachelor’s degree may be suitable for you.