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Career Services offers all degree seeking Bachelors, Associates, and Masters degree students access to our services which include:
The job market is abundant in “non-design” fashion careers. You may have a good business head, interpersonal skills or be great at pulling together visual concepts- there is something out there for each personality and skill set. It’s very important to start thinking about these careers as you begin your academic and career search journeys. Knowing what you want and what’s out there is half the battle! The below are definitions of the most commonly asked about careers:
Boutique Owner
Owns and oversees all store operations from financials, marketing, merchandising to managing employees.
Brand Manager
Manages brand(s) by employing marketing tools to develop brand image and seek out new product ideas.
Fashion Buyer (Retail Buyer)
Responsible for buying wholesale goods from vendors for a department store; fiscally responsible for sales.
Fashion Editor
Supervises publication content from product selection, creative direction to article layouts.
Fashion Writer
Staff or freelance writer for fashion magazines, newspapers, websites, television shows and more.
Fashion Account Executive (Sales Representative)
Account executives who sell wholesale product to Fashion Buyers.
Product Developer
Ensures products are cost effective and made on a timely basis by working with designers and factories.
Public Relations Specialist
Interacts with media and other outlets to ensure company/products are in the public eye.
Retail Inventory Planner (Store Planner, Distribution Planner)
Allocates and replenishes product to the appropriate stores to maximize product sell-thru.
Merchandiser (Fashion Merchandiser)
Leads product line assortment development by analyzing sales, forecasting trends and working with design team; ultimately responsible for company profitability.
Retail Store Manager
Oversees all aspects of store’s daily operations from managing employees to product sales.
Visual Merchandiser
Conceptualizes and executes store display designs (including window and in-store layout) to promote the brand image.
Some useful resources:
www.fashion.about.com, www.fairchildbooks.com, www.marketingsalaries.com
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Definition and Duties:
A Fashion Buyer isresponsible for buying wholesale goods from vendors for a department store, retail chain or individual store (in a department store or retail chain, each Buyer is typically responsible for a category of business i.e. Women’s Shoes). The Buyer is ultimately accountable for the “bottom line”- selecting merchandise that the consumer will buy and that the store can make a profit from.
A Buyer needs to possess good business skills and fashion knowledge. These attributes go hand in hand. Strong retail math and negotiation skills are needed to plan a business from top to bottom. This includes managing inventory, markdowns and margins. At the end of the day, the Buyer’s goal is to contribute to the store’s financial success. Fashion instinct and competitor/industry knowledge are also imperative for planning successful buys. Most buys are made up to one year ahead of the time so it’s very important to look into the crystal ball and make intelligent decisions about what will sell.
Qualifications:
Education- College degree required. Business or fashion merchandising coursework helpful.
Experience- Sales associate and/or corporate retail experiences are helpful in understanding product, consumer habits and business operations. Some department stores offer a structured program for entry level buyers with classes and on the job training.
Personality/Skills- Must love fashion and following trends; good analytical, negotiation, business skills; ability to work under pressure.
General Salary Ranges:
Entry Level- $30,000-$45,000
Mid Level- $50,000-$75,000
Senior Level- $75,000-$100,000+
*Buyers often get a bonus if they exceed their sales plans.
Career Path:
Assistant Buyer > Associate Buyer > Buyer > Divisional Merchandise Manager > General Merchandise Manager
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Definition and Duties:
An Account Executive sells their company’s products out of a showroom to Fashion Buyers. Account Executives work hard to get the Buyers excited about each new product line and work with them to customize orders for their stores. This requires the Account Executive to have a good understanding of business, competitor/industry knowledge and an upbeat, motivated attitude. Account Executives often develop symbiotic relationships with Buyers; through trust and experience, they can help each other reach his/her financial goals- if an Account Executive can gain the trust of a Buyer and help them select items that will sell well in their store, then the Account Executive will get larger orders.
Account Executives can expect to be busiest during market week (which occurs 4-6 times a year) when the showroom is revealed for the first time and the Buyers come to place orders. During non-market week times, Account Executives are developing business plans, monitoring and reacting to how product is performing at retail, suggesting reorders for Buyers to place and insuring orders are processed properly.
Qualifications:
Education- College degree required. Business or fashion merchandising coursework helpful.
Experience- Sales associate and/or corporate retail experiences are in helpful in understanding product, consumer habits and business operations.
Personality/Skills- Excellent communication skills, both written and oral; self motivated, competitive, upbeat; must love fashion and following trends; good analytical, negotiation, business skills; ability to work under pressure.
General Salary Ranges:
Entry Level- $25,000-$35,000
Mid Level- $35,000-$75,000
Senior Level- $75,000-$100,000+
*Sales Reps often get a bonus if they exceed their order plans.
Career Path:
Assistant Account Executive > Associate Account Executive > Account Executive > Account Executive Manager > VP of Sales
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Definition and Duties:
An Account Executive is the primary liaison between the firm and their client. This position entails project management, brand consulting, budget planning, and communication. The goal is to ensure the client is pleased with the outcome of the product’s perception and exposure through media placement.
Brand consulting is considered by many the most creative aspect of this position. Through market/competitive research, brainstorming sessions, Account Executives are able to guide their client in the advertising/brand direction that suits their needs. Often times, teams come up with campaign proposals or “pitches” in hopes of landing the account.
Problem solving in a diplomatic manner is a key personality trait that the Account Executive must possess. Each ad campaign will involve working with an art director, media planner, and most importantly the client. It is crucial that the Account Executive knows how to manage different opinions, personalities and come up with solutions.
Resources:
www.adage.com
www.redbooks.com
www.creativehotlist.com
www.opajobs.com
www.prweekjobs.com
www.redbook.com
Advertising Club of New York www.theadvertisingclub.org
American Assoc. of Advertising Agencies www.aaaa.org
New York Women in Communications www.nywici.org
Qualifications:
Education- College degree required. Business, marketing, communications coursework/internship helpful.
Personality/Skills- Creative, excellent written/oral communication skills, organized, problem solver, leadership and business skills; ability to work under pressure.
General Salary Ranges:
Entry Level- $30,000-$45,000
Mid Level- $45,000-$60,000
Senior Level- $60,000-$100,000+
Career Path:
Account Coordinator > Assistant Account Executive > Account Executive > Account Supervisor > Account Director
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Definition and Duties:
A Merchandiser*** acts as the primary liason between design, production, product development and sales. The Merchandiser is responsible for developing a profitable line of products by creating a financially based product plan, researching competitors and anticipating customer needs. The Merchandiser plays a critical role in the company’s overall financial success. Therefore, it is important that the Merchandiser utilizes analytical skills in creating product lines that will well at retail. The Merchandiser often analyzes past selling history, develops pricing strategies and seeks out new categories of business.
In order for a product line to be executed as envisioned, the Merchandiser works very closely with a team of designers and product developers. These counterparts work together to edit the line, conceptualize designs and work on product costs to ensure profitability. The Merchandiser plays a huge role in keeping everyone on a time and action calendar and making sure everyone understands the end goals. A Merchandiser will typically plan out 4-6 product lines a year, one for each market.
***Note- A Retail Merchandiser is different from a Merchandiser. A Retail Merchandiser works to maximize product selling through advertising, instore displays and organizing promotional activities.
Qualifications:
Education- College degree required. Business or fashion merchandising coursework helpful.
Personality/Skills- Must love fashion and following trends; good analytical, negotiation, leadership and business skills; ability to work under pressure.
General Salary Ranges:
Entry Level- $35,000-$45,000
Mid Level- $50,000-$75,000
Senior Level- $75,000-$100,000+
*Merchandisers often get a bonus if they exceed their order plans.
Career Path:
Assistant Merchandiser > Associate Merchandiser > Merchandiser > Merchandise Manager > Merchandise Director
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Definition and Duties:
A Fashion Public Relations Specialist interacts with media and other outlets to ensure that the company’s products and corporate image remain favorable in the public eye. The PR Specialist strategizes new and creative ways to gain the attention of the media; often times, the PR Specialist will generate buzz by holding press conferences, working with magazine editors and sending press releases.
In order to develop and cultivate relationships with their media counterparts, a successful PR Specialist should have excellent written/oral and interpersonal skills. Members of the media are always looking for industry news so this relationship is important for both ends.
Qualifications:
Education- College degree required. Fashion Marketing and communications coursework helpful.
Experience- Internships in journalism or other media outlet.
Personality/Skills- Excellent communication skills, both written and oral; good interpersonal skills; energetic; must have fashion knowledge; ability to work under pressure.
General Salary Ranges:
Entry Level***- $20,000-$35,000
Mid Level- $40,000-$60,000
Senior Level- $75,000-$100,000+
***Note- Entry level positions may be higher depending on size and status of company.
Career Path:
Promotions Assistant> Public Relations Specialist> Public Relations Coordinator> Director of Public Relations
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Definition and Duties:
A Product Developer is in charge of taking a merchandising/design concept and turning it into a tangible product that will eventually sell at retail. After the merchandising/design team has decided on what the style will look like (including colors, material, size specs), cost and quantity, it’s up to the product developer to figure out the next steps. This involves finding the right factory, making sure costing is in line, checking on sample status, materials/construction quality control, and maintaining the production calendar.
This position requires both attention to detail and creativity. A Product Developer needs to be detail oriented when communicating with factories, tracking sample status, negotiating/calculating costs, and communicating these details to the merchandising/design team. Creativity comes into play in problem solving. For example, if a handbag is costing out higher than the merchandiser’s planned cost, the product developer will often suggest solutions for reducing the cost. In this case, perhaps a cheaper zipper would bring the cost down enough.
A Product Developer will typically work with the team on 4-6 product lines a year, one for each market. There may be some traveling as many factories are overseas.
Qualifications:
Education- College degree required. Business or fashion merchandising coursework/internship helpful.
Personality/Skills- Must love fashion and following trends; good analytical, problem solving, negotiation, leadership and business skills; ability to work under pressure.
General Salary Ranges:
Entry Level- $30,000-$45,000
Mid Level- $45,000-$60,000
Senior Level- $60,000-$100,000+
Career Path:
Assistant Product Developer > Associate Product Developer > Product Developer > Product Development Director > VP Product Development
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