Ask Fashion Girl

Dear Glenna:

If you're confused about the term"Merchandiser,"you're not alone! It's a confusing term even to seasoned industry professionals, because Merchandiser is a word that can mean three very different things in the fashion business. However, I've got the scoop on the three different careers a Merchandiser can have.

The first kind of Merchandiser represents a brand on behalf of a vendor. They travel to regional retail accounts and"merchandise"(pull together merchandise in an appealing display) the assortment, making sure there is enough product on the sales floor. They teach the store's sales associates how to sell the product. The Merchandiser creates relationships with management in stores to maintain and negotiate the location and square footage of the area where the company's product will be displayed. They create sales reports to communicate to the corporate division of the company what is selling and why, and what other vendors are selling and what products they have. The FIDM major that would get you ready for this career is Merchandise Marketing.

The second type of Merchandiser is a Visual Merchandiser. A Visual Merchandiser works in a store to display the store's merchandise in appealing ways. If they work in retail, they can be responsible for mannequin changes, in-store displays, and window displays. They often work with the first kind of Merchandiser. The FIDM major that would prepare you for this career is Visual Communications.

The third way the term"Merchandiser"can be used is to refer to someone who"merchandises"a line of products for a company, meaning they come up with ideas for products (such as colors and styles) and takes these ideas from concept to completion. They can create a collection but they do not design. This type of Merchandiser starts with an idea of how they want to do business, such as what market they want to target. They then do a trend analysis to see what the current trends are. The next step is developing the concept of what the line will be, followed by choosing what materials will be used to make the product, choosing the colors, and designing the fabric. Then the product is actually designed by a designer, the style finalized, and the prototype, or sample, is created. Before the project is truly complete, the results are analyzed. When everything is right, the line is presented. The FIDM major that would launch your career in this direction is Merchandise Product Development.

If you're interested in a career in any type of Merchandising, you've come to the right place! FIDM recognizes that each area of Merchandising is specialized, and deserves its own specialized training program. Take FIDM's Career Dreamscapes quiz to find out more about where you might fit in the fashion industry, and have a fashionable day!

Sincerely, Fashion Girl