Fashion affects many areas of our lives from theclothes we buy to the eyewear we choose to the linens we place on our beds.This means a wide range of occupations are available to those who have a lovefor fashion and a desire to work in one of its many fields.
Fashion Merchandising Occupations
From the part-time retail sales clerk to a Madison Avenueclothing designer, fashion's wide umbrella covers a long list of jobs. Retailbuyers, trend analysts, consumer behaviorists and others are positions someonewith a degree in Fashion Merchandising might find themselves employed as.
New Jersey college students can learn about the variety of career paths available.Let's look at three Fashion Merchandising-type career paths that are currentlyin demand.
Fashion Design - As recently as 2004, it was reported by theU.S. Department of Labor that two-thirds of all fashion designers reside in New York or California. (See http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos291.htm)This may mean considering a relocation to these or nearby areas such as Nevada or New Jersey. College degrees in Fashion Merchandising may be a requirement,depending on the position you're seeking. The U.S. Department of Labor states,"Employers seek designers with a 2- or 4-year degree who are knowledgeableabout textiles, fabrics, ornamentation, and fashion trends."
Merchandising - The next time you enter a retail store,notice the windows, the mannequins and the fixtures close to the ceiling. Thesewere all planned by merchandisers. With the intent of influencing consumerbehavior, merchandisers design displays of various sorts in order to increasedesire for the items being shown.
Retail Management - A retail store manager is responsiblefor overseeing every aspect of his/her store's operations. From ensuring thehuman resource department keeps the store well staffed to working with theadvertising department to decide which items will be placed on sale, themanager must make the store run well while satisfying ever-changing consumerdemands and turning a profit.
What Qualifications Are Needed?
Qualifications will depend a great deal on the position youpursue within the Fashion Merchandising field. The geographic location willalso play a role. For instance, a company or store in Arizona may have anentirely different set of requirements than a company in New Jersey. Collegedegrees can often be a requirement for occupations that are not consideredentry-level.
Armed with ambition, a talent for fashion and a love ofpeople, you can pursue any number of exciting positions in the FashionMerchandising field.
About the Author:
Mike Churchill offers online marketing support for Gibbs College, a New Jersey-based college with a campus in Piscataway, offering programs in fashion merchandising and more. Visit
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