Definition of Fashion Merchandising

Fashion merchandising is the promotion of apparel sales and involves all of the tasks necessary to deliver the clothing requests and meet the needs of potential customers and designers. Developing campaigns, displays and advertisements, directing manufacturing and marketing, and creating sales strategies are all part of the job. Fashion merchandising also refers to the necessary preparation that must be done in order to ensure that the merchandise is accessible and appealing to the customers it's intended for.

Significance

Fashion merchandising is where business and style unite, so in addition to having a flair for style and knowledge of textiles, business skills and market techniques are also needed.

Features

The merchandise quantities must be correctly ordered, priced and marketed at the right time and place.

Identification

Fashion merchandising entails the connection of different fashions to related consumers and ensuring the merchandise appeals to the targeted consumer and anticipating the future trends that consumer will follow.

Function

The key to fashion merchandising is to promote and obtain the goods. This can involve going to international fashion events, buying fashions and negotiating with merchants, manufacturers, retailers and designers.

Effects

Fashion merchandising also includes the marketing of fashions to assorted retail stores, boutiques and wholesalers.

Careers in Fashion Merchandising

There are particular careers within the fashion merchandising realm including fashion buyers, coordinators, merchandisers, retailers, market researchers, public relations and advertising executives, fashion event planners, operation and store managers, fashion editors, product coordinators, developers and importing and exporting agents.

Resources

• The ABCs of Fashion Merchandising - Fashion School Review
• Fashion Merchandising Jobs - Skills Needed & Outlook for Careers
• Fashion Merchandising on CollegeBoard