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Date 4th June 2020
Merchandisers are a key part of the fashion retail industry, yet it's not as well known as a buying career. There's currently a shortage of professional merchandisers, so strong candidates are in high demand and there's plenty of opportunity for rapid career progression.
Being a fashion merchandiser requires an equal balance of analytical skills and creativity. You'll need to use your knowledge of trends to plan effectively, but also make strategic decisions that make good business sense. It's an exciting and highly rewarding role with fantastic opportunities for professional growth.
A merchandiser works closely alongside both buyers and designers, with the ultimate goal of maximising profits for a fashion brand. They plan how many of each specific product ends up in stores, keeping to tight budgets and ensuring consistent stock flow.
Merchandisers are in charge of monitoring three seasons at once by:
Merchandising and buying are close-knit teams. Whilst a buyer acquires stock based on analysing trends, the merchandiser decides where and how this should be placed. It's important that buyers and merchandisers have an understanding of each other's roles in order to work together effectively.
Some of the crucial responsibilities of a merchandiser include the following:
Want to read more about working as a fashion merchandiser?
Your day will most likely start at the office, where you’ll analyse which of your brand’s products have been performing best sales-wise that week. You’ll highlight any key learnings, then share these with the rest of your team.
Mid-morning, you might have a meeting with the buyers and designers to have a chat about what next season’s range could look like. You’ll evaluate any emerging trends and also analyse past trading data to see what’s done well for your key demographic previously.
After lunch, it’s time to take a closer look at what your competitors are doing. This might involve desktop research, or scouting the high street to see what’s around. Staying on top of what’s going on in the wider industry is key to being a successful merchandiser.
The afternoon might be spent catching up on emails. Depending on the brand you’re working for, it’s likely you’ll be liaising with suppliers and international offices.
Before going home of the day, you’ll check in on stock levels at the distribution centre and chase any suppliers you haven’t heard back from to make sure you’re in a good place to start work the next day.
The fastest and most direct route into a merchandising career is by studying a relevant course. At the Fashion Retail Academy, we have several courses that teach you the fundamentals of fashion merchandising. Our courses are designed alongside our retail brand partners to teach you all the knowledge and skills you need to succeed on the job. Our courses also include an integrated industry placement to give you practical work experience that will help you stand out in interviews.
Our 22-week Level 4 Fast Track Buying and Merchandising is the fastest route into a career in buying o merchandising. It's ideal for those looking to break into a new area of fashion retail or quickly retrain. The course is delivered two days a week, meaning you can work part-time while you study.
We also provide the UK's only accelerated fashion degrees. Our BA (Hons) in Buying and Merchandising Accelerated Degree course is designed to save you time and money compared to a traditional university degree. Taught over three teaching semesters a year instead of two, you'll graduate a year faster than your peers without compromising on how much you learn.
If you'd like to work in the fashion industry but don't know where to start, our friendly Applicant Services team are always happy to talk through your options! Email us at info@fra.ac.uk or call on 0300 247 0039
Fashion merchandising is one of the most essential roles in the fashion industry. Working closely with a wide range of departments, merchandisers provide valuable insights that allow businesses to make key strategic decisions to maximise sales and profits.
27th September 2021
We recently went to M&S head office to catch up with our FRA alumni, Charles and Molly, who graduated from BA (Hons) Buying & Merchandising in 2018.
14th September 2021
We spoke to Joey, Buyers Admin Assistant at River Island, about his career since leaving the Fashion Retail Academy. Joey studied Level 4 Fast Track Buying & Merchandising.
24th June 2020
