What is Apparel Merchandising?
Apparel merchandising is a very broad term that refers to the process of buying and selling clothes, shoes, and accessories for retail.
It also includes pricing, displaying, and storing these items. Apparel merchandisers are generally the people who make sure that all of the clothes in a store are organized and displayed in an attractive way.
This section will provide an overview of what apparel merchandising is and what it entails.
You can take it as an umbrella term that encompasses the process and different jobs required to take a product from sourcing and buying, to designing and developing, and finally to retailing.
Apparel merchandisers oversee which products will be carried in stores and what sells best for any given season.
Retail clothing is becoming more digital; however, there are still many tasks that require personal interaction.
Being an apparel merchandiser is not just about clothes. It is about understanding all aspects of production and distribution to ensure that everyone has what they need when they need it. There are many aspects to the role of an apparel merchandiser, including maintenance for the company's inventories, pricing strategies, graphics, supply chain management and more.
Apparel Merchandiser is the one who is responsible for the success of a company. This person is in charge of designing, buying, and selling products.
The Importance of Apparel Merchandising to a Retail Business:
Apparel merchandising is an integral part of any retail business. It is the process of displaying and selling clothes to customers. Apparel merchandising is a major factor in driving sales and keeping customers coming back for more.
Merchandising is one of the most important parts of retail. It creates an experience for the customer that they cannot get on e-commerce. From window displays to store layout merchandising affects all aspects of a store.
The Process of Apparel Merchandising from Start to Finish:
The process of apparel merchandising from start to finish is a complicated and time-consuming task.
Let's have a look at how the process of apparel merchandising works.
The first step in the process is to identify what kind of clothing a customer is looking for. This can be done by asking them questions about their style or preferences or by using a data-driven approach that looks at what they have been browsing on retail sites, social media, and other sources.
Once this has been determined, the personal shopper will go through racks of clothing to find items that match what they have been asked for.
The garments are then taken to a fitting room where the consumer can try them on and decide whether or not they like them.
The Different Areas of Apparel Merchandising & How They Work Together:
Apparel merchandising is a broad field that encompasses a variety of job functions. The next paragraphs will go over the many aspects of merchandising and how they interact. The different areas of apparel merchandising are visual merchandising, buying, design, and production:
- Visual merchandising is the process of presenting the merchandise in displays that will attract an optimum number of shoppers to the store.
- Buying determines what specific items are needed for a season or to fill any existing inventory gaps.
- Design is about coordinating different pieces of clothing together to make an outfit.
- Production involve how much merchandising is produced.
Merchandise planners work with designers to plan what products to produce and how much to produce for a given season. They also work with buyers to make sure that stores have enough product on hand, which is why their job often overlaps with buyers. Merchandise planners also need to know what styles are trending and which ones aren't selling well so they can make smart decisions about the future of a company's product line.
Types of Apparel Merchandising:
I) Apparel Fashion Merchandising:
Apparel fashion merchandising occurs as a process to facilitate the sale of clothing and other textile goods. It is an excellent opportunity for individuals to use their creativity, understanding of business, marketing, and advertising in order to succeed in this field. The industry is high-risk but high-reward. Apparel fashion merchandisers are often required to be able to create new items with designs that are in demand which is not easy considering the changing trends in the world.
The success of any apparel business relies heavily on understanding current trends in fashion and their impact on the public's purchasing decisions.
II) Apparel Production Merchandising:
Apparel production merchandising is the branch of the fashion industry that deals with acquisition and display of items for retail sale. This includes new and used clothes, shoes, and accessories. Sales representatives work on commissions and some may receive a salary based on performance.
It refers to the processes of designing the clothes that are produced for different seasons. The process usually begins with sourcing out fabric that is appropriate for the season, then cutting and sewing them to make the pre-production samples.
III) Apparel Export Merchandising:
There are many different segments where merchandising can take place. One of the most popular is exporting products to other countries. Apparel export merchandising requires working with vendors, factories, and importers/exporters to ensure that goods are meeting the desired quality standards and customer needs. There are also procedures for determining if new items need to be created or old items need to be discontinued for this category.
Basically it is the process of sourcing, designing, and distributing products to retail markets internationally. It includes considering the needs of the local market, determining production costs, and identifying how to produce the product in a cost-effective manner.
IV) Apparel Retail Merchandising:
Apparel retail merchandising is the practice of the retailing to end consumers through visual display, arrangement, and price of products in order to maximize customer traffic. The apparel industry has seen a steady rise in the availability of product offerings for shoppers in recent years. This is primarily due to increasing consumer demand to buy clothing online.
Apparel Merchandiser Jobs:
Being an apparel merchandiser is not just about clothes. It is about understanding all aspects of production and distribution to ensure that everyone has what they need when they need it. There are many aspects to the role of an apparel merchandiser, including maintenance for the company's inventories, pricing strategies, graphics, supply chain management and more.
Job duties include selecting and buying new inventory, managing markdowns and promotions, designating display space for specific garments or brands, training retail associates on the latest trends, recruiting and hiring seasonal help during peak seasons, and maintaining relationships with vendors.
Main Responsibilities of Merchandisers:
Following are the main responsibilities of merchandisers.
- Internal & external communication.
- Sampling, Trims & Accessories
- Preparing internal order sheets, purchase orders, and invoices
- Providing production advice and assistance
- Advising the quality department on the level of quality,
- Mediating between the manufacturing and quality control divisions,
- Providing shipping instructions and ensuring that they are followed,
- Assisting the paperwork department, taking charge of inspections, and following up on shipments.
Top Apparel Merchandising Job Success Tips:
These are the some of the tips for those who are interested in Apparel Merchandising as a career.
1) Be sure to have a passion for the industry.
2) Get a degree in Fashion Merchandising or Retail Management.
3) Gain experience in the field by interning with an established company.
4) Work hard and be a team player.
A fashion merchandiser is a person who has the responsibility of buying and selling goods in order to meet the needs of customers. They are responsible for selecting, purchasing, and displaying goods in order to maximize sales.
Merchandising is an essential part of the overall retail business process. Keeping your merchandise stocked and arranged in a very appealing manner is the key to attracting customers to your store.
They must have excellent communication skills, an eye for trends and styles, excellent negotiation skills, and a keen understanding of what customers want.
The question now is, what are the qualifications for employment as an apparel Merchandiser?
After completing your 12th grade, you can enroll in a fashion merchandising Course programme that will prepare you for a career in this sector.
Alternatively, you can enroll in a short-term course to obtain some knowledge and then hunt for an internship to gain experience.
Conclusion:
Apparel merchandising should be taken into consideration when managing a retail store to ensure customer satisfaction. It should be considered in regards to layout, product placement, and visual appeal.
Apparel merchandising provides retail companies with countless opportunities for engaging customers in a way that will result in long-term relationships between the consumer and the business, which leads to increased sales - the most important goal in retail management.
Successful apparel merchandising involves taking customer preferences into consideration while also considering the layout of the store. This way, customers can see all their options while browsing for an item they want.
Once you have the necessary training and experience, this job opportunity can be highly lucrative.
Apparel merchandising is the appropriate career for you if you are someone who can devote themselves to their work and isn't afraid of putting in extra hours.
The best part is that you can begin directly after 12th grade. To work in this industry, you do not need to complete your degree. Many students wonder what they should do after finishing high school. Apparel Merchandising is the ideal solution.
And it makes no difference if you studied science, arts, or commerce in 12th Standard. Anyone can pursue a profession in apparel merchandising.
