Fashion Design and Retail Management

By Lynsey Hemstreet
Fashion Design Schools Colleges Columnist

Many fashion design students discover that, although they have no end of ideas, the life of a starving artist isn’t for them. Alternate careers in fashion design include positions in retail, from the lowliest dollar store to the most chic boutique. The proper studies and opportunities can combine into a great career in retail management.

If you think for a moment about retail, you’ll realize that every retail outlet, every department store, supercenter, warehouse club, and general merchandiser needs a qualified manager. Each department must be supervised, which is then managed by a store supervisor. The chain of command in retail management is one that stretches from store to region to state to corporation, with plenty of job opportunities in between.

Retail Management Education

Many retail managers have achieved their positions with good customer service, hard work and a strong sense of responsibility. It’s likely that many senior managers worked their way up from a lowly cashier or stock position. Many employers will offer training materials or courses to retail employees with promise, helping them move up among the ranks. Business courses are always useful to a career in retail management, providing groundwork in marketing, accounting, management and retail trends.

A Career in Retail Management

If you look at major retailers like Target and WalMart, you will see that there is a number of job openings for qualified and educated people for management positions at these retailers. Retail managers are responsible for gift wrap, returns and exchanges, customer accounts and service, and stocking and marketing. Salaries of purchasing and retail managers can range from $50,000 to more than $100,000, with most falling around $72,000.

A career in retail management can transform your passion for fashion design directly into sales.

Source:

Bureau of Labor Statistics

About the Author

Lynsey Hemstreet is a freelance writer and hairstylist. She has a BA in Journalism from San Francisco State University.

Posted on January 26, 2007 at 04:18 PM