Fashion Merchandiser: Job Description, Education & Career Outlook

The fashion industry offers abundant career opportunities to choose from. Also known as a visual merchandiser or an apparel merchandiser, the job of a fashion merchandiser has multiple aspects. To make a successful career in this field, you need to be well informed about where and how to start, how to get trained in fashion merchandising, necessary job skills, certification and employment prospects. The interesting thing to note here is that the job of these professionals includes multiple aspects including artistic, craftsmanship and marketing.

Job Description
The main role of a fashion merchandiser is to attract consumers' attention by designing visually invoking merchandise display. They are responsible for creative decoration of commercial retail establishments. What's important is that the fashion merchandiser has to perform their entire task keeping in mind the brand and the image of the merchandise. Attractive store decorations play a crucial role in drawing consumer attention and compel them to buy merchandise.

To make a successful career, professionals need to put into use their artistic skills, marketing skills and craftsmanship. The job description of a fashion merchandiser will include the following.

Designing display for commercial merchandise
Preparing design sketch using computers
Arranging for lighting, space, table displays and other accessories
Working closely with management and marketing professionals
Getting in touch with advertising and sales professionals
Setting and tagging product price
Stocking displays and ordering of merchandise

Depending on the size of the employer where merchandiser works, they may have the responsibility of looking after some additional job duties. These professionals can choose to work either full time or part time. Traveling may also be required for participating at tradeshows or visiting stores. Though fashion merchandisers work regular hours of the day, they may need to put in some extra hours as per the demand of the project deadline.

Educational Qualification & Training
Though candidates can kick start a career in this field with an associate's degree or a certificate course, a bachelor's degree in fashion merchandising significantly helps individuals land jobs easily and make the most of their careers. There are several fashion merchandising schools, art institutes and design and technology colleges across the United States offering relevant courses to aspiring students. An associate's degree required 2 years to complete whereas a bachelor's degree can be completed in a duration of 4 years. A bachelor degree offers best career prospects for candidates.

Job Skills Required
Besides possessing a degree in fashion merchandising or a relevant field, candidates should also possess some other essential skills to have a successful career. These include strong imagination, creativity, knowledge of fine arts, strong sense of style and color, visualization capability, excellent communication skills, problem solving, manual dexterity, physical strength and knowledge of computer graphics applications among others.

Employment & Job Outlook
There is no dearth of employment opportunities for candidates who aspire to become a fashion merchandiser or a merchandise displayer. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts an employment growth rate in this field as fast as the average of all other occupations. More jobs will also be added, as a large number of professionals take transfers, reach their age of retirement or leave the job for other reasons.

Annual Salary
The salary of a fashion merchandiser varies depending on the geographical location, years of experience and the size of the employer. The annual income of these professionals ranges between $32,881 and $116,750. The salary also depends on the level of job position. A visual merchandiser carrying an experience of 3-5 years earns between the range of $32,881 and $52,785. If you are employed as a merchandise buyer and have an experience of 2-4 years under the belt, you can earn an annual income ranging between $68,814 and $91,800. Senior merchandise buyer can earn up to $116,750.