Career Girl Answers: Fashion Merchandising: 3 Types Of Majors At FIDM

Dear Career Girl:

I'm interested in getting into Fashion Merchandising. What should I do?

Alia

Dear Alia:

Fashion Merchandising sounds like the ultimate fashion gig, doesn't it? At least I think so. But actually, it's a little more complicated than that.

FIDM has three majors that concern "Fashion Merchandising": Merchandise Marketing, Merchandise Product Development, and Visual Communications.

Merchandise Marketing involves the buying and selling of wholesale and retail goods. That could be the career of Buyer, Boutique Owner, Store Manager, Showroom Owner, or Manfacturer's Rep.

Merchandise Product Development involves the developing/creating of fashion products for a target market -- say, developing jeans for toddlers, shirts for young men, dresses for juniors, or sweaters for the "better sportswear" market.

There are a zillion different careers, involving a zillion different skills, within Product Development.

Visual Communications involves making merchandise look appealing in a retail environment or a showroom.

In other words, a line or a store is "merchandised" so that the buyers are attracted to it.

Some who major in Visual Communications become Visual Merchandisers and design and execute store displays and store windows, even museum displays.

Also, a Merchandiser can work in the field going from store to store making sure that a certain brand of clothing she or he works for looks right in the store display the company has designed for their merchandise.

So when you say "Fashion Merchandising," you need to know a little more about what you're interested in doing in your career.There are so many options!

Check out FIDM.edu for more info on these majors, the classes you would take in each one, and the careers you could have after graduating from FIDM.

Meanwhile, it's great to hear that you're interested in fashion -- now all you have to do is narrow down your choices!

--Career Girl

Comments

[flower girl dress patterns]

It was nice reading your post. I needed to know such kind of information to update myself. I work in my friend’s boutique of flower girl dresses and also help in the online promotion.

[flower girl dress patterns]

It was nice reading your post. I needed to know such kind of information to update myself. I work in my friend’s boutique of flower girl dresses and also help in the online promotion.