Breaking into Fashion
Merchandising
Jennie Barton is
the merchandiser for Phase Eight. Fashion merchandising is a broad industry
which involves everything from promoting sales, meeting customer and designer
needs, developing campaigns and creating sales strategies. It’s a mix of being
able to keep up with the latest fashion trends and being business-minded.
Jennie graduated
from Nottingham Trent University with a degree in Business Studies. After
finishing her degree she wasn’t sure where her career would take her next. A
friend who was working as a Buyer at a tea retailer recommended she went for a
temporary role in the Buying and Merchandise office. By doing this temporary
role, Jennie realised that merchandising was the career path for her and looked
for a permanent position.
After that, Jennie
progressed to a Senior Allocator role at a fashion retailer working her way up
to the position of Senior Assistant Merchandiser. After a brief time at a maternity-wear
retailer she then moved onto another fashion retailer as Junior Merchandiser.
In her Junior Merchandiser
role, she was responsible for shoes and accessories departments. This gave her
the opportunity to experience launching a large range of accessories and gave
her the drive to advance to the merchandiser level.
Progressing
from junior to merchandiser, Jennie started working at Phase Eight. Working at
Phase Eight, Jennie has had the opportunity to do many exciting things. So far,
her career highlight has been working on the launch of the Collection 8 range
at Phase Eight. Working on this collection, Jennie saw how much work goes into
creating each dress, making it more exciting seeing positive reactions in
stores and in the press.
Jennie’s advice for
anyone looking to get into merchandising is to hang in there.
Junior
merchandising roles can have times which are more boring as a lot of
administrative tasks are involved. Though as Jennie found, as soon as you move
up you begin to be more involved and have the chance to be more creative.
The best advice
Jennie has received in her career, which is useful to all is; “Don’t think of
problems, think of solutions.”
To find out more
about career opportunities at Phase Eight, visit the site here.
