How to Become a Clothing Retailer: Career Guide, Courses, Jobs, Scope, Salary

Types of Clothing Retailers

There are various types and categories of apparel merchandising, but broadly they are of three types- Fashion Merchandiser, Retail Merchandiser, and Export Merchandiser.

• Fashion Merchandiser: They are responsible for strategically creating stock and selling them to buyers. They curate designs according to the progressing fashion market. With their educational background and design skills, they understand what the consumers like and accept. They are the ones to keep a brand running for its product range and quality. Fashion merchandisers can further be classified into Marketing Merchandisers and Planning Merchandisers.
• Retail Merchandiser: Their job is to arrange all raw materials required to make goods and make them ready for sale. They mainly promote the sale of goods at a retail in-store level. They oversee activities associated with the products of their brand right from sampling to dispatch and shipment of the finished merchandise. Retail merchandisers work with various departments among organizations, companies, managers, suppliers, and buyers to look after the quality of products. The job is also a part of visual merchandising.
• Export Merchandiser: This job entails all marketing and sales activities within the trading industry of apparel merchandising. They ensure the profitability of the brand. Export merchandisers are directly related to the commercial department in garment and merchandising. They are further categorized into Sample Merchandiser, Production Merchandiser, Sourcing Merchandiser, and Product Development Merchandiser. Categorizations help them to carry out exports timely and efficiently.
• Visual Merchandiser: Their responsibility is to highlight various products through certain display techniques creating a visual appeal among customers and traders. This can involve application of proper lighting, or background colour, designing, spacing, etc. This category of merchandising entices the customers visually through offline as well as online means on various platforms. Visual merchandisers enhance the aesthetic value and appeal of a brand and its products.

How to Become an Clothing Retailer in India?

• School Level Preparation: It is suggested to aspiring merchandisers to start with subjects relevant to the apparel industry right from the start. Although schools do not teach Fashion Studies, students can opt for Economics, Business Studies, Management Studies, Commerce, Fine Arts, History, and other relevant subjects. These can help in developing a basic idea of the career from an early age. Since Clothing Retailers need to have excellent analytical skills, commercial subjects are mostly preferred by them at the school level. Students can also participate in workshops, school competitions, and programs that expose them to the industry. Certificate programs or High School Diploma after 10th is also highly recommended.

How to Become Clothing Retailer after 12th?

• UG Preparation: Choosing the correct major is a very important step in the educational career of an Clothing Retailer. More than 53.8% of Clothing Retailers have a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject or fashion-related course. Many are also found to have Associate Degrees. The correct step should be taken to find the perfect institute that offers such courses that can help in the profession of being an Clothing Retailer. Admissions are done through merit or entrance exams conducted by respective institutes. A 10+2 candidate with the right eligibility can sit for these exams and get selected for a course in a good college.
• PG Preparation: It is found that only 5% of Clothing Retailers have a Master’s degree in a relevant course. Although most merchandisers get into jobs after a Bachelor’s degree, it is seen that students with a Master’s degree receive better opportunities and faster promotions. Diploma certifications or Researches are also done by many which prove beneficial for jobs.

Courses to Become Clothing Retailer

Diploma in Merchandising

Diploma in Merchandising is a 1-year course at the Diploma level. It belongs to the stream of Design and prepares aspiring Clothing Retailers for the various aspects of merchandising in the domain of the fashion business. The approximate annual fee is INR 40,000 to 1 lakh.

Diploma in Merchandising: Admission Process

• Some colleges have merit-based admissions while some give direct admissions to candidates.
• Students have to register online and apply for the course at their preferred institute.
• The final selection may be done after a written exam, personal interview, and group discussion as per admission guidelines of the particular institute.

Diploma in Merchandising: Eligibility Criteria

• The candidate must have a 10+2 qualification from a recognized board in a relevant stream.
• They must have the minimum aggregate score as required by the college eligibility guidelines.
• Reserved category students are given some relaxation in most institutes.
• candidates must go through the eligibility criteria separately at each college before they apply for admission to the respective college.

BFAD/Apparel Merchandising/ Fashion Merchandising

BFAD aka Bachelor of Fashion and Apparel Merchandising is a 3-year full-time undergraduate course. It teaches the specializations of the fashion industry and explores the relationship between contemporary technological concepts and innovative designs. The average fees for the course range from INR 80,000 to INR 7 lakh.

BFAD: Admission Process

• Candidates have to register and apply online or offline as per admission guidelines of respective institutes.
• Individual work portfolios of students are appreciated for admission to this course.
• Final selections are done through merit scores in qualifying exams or through entrance exam scores.

BFAD: Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates with a 10+2 qualification from any discipline and from a recognized board are eligible to apply.
• They must have at least 50% to 55% aggregate marks in their 10+2 result.
• Some relaxations are allowed for reserved category students.

BSc in Fashion and Apparel Design

BSc Fashion and Apparel Design is an UG course in fashion studies extending over 3 to 5 years. The course teaches fashion aspirants in-depth details about the merchandising industry and trending fashion. The average fees for the course range from INR 5 to 7 lakhs.

BSc in Fashion and Apparel Design: Admission Process

• Candidates can apply both offline or online as per the guidelines of the respective institute.
• Application forms are usually available on the official website or at the admission office of the college.
• Candidates have to upload necessary documents with details and pay an application fee.
• After completion of the process, candidates have to go for a counselling round and a personal interview for the final selection to the desired college.

BSc in Fashion and Apparel Design: Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates must qualify 10+2 or equivalent from a recognized board.
• They should carry at least 50% aggregate marks.
• Some relaxations are allowed for reserved category students.
• Eligibility criteria differ from college to college and candidates must fulfill them to get selected.
• They must qualify in either the national-level, state-level, or institute-level entrance examination to become eligible for admission.

BDes in Fashion Design

BDes Fashion Design is a 4-year undergraduate course in Fashion Studies. It aims to provide complete knowledge of the fashion industry including fashion designing, quality control, merchandising, and marketing. The average fees for this course ranges from INR 79,000 to INR 7.13 lakh.

BDes in Fashion Design: Admission Process

• Students can apply both offline or online from the official website of the college.
• Candidates have to upload the filled-up application form along with the necessary documents.
• Final selections are done either on the basis of merit scored in the qualifying exam or through an entrance exam.
• There may also be a counselling round and a personal interview in some colleges.

BDes in Fashion Design: Eligibility Criteria

• The minimum educational qualification required for the course is a 10+2 pass from a recognized board in any stream.
• Candidates must have a minimum of 50% aggregate marks.
• They may have to qualify in the entrance exam for final selections. However, some colleges also offer direct admissions or merit-based admissions.
• Some relaxations are allowed for reserved category students.

How to Become Clothing Retailer Abroad

UK

• There are over 50 top colleges in the UK that offer specialized merchandising courses.
• Students can opt for college courses to become retail merchandisers or attain a Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Retail Operations or Level 3 Diploma in Fashion Retail. Work experience is essential for jobs.
• Clothing Retailers have week-day flexible hours. Their salary increases with time and experience. The average starting salary is £16,000 to £18,000 that can go up to £45,000 to £65,000 with seniority.

Top Colleges

US

• The USA has some of the best fashion schools that offer courses in merchandising.
• Most Clothing Retailers start off with Associate’s Degree programs or Certifications which are very beneficial for job opportunities.
• There are many students that go to the USA every year to establish themselves as Clothing Retailers.
• The median salary of Clothing Retailers is about $66,690 per year. The salary is open to increase with time and experience.

Top Colleges 

Canada

• Some of the top fashion schools located in Canada attract international students every year who study these courses and settle in Canada as professional merchandisers.
• There are several advantages of studying in Canada like internationally recognized degrees, port-study work permits, lucrative job opportunities, multicultural ambiance, hands-on experience in field works, and many more that attract international students.
• The average base salary for a merchandiser in Canada is $16.56 per hour. Most Clothing Retailers start off with $27,300 per year.

Top Colleges

Australia

• Australia houses some of the best institutes that offer merchandising and fashion courses.
• Aspiring students can complete a Diploma in Visual Merchandising or equivalent qualification.
• They can also acquire relevant experience as Sales Assistant or through various workshops and internships.
• The average salary for a merchandiser ranges from $45,000 and $55,000 during mid-level or senior-level experience.

Top Colleges

Benefits of Career as an Clothing Retailer

• Salary: Like every other job, an Clothing Retailer’s salary depends on their qualification and job location. Starting off with an average yearly salary of INR 1-2 lakhs, an Clothing Retailer’s salary increases with time and experience. The senior-level salary ranges from INR 9 to 10 lakhs per annum.
• Job Security: The life of an Clothing Retailer is secured with health and other benefits offered by the companies they work in. Their salary keeps increasing with time hence the monetary security also remains intact.
• Expanding network: Clothing Retailers can continuously interact and communicate among buyers, sellers, traders, and among various firms, companies, and brands. Through their communicative skills, regular interactions make their circles and network keep on expanding. This introduces them to a lot of influential and powerful people. It opens up new advantageous opportunities from personal and professional communications.
• Enhanced Communication Skills: With constant interactions with buyers, sellers, exporters, traders, managers, and other people, Clothing Retailers develop excellent communication skills. These help them in other fields and in personal growth too. They also have great interpersonal and managerial skills to strategically run their brands.
• Flexible Schedule: Clothing Retailers can easily accommodate their work in a convenient schedule. Although it is not easy work and requires a lot of time and energy just like any other profession, an Clothing Retailer usually regulates their own life on their own terms. Their job is also not monotonous since they keep engaging with different departments and job roles from time to time.
• Low Start-Up Costs: Most entrepreneurial merchandisers in the apparel industry can start their own businesses and brands with very low start-up costs. The risk-reward ratio in this industry is quite strong.
• No Physical Business Location Required: Owing to technology, the modern merchandising business can be run online. A physical business location is not always necessary for the business. A lot of work can hence be done from home or personal spaces. This makes the job a lot less hectic for most people.

Skills Required for an Clothing Retailer

• Managerial abilities to assign and handle multiple tasks.
• Communication skills and efficiency in handling customers, sellers, managers, and other important people of the industry.
• Quick decision-making abilities.
• Positive and nice behavior with everyone.
• Realistic, rational, and strategic in making goals and decisions.
• Cooperative and coordinative skills to work in a team.
• Analytical skills.
• Detail-oriented.
• Knowledge of technical terms of the industry and of the world market.
• Good understanding of the factory and the fabrics.
• Confidence, persuasion power, and good command of themselves.