Week 1 EOC: My Voice

 

As a fashion design professional, I am very experienced when it comes to the industry.  I knew I wanted to be in the fashion industry since I was a freshman in high school so I decided to get in the industry early so I knew what it was about on a hands on level.  I have been in retail since I was fifteen.  Of those 7 years I spent 5 of them on the management side.  I’ve worked for several companies inside of malls like VF Outlet, Perfumania, Charlotte Russe, Michael Kors, and Wilsons Leather.    

I started at Michael Kors as a part time sales associate and after 3 months of employment moved up to floor supervisor.  Working at Michael Kors gave me my first breath of the high end market.  The customers were not seen as customers, but potential clients that could begin a long term relationship with the company.  In the beginning of my fashion career, sales were the only thing I knew or thought about.  Once I started in Michael Kors they showed me the wide range of positions and possibilities open to me.  I learned what it meant to be a visual merchandiser, a buyer, a personal shopper, a stylist.  All of these different careers are huge titles in the fashion industry.  Working at Michael Kors gave me the opportunity to really get my feet wet and decide what kind of careers I wanted out of the fashion industry.

After 2 ½ years I left Michael Kors and started at Wilsons Leather where I currently hold assistant manager/ visual merchandiser (at store level) position.  I started as a MT (manager trainee) and continued rising.  More than any other responsibility in the store, I love to merchandise.  If I could do nothing but spend all my time merchandising the store I would be happy.  I get to be the one who everyone comes to if there is any question or concern on the merchandising of the store.  As a visual merchandiser it is my responsibility to know at any given time, the latest items wanted in the window and also know which product will act as substitute in the event we sell out the first pick.  The product wanted in the windows is chosen at a corporate level so that all the stores are modeling the same product consistently. 

When it comes to the in store merchandising those are all my own personal put together.  The best part of my day is either when I finish a display, an associate will walk pass and look at it and say “wow Bree that looks great!”, or when I finish a display and two maybe three days later we sell out of one of the items.  That lets me know I am doing my job and that I really have an act for this.  I actually get to play a key role in the business and feel proud.  When a customer first walks into an establishment, their first impression is gathered from the appearance of the store.  My experience in the retail industry is an advantage on my part.  In my past experience I have managed adults, sometimes almost twice my age, when I was still considered a “child”.  Everywhere I work people believe me to be older than what I am from my personal experience and knowledge in the industry.  My journey in the fashion industry is just beginning and once I get my degree I intend to explore it all.