Online Degrees In Fashion Merchandising
Do you look at the clothes displayed in windows of shop and think that you would have done it differently? Are you the person your friends ask when they’re looking for bargains on a particular style of clothing? If so, then perhaps a career in fashion merchandising is the one for you.
Fashion merchandising combines the flair and creativity of fashion with the business aspects of the industry. Apart from having an eye for fashion, individuals interested in earning an online fashion merchandising degree should have strong math skills and enjoy working on detailed projects, according to the College Board. Online fashion merchandising degree programs can help students develop these skills so they can have a better chance of succeeding in the competitive fashion marketplace.
What Is Fashion Merchandising?
Fashion merchandising is a broad term that includes all the steps involved in getting clothes and accessories from designers into customers’ homes. It involves trend analyses, predicting the next hottest looks, evaluating inventory needs and buying clothes and finally marketing them to consumers.
The many different aspects of the process means there are several different kinds of careers you may have – from evaluating customer journeys and designing shop layouts to purchasing and products. You may even be able to land a job hiring designers for a design firm based on their skills!
What Do Fashion Merchandisers Do?
Fashion merchandisers are the heroes working behind the scenes of the fashion industry who help customers access the latest trends. They do this by analyzing customer behavior and planning what and how much merchandise to stock for retail. They may also be involved with negotiating the best price for the merchandise, purchasing it, and building lasting relationships with manufacturers. Depending on their role, they may also be in charge of working with marketing teams to advertise the latest products as well as designing appealing window displays.
What Jobs Can You Get With A Fashion Merchandising Degree?
As with any industry, the fashion industry requires people with different skillsets and expertise to fulfill various roles. An online fashion merchandising degree may allow individuals to work in the manufacturing, consulting, and retail industries among others.
The table below lists occupations related to this field along with along with job openings, average salary, total employment and job outlook for 2019 to 2029, using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Career | Employment | Median Salary | Projected Job Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Managers | 433,800 | $132,290 | 4% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 1,350,180 | $69,480 | 2% |
| Retail Salespersons | 4,633,100 | $27,320 | 0% |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents | 56,200 | $72,270 | -7% |
Source: 2020 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2019-29 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov.
How Do I Become A Fashion Merchandiser?
The following steps typically outline how you can become a fashion merchandiser.
Step 1. Take art and business classes in high school
Step 2. If you plan on working evenings and weekends, try getting a job in retail to get a feel for the business
Step 3. Research, choose and enroll in a traditional or online fashion merchandising degree program
Step 4. Start building your portfolio while you’re still in school – the feedback you get from your professors may prove invaluable
Step 5. Participate in an internship
Step 6. Opt for an advanced degree if you wish to
Step 7. Design and build your resume
Step 8. Aim to land a job within fashion merchandising field
Step 9. Obtain professional certifications as you gain experience
What Are The Best Online Fashion Merchandising Programs?
Online fashion merchandising degree programs are typically available at the associate, bachelor’s and master’s levels. The degree you choose to earn can depend on your interests and career goals. Associate programs may allow you to work in entry-level roles in the merchandising industry while bachelor’s degrees may qualify you to explore more diverse careers including managerial roles. A master’s degree may qualify you for executive positions in the industry.
Online Associate Degrees in Fashion Merchandising
What can I expect to learn in an online associate degree program?
A fashion merchandising associate degree online can give you foundational knowledge of the business behind fashion. Students may learn to interpret business spreadsheets, perform basic accounting functions, and gain an understanding of retailing practices. Students may also gain basic knowledge of fashion like design and textiles.
Typical duration: Two years of full-time study
General prerequisites: High school diploma or equivalent
Typical coursework: Apart from liberal education classes, core courses can include topics in business and fashion. Some examples of courses you may take are:
- Basic design and color theory
- Introduction to fashion merchandising
- Introduction to visual merchandising
- Principles of retailing
- Textiles
What kind of jobs can I get after earning an associate degree in fashion merchandising?
An online fashion merchandising associate degree may qualify you for roles in retail operations management, purchasing, sales, and vender management. If you are already working, it may make you eligible for promotion, or an increase in responsibilities and wages. It may also work as a stepping stone toward a four-year degree. Some examples of jobs you may get include:
- Sales lead
- Shift manager
- First-line supervisor of retail workers
Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Fashion Merchandising
What can I expect to learn in an online bachelor’s degree program?
An online fashion merchandising bachelor’s degree program can help students learn to combine their eye for fashion with business skills to create effective fashion merchandising planning and marketing strategies. They may learn to identify, analyze and predict future industry trends.
Typical duration: Four years of full-time study
General prerequisites: High school diploma or equivalent
Typical coursework: Topics explore the field of fashion merchandising in more depth than those in an associate degree program. Apart from business topics, core courses you may take include:
- Fashion research and forecasting
- History of fashion and costume
- Merchandise management strategies
- Merchandise planning
- Product lifecycle management
Students enrolled in online fashion merchandising degree programs at the bachelor’s level may also need to complete an internship and/or a capstone project.
Possible electives: International retailing; consumer behavior; technology in fashion and retailing
What kind of jobs can I get after earning a bachelor’s in fashion merchandising?
Graduates of online fashion merchandising bachelor’s degree programs may find career opportunities in areas like retail sales management, merchandise buying, visual merchandising, fashion marketing, fashion forecasting, fashion blogging, and textile development. Some examples of job titles include:
- Buyer
- Fashion blogger
- Sales manager
- Store and product planner
- Vendor relations specialist
- Visual merchandiser
Online Master’s Degrees in Fashion Merchandising
What can I expect to learn in an online master’s degree program?
Master’s degrees are typically of two types:
- Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Fashion Merchandising: Typically aimed at those with little experience in the industry, thereby combining traditional master’s degree topics with practical industry specific skills.
- Master of Science (M.S.) in Fashion Merchandising: A more traditional route that incorporates research skills along with theoretical topics. There are typically designed for professionals already working in the industry.
An online fashion merchandising master’s degree may allow students to focus intensely on fashion retailing, consumer behavior, marketing and/or management. Students can learn about the latest trends and technologies along with gaining the knowledge they need to research problems and come up with innovative solutions for the fashion and retail industry.
Typical duration: One to two years of full-time study
General prerequisites: Bachelor’s degree in fashion merchandising or a related field
Typical coursework: You may find there is a considerable overlap in the coursework offered within an MS and MPS degree program. Some topics you may study include:
- Retailing and Service Design
- Merchandising Technologies
- Luxury Brand Management in the Fashion Industry
- Foundations of Fashion PR Strategies and Tactics
- Retail Supply Chain Analysis
Students may have to complete a capstone stone project as a part of their online fashion merchandising master’s degree program.
Possible electives: Social responsibility, sustainability, and ethics in merchandising; managerial strategies for retailers; digital retailing
What kind of jobs can I get after earning a master’s in fashion merchandising?
Graduates of online master’s degree programs in fashion merchandising may be able to branch their careers into different aspects of the field. They may find employment in areas like fashion styling, fashion production, brand management, and visual merchandising to name a few. Some examples include:
- General merchandise manager
- Manufacturer sales representative
- Merchandise buyer
- Post-secondary educator
- Regional retail operations manager
- Retail corporate executive
Online Graduate Certificates in Fashion Merchandising
Online graduate certificates in the field are rare and are usually aimed at individuals with fashion merchandising jobs who have already earned a bachelor of fashion merchandising degree. Certificate programs can help such individuals earn some graduate education without having to commit to a full-time master’s in fashion merchandising. These programs can allow those with careers in fashion merchandising focus their skills and enhance theoretical knowledge in areas of their interest.
Typical duration: One year of part-time study
General prerequisites: Bachelor’s degree in fashion merchandising or a related field
Typical coursework: Topics may vary depending on the focus of the program. Some examples of courses include:
- Fashion and retail theory
- Global market: dynamics of retailing
- Research methods in merchandising
- Retail strategies and merchandise management
- Retailing and consumerism
Online Doctoral Degrees in Fashion Merchandising
Online doctoral degrees in fashion merchandising are not currently available. However, interested students may be able to consider doctoral degree programs in human sciences or business with a focus on textiles, apparel or retail merchandising.
Accreditation
Accreditation can be an important factor to look at while choosing from the various fashion merchandising degree programs out there. Not only may employers prefer hiring graduates of accredited degree programs but accreditation may also play a role while applying for professional certifications. Additionally, attending an accredited program can be a prerequisite for receiving federal financial aid as well as for the transfer of credits from one program to another.
As fashion merchandising is the business of fashion, you may find many online fashion merchandising degree programs that are programmatically accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) or the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Specializations in Fashion Merchandising
The top online fashion merchandising degree programs may allow students to choose a specialization within the field. Choosing a specialization may allow students to focus their future careers in fashion merchandising in areas of their interest. However, not all fashion merchandising colleges offer specializations so it can be important to thoroughly research your options before choosing a fashion merchandising degree online. Some examples of specialization include:
- Fashion marketing and visual merchandising
- Home fashions
- Merchandising buying
- Retail buying and planning
- Styling
Certifications in Fashion Merchandising
Professional certifications may not be mandatory but they can demonstrate your expertise in the field. They can also demonstrate your commitment to upholding quality standards and staying on top of the latest developments in the field. Certifications can vary depending on your job role, i.e. whether you are working in sales, operations management or marketing for example. Some organizations offering certifications include:
- American Purchasing Society
- Next Level Purchasing Association
- Manufacturers’ Representatives Educational Research Foundation
- American Marketing Association