UNIT 2- PREPARATION AND PROGRESSION IN FASHION RETAIL Stephanie Burns
Group Task-Teamwork Styling Board Libby
Joy
Tash
Steph
Photographer, in charge of stances Hair/Make-up, changing in outfits from day to night
Paige
Clothing and accessories/Camera
Model/Clothing styling
Ellie
Editing and styling of the board
Locations for shoot/design of logo
For the team work task we are going to be creating a styling board and look book using the range ‘Career Conscious’. Each member has been allocated specific tasks, tailored tot heir strengths. This includes the styling of the clothing, the choices for the clothing, the stances the model will take, the locations of the shoot for different looks and the hair and makeup for the model. The styling board will feature 3 night looks and 3 day looks showing the versatility of the clothing and how they can be styled for different events and shapes. I will be in charge of the hair and makeup of the model, showing how important this can be to the rest of the outfit and how both hair and makeup can take you from day to night seemlessly., For example a sleek ponytail with minimal makeup is ideal for a day in the office however add a cat eye smokes and red lipstick, the outfit can take you all through the night with a simple change in makeup.
This was my task to complete as part of the teamwork task, the styling boards for both hair makeup. The point of the look book we were creating was to show the versatility of Natasha’s work range ‘Career Conscious’, this meant we had to show how the range could flow from day wear in the office, to nightwear out for drinks. Therefore my boards needed to mimic this as well as be clear and easy to follow with personal tips. I used my knowledge of hair and makeup to choose certain styles that will work both in a professional environment and in a fun environment. Not only did I do this, with easy to follow tutorials, I also gave tips that could help amateurs. I also showed them products that they could use to aid them in the styles and make things easier.
Look Book Career Conscious S/S18
These images showed how the outfits from Career Conscious can be worn in the workplace. They are sophisticated and sleek while being fashionable and trendy
These photos show how the outfits can then translate from day to night, from office to bar. They are still sleek and sophisticated but with a change in make up, hair and even shoes, the outfit becomes night ready and fun!
Teamwork Analysis • For the teamwork out ultimate goal was to create a look book of styling boards created to show customers how to style the ‘Career Conscious’ range for both daytime wear in the office but then to also style these to wear also straight from work to going out with the girls for drinks or partying. We each had a different role and were all aware of each others role in the task. This made sure that all aspects ran smoothly and were completed on time, it also meant that the task was more efficiently done and there was no overlap. • The board came out really well with our images in ideal locations with fitting clothing that mimicked the ones found in the Career Conscious range. This, paired with the hair and styling board meant that we had an informative and visual device to show off the range and show potential commercial success. • By pinpointing each members strong points we had a really good overall outcome and by working together once all tasks were completed, the whole project came together really well.
Interview Questions ■
What are the qualities of a good leader?
To be a good leader you must be conscious of the whole team and not just of themselves, they must also be strong minded and able to take apart a situation and handle it with care and efficiency. A good leader must be empathetic to the rest of the team, able to help each member to improve but also fair and neutral in workplace conflicts. As well as being able to work well as a team, they must be able to work on their own initiative. ■
How well did your college experience prepare you for this job?
College gave me many skills but in particular helped me to improve my time keeping skills, as part of the course I had to create my own action plan of tasks to complete and ensure that all tasks were completed on time. This was difficult as I had to be very time conscious and this helped me to improve my time keeping skills as a result. ■
What has been your biggest professional disappointment?
In my current work in Toast, an independent café, the staff were offered the opportunity of gaining further training in coffee making by a top barista however only a few members of staff were selected. I wanted this opportunity as I struggle with my coffee making however was not chosen. Although I felt disappointed that I hadn’t been offered the opportunity I communicated with members of the team who had been involved in the training and this allowed me to learn through them and for them to pass on the skills to me that they had learnt.
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Do you prefer to work in a small, medium or large company?
Personally, I work best in small groups of around 2-3, I find it easier to communicate in smaller groups and feel that work can be completed faster and more efficiently in smaller groups. However, I have been in situations, for example in college were working in a large group has been more beneficial to my learning as there is more knowledge and a broader view of the subject being discussed. ■
Who was your favourite manager and why?
My favourite manager was my first manager as she allowed me to develop skills despite having no previous experience in the field of catering and customer service. She helped to improve my confidence by giving me opportunities and training that I have been able to apply to countless other situations. ■
Do you prefer to work independently or on a team?
I find it easier to work independently however I am able to work well in a team also. I find it easier to work on my own initiative as I find I am more focused and able to immerse myself completely into the task in hand. ■
Do you work well under pressure?
I find that I work best under pressure as I like staying busy in the workplace. When In school, I completed 4 A-Level’s and therefore had a large workload including revision, classes and on top of them, coursework deadlines, this meant that I was under a lot of pressure to complete the work for said deadlines. Through this I saw that I was able to calmly complete the work as well as remaining focussed on my other subjects.
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What techniques and tools do you use to keep yourself organised?
Currently in college to ensure that I am constantly on top of my work I create action plans by breaking up my workload to smaller more manageable chunks, this means that I can concentrate fully on the tasks and complete them to the best of my ability.
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Tell me about a difficult experience you had in the workplace?
Working in a fast paced, catering environment the team in place must be strong and able to work well with each other however often this isn’t the case. Poor cooperation between team members has been the most difficult situation I have encountered in the workplace as it creates a hostile environment and causes the organisation of the shift to fall apart. ■
How do you feel about taking no for an answer?
Taking no for an answer, although disappointing, often offers more opportunities. I feel motivated to make the situation work or find an alternative to get what I want.
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When given an assignment, how do you approach it?
Firstly I break the assignment into more manageable chunks, this means the whole task seems more achievable, I always make sure to conduct plenty of research so that I am well equipped to complete the task to the best of my ability. ■
What was the most stressful situation you have faced?
This last Christmas gone I worked my first winter season in retail, I was offered a lot of overtime and being new I took the opportunity however did not know the business and stress of working retail at this time of the year. I was completely unprepared for this situation and therefore found myself being overwhelmed with the work. As a result of this I asked my current manager to reduce my hours as I had not anticipated the stress of working extra hours therefore I was able to work more efficiently in the hours that I did work, and I was much more relaxed in the workplace. ■
What do you think you can bring to this position?
I have been told throughout my professional life that I am a very empathetic person and can communicate well with customers and my peers. This allows me to remain level headed and look past conflicts and problems. This means that I am a good person to have around when it comes to problem solving and developing situations. ■
How do you evaluate your ability to handle conflict?
I feel that when faced with conflict I am able to handle the situation objectively and not take the conflict personally. This means that I am able to quickly diffuse the situation and find a solution. ■
What quality of yours or personal trait matters the most in your career?
I am a very empathetic person and I feel this aids me in understanding customer conflict and difficult customers. It allows me to communicate articulately and understand problems in detail, therefore allowing me to find solutions. ■
You have not done this sort of job before. How will you succeed?
I have found through previous jobs and college that I am a very quick learner and my commitment and strong headedness means that I always aim to work to the best of my ability. I’m confident and therefore not afraid to ask for help, allowing me to constantly improve in my line of work.
CV
Cover Letter
Progression Opportunities University- BA (Hons) Fashion Buying and Merchandising This is a full time course at London College of Fashion and runs for 3-4 years. The cost is £9250 per year. It will further teach me about design and product development, visual communication, sales analysis and range planning and distribution. The entry requirements are A-Level passes at grades C or above in: ■
Maths
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Economics
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Business Studies
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Science Subjects
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IT
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Geography
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Psychology
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OR a Merit in foundation Diploma in Art + Design.
Other skills include, Appropriate knowledge and skills for this course, clear academic interest in the subject study, evidence of intelligent independent thinking, the ability to communicate visually, verbally and in writing. I think I have the skills for this role of a student on this course as I have A-Levels in Geography, Psychology and Biology in grades C or above, not only this but I also will have a diploma in Buying and Range Planning for Fashion Retail meaning I am qualified for the course. I also have skills that would make me ideal for this course. Foe example, I work well independently so I can work well on my own initiative, as this is as university course where not a lot of 1-1 tuition is available, this would help me in the course. The course is also long and therefore I would have to be committed to see through the 3-4 years of the course, I have shown commitment through both my jobs and my work. I also have a vast knowledge of this subject from my current buying course and therefore will be prepared to tackle the course and its information.
Buying Job-Assistant Buyer-Outerwear for New Look The company site states that they are looking for ‘talented people’ who ‘work hard but we ensure that some fun is thrown in too’. Some of the responsibilities include: ■
• Negotiate with suppliers to maximise sales and profit
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• Manage the supply base, including monitoring sampling requirements in line with projected levels of business
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• Manage the product development process from design brief to launch, liaising with design, marketing and other departments
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• Monitor the market, identifying competitive activity and it’s potential impact on departmental strategy
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• Range and store planning
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• Product management
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• Competitor and trend analysis
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• Negotiating and liaising with suppliers
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• Data/system management
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• Management and development of a Buyers Admin Assistant
I currently work in a similar fashion retail environment, River Island and therefore am surrounded by ranges and visual merchandising a lot of the time therefore am good at being able to put together different ranges and setting up the visual merchandising in store. Not only this but the job also calls for someone who can work under pressure. In my current job, Toast Café, I work in a very fast paced environment that can often get uncomfortably busy, as a team member I need to remain calm and level headed. Not only this but I have to be able to communicate efficiently with my colleagues meaning my people and communication skills are also developed. However the job also says that Buying experience is required therefore, before applying to the job I may have to seek out experience or an internship programme in Fashion Retail Buying. Not only does this increase my chances for getting the job but it also means that I will have greater experience in Buying and a more developed insight into what the job entails and everyday tasks.
Merchandising Role-Zara Visual Merchandising Key Responsibilities ■
•In charge of merchandising the store in accordance with the company guidelines.
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•To promote new lines effectively.
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•Supports the commercial manager to identify and action creative and visual ideas for the store.
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•Appropriate use of the in-store props and internal mannequins to create visual
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•Keep up to date on the latest fashion trends and provide feedback on comps activity.
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•Analyse daily information and react to it accordingly.
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•To be in charge of planning the commercial and visual activity of the store in a daily/weekly and seasonal manner.
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•Works alongside the operational team to ensure that the best RFID practice is in place at all times.
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•Controls product levels in the store and communicate with the senior management any products needs.
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•Manages all procedure related to product;
Experience and Qualifications •Previous fashion retail experience. •Good team management skills. •Visual flair and creative thinking required. •Numeric and analytic skills. Skills and Attitudes •Passion for fashion. •Strong communication and interpersonal skills. •Ability to lead by example, motivate and develop staff. •Ability to work under pressure. •Strong initiative and self motivation. •Strong time management and organisational skills. •Commitment to excellent customer service. •Has initiative to identify problems and opportunities to be proactive. •Flexibility and problem solving ability.
As my course at the moment has a large chunk of a design aspect to it, I am very good at seeing trends that will work well together and putting both outfits and ranges together. This job states that they want a ‘visual flair and creative thinking’. I feel that having worked in a retail store for over a year, I can visually see when clothing works well together and what colours, trends and window displays work well for the brand and the season. Not only this but my job in River Island also accounts for the ‘previous fashion retail experience’. This increases my chances of getting the job. From working in both a retail store and a café my communication and customer service skills are excellent and well developed as it asks for in the jobs skills and attitudes.
Level 4 Buying and Range Planning
Work experience in Buying
Buying Internship
Assistant Buyer For New Look Outerwear
To get to the job for Assistant Buyer for New Look Outerwear, the time it would take would be around a 13 months. Sometimes this may take a bit longer as most jobs for assistant buyers ask for at least 1 year retail experience however I have 1 year experience in River Island. To start, I will need to complete the Level 4 Buying and Range Planning for Fashion Retail, this will take around two weeks. This will mean I have the level 4 Diploma that is required for the Assistant Buyer Job. Then I would need to look for work experience in Buying, this would have to last 2-4 weeks depending on the hours and time that the company would be able to give me. This would need to be in fashion retail so it would be focused on the area that I want to go into. For example I could ask River Island, the company I already work in to set up a months work experience with the buyers for the company. Following this it would be good to go into a 1 year internship as a Buyer. This allows me to have an insight into the job and will mean I am well prepared for when I finally apply for the job. After this I will be well prepared in both skills and experience as well as qualifications to go for the Assistant Buyer Job.
Level 4 Buying and Range Planning
Work experience in Visual Merchandising
Intensive Visual Merchandising Course at LCF
Commercial VM for Zara Womenswear
Another progression opportunity would be the role of Commercial VM for Zara Womenswear. This would take a little longer that the Assistant Buyer Job as my course I am currently working to complete is not one that is specific to visual merchandising although it does concentrate on being able to visually see which trends work together for specific seasons and also does call for me to design some VM for my chosen stores, therefore I feel it would be wise for me to venture further into the role of Visual Merchandiser before I actually apply for the job. This will start with work experience In visual merchandising in a fashion retail store, one on the highstreets similar to Zara. This will help me look at everyday roles of the visual merchandiser and also develop my visual and creative skills in fashion. This will take 2-3 weeks. Then, as I haven’t actually completed any qualifications in Visual Merchandising, I would have to complete a VM course. A course that offers this is the Intensive Visual Merchandising course with London College of Fashion. This will give me skills and knowledge in the area of visual merchandising for fashion retail and will help me to explore ‘creating themes, space planning and how to inject excitement into stores... ‘. This takes another four weeks. After this I will have enough experience and insight into the role of the Visual Merchandiser and will be able to apply for the role in Zara.