A Study on the Roles and Perceptions of Fashion Merchandisers in Women's Apparel Industry

여성 기성복 의류업계 머천다이저들의 역할 및 인식분석

The roles of fashion merchandisers (merchandise managers) in women's apparel industry and their perceptions of the job requirements as a fashion merchandiser were investigated to understand present fashion merchandising activities in the industry and suggest desirable roles of fashion merchandiser for further development of the industry. The research questionnaires were administered to fashion merchandisers working in the ten national brand women's apparel firms. The results of the study were as follows . 1. Annual sales volumes of most surveyed firms were more than five billions won and eight out of ten surveyed firms have fashion merchandisers in their firms. 2. Fashion merchandisers worked at a specific brand merchandising division sales and operations division or merchandise planning division. A fashion merchandiser generally supervised one brand. 3. Fashion merchandiser's work experience ranged from four to fifteen years showing a great deal of experience in the apparel industry. Their majors at university were mostly business and few majored in clothing and textiles, or textiles. 4. In general, the role of fashion merchandiser was a management specialist who was responsible for identifying target markets analyzing fashion trends, planning of the merchandise development budget planning, manufacturing planning, selling, advertising and sales promotion and distributing the merchandise. At some firms fashion merchandi-sers were not responsible for advertising, display, and receiving the orders. 5. Surveyed fashion merchandisers perceived the desirable fashion merchandiser's role as a management specialist conducting overall business activities in the areas of merchandise planning, manufacturing, selling and distribution. They also mentioned the following personal characteristics such as vision leadership, and persuasion as desirable characteri-stics for those who aspire to a career in fashion merchandising. 6. Surveyed fashion merchandisers emphasized relevant and realistic experiences in fashion merchandising education. Several ways were suggested to help the educator keep in touch with business and bring reality to students. They are . field work, bringing professionals into the classroom to speak to the students, emphasizing clothing and textiles education including merchandising area, and establishing a Department of Fashion Merchandising.