Fashion Merchandising and Fashion Marketing are two branches of the same tree, with similar purposes but different structures. Both of them have varying scopes and modes of operation. Both these departments are very closely related and very critical in the fashion industry. They operate with a similar intention of driving sales, but the manner in which they do it is different. Fashion Marketing has a lesser scope than Fashion Merchandising. Marketing primarily refers to the advertising side of things, whereas Merchandising entails everything from its design scratch to sale completion.
Fashion Merchandising includes the entire business side of things in the fashion industry. From figuring out current fashion trends to finding a pattern in the market demand, Fashion Merchandisers also set price points and create displays in stores. They promote and push the fashion products in a way that more customers buy them. Fashion Marketers are solely responsible for identifying consumer needs and devising various marketing and advertising methods to meet those demands. They, too, are working to drive the sales of fashion products, but in a much more specific, targeted, and linear way. Let’s learn about the differences between Fashion Marketing and Fashion Merchandising.
What is Fashion Merchandising?
Fashion Merchandising is the process of promoting the sales of garments and outfits that are created by Fashion Designers. From creating displays in stores, to developing advertisements, and creating sales and strategies, Fashion Merchandisers do most of the things. They are in charge of driving the sales of fashion products and creating a lasting impact of the design on enough people’s minds.
Fashion Merchandising involves identifying fashion trends and figuring out ways to meet a market’s demand. They also present a product to the right market at the right time, carrying out organized promotion with attractive displays, stock planning, and control processes, among others. To be a Fashion Merchandiser, a relevant degree with some work experience will greatly benefit someone in cracking a job.
What is Fashion Marketing?
Fashion Marketing specifically deals with the promotion and selling of fashion products and brands. It involves devising various advertising and marketing techniques to meet the demand created in the market. The marketing techniques include everything from branding, social media, public relations, and event planning, among others.
Fashion Marketers are often ahead of the fashion trends, and they create compelling narratives around the products. This engages customers and stimulates demands. Even though they aren’t concerned about the entire business side of things in fashion, they would still have to abide by the business fundamentals and marketing principles.
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What is the Difference Between Fashion Merchandising and Fashion Marketing?
Here are some of the key differences between Fashion Merchandising and Fashion Marketing:
- Fashion Merchandising involves everything from planning, buying, and selling fashion products by ensuring the right product is placed at the right time, price, and quantity. Fashion Marketing only deals with communicating and promoting fashion brands to customers. They do that with the aid of advertising, branding, social media, public relations, and consumer engagement.
- Merchandising is very closely aligned with retail, inventory, and consumer demand. Marketing is very closely related to learning the market demands, fulfilling them, and creating more demands. In this process, they also maintain brand loyalty.
- Retail buying, planning, trend forecasting, pricing strategy, inventory and supply management, visual merchandising, and creating store displays, are some of the skills required in Fashion Merchandising. For Fashion Marketing, one needs to be skillful at branding, storytelling, social media, digital marketing, advertising, campaign design, consumer psychology, event management, and PR, among others.
- A Fashion Merchandiser ensures that the product is stocked, priced, and presented in a way to maximize sales. Fashion Marketers too ensures the maximization of sales. However, they also make sure that the brand and product are seen, desired, and remembered by enough customers.
- Upon getting a relevant degree, Fashion Merchandising can also open up career paths for Product Planner, Retail Merchandiser, Inventory Analyst, etc. Whereas, a Fashion Marketing can open up doors for Brand Strategy, Marketing Specialist, PR & Communications Manager, Marketing Manager, etc.
Career Paths and Job Roles
Shown below are some of the career paths and job roles for both Fashion Merchandising and Fashion Marketing.
Fashion Merchandiser:
- Retail Merchandiser
- Product Planner
- Inventory Analyst
- Visual Merchandiser
- Trend Forecaster
- Stylist
- Fashion Buyer
- Fashion Show Coordinator
Fashion Marketer:
- Fashion Marketing Manager
- Fashion Marketing Influencer
- Brand Strategist
- Digital Marketing Specialist
- PR & Communications Manager
- Personal Stylist
- Fashion Writer
- Fashion Consultant
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Skills Required
These are the skills required to be a Fashion Marketer and a Fashion Merchandiser, respectively.
1. Fashion Marketer
- Trend Awareness
- Market Research
- Attention to Detail
- Branding & Storytelling
- Social Media and Digital Marketing
- Advertising & Campaign Design
- Event Management & PR
- Analyzing Market Trends
2. Fashion Merchandising
- Pricing Strategy
- Visual Merchandising
- Sales Forecasting
- Buying Fashion
- Communication Skills
- Inventory Management
- Analytical Ability
Which One is Right for You Fashion Merchandising or Fashion Marketing?
Depending upon your education and your passion, you can either opt for Fashion Marketing or Fashion Merchandising. If you are more interested towards the business side of things, care about the design process, want to learn about how to maximize sales in multiple different ways, passionate about fashion trends, and is also equipped with inventory management skills, then Fashion Merchandising is the right career path for you.
Whereas, if you care deeply about the marketing and sales side of things, interested in branding, advertising, crafting compelling narratives, then Fashion Marketing is the right career path for you. As a Fashion Marketer, you might also require to be adept at Social Media, Public Relations, and Consumer Engagement.
Hence, depending upon where your skillset lies, whether it aligns more with Marketing or Merchandising, you can choose either one of them as your career path.
Education & Courses
To pursue a degree in Fashion Merchandising, one can opt for a four-year undergraduate degree on the same. They need to pass Class 12 with an aggregate of 50% or more marks to be eligible for this degree. Alternately, students can also pursue the same four-year undergraduate degree in Fashion Business Management or Fashion Design for this career path.
The courses in Fashion Merchandising cover retail management, supply chain, fashion buying data analytics, and store operations.
To pursue Fashion Marketing, a bachelor’s degree in marketing from any accredited college should be enough. They also need to pass Class 12 with an aggregate of 50% or more marks to be eligible for this program.
The courses in Fashion Marketing are consumer behavior, brand management, digital marketing, luxury marketing, and advertising strategies.
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Conclusion
Therefore, Fashion Marketing and Fashion Merchandising are similar career paths, but with differences in scope, approach, and target. They share similar end goals, which essentially involve driving sales and increasing brand awareness. Merchandising, however, deals with the entire business side of things, whereas Marketing is more focused towards the advertising and branding side of things.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Which is Better – Fashion Merchandising or Marketing?
Both Fashion Merchandising and Fashion Marketing are equally good career paths. What you want to pursue depends upon your interests, strengths, and weaknesses.
2. Can I Study Both Fashion Merchandising and Marketing?
You can study both Fashion Merchandising and Fashion Marketing, but since both are similar undergraduate degrees, studying any one and pursuing a career path in it should be enough.
3. Are Fashion Merchandising and Marketing High-Paying Careers?
Both Fashion Merchandising and Fashion Marketing have positions that pay from entry-level to mid-level to high-level. They are average-paying careers, but if enough time is spent and experience gained in working in either of those fields, then one can potentially earn more money.
4. Do I Need a Fashion Degree to Work in Merchandising or Marketing?
No, you don’t compulsorily need to have a fashion degree to work in Merchandising or Marketing. However, having a fashion degree helps every bit in both of those career paths.
5. What is the Main Difference Between Fashion Merchandising and Fashion Marketing?
The main difference between Fashion Merchandising and Fashion Marketing lies in their scope and approach. Fashion Merchandising encompasses the entire process from fashion design to store delivery to arrangement of displays and eventually, fashion sales. Whereas Fashion Marketing is primarily involved with advertising and branding of the fashion products.
