Fashion merchandisers are experts in fashion distribution. They are also managers who do everything to sell fashion products. They control planning, producing, launching, selling, and marketing. They predict fashion trends and the needs of consumers for the upcoming season on the basis of market analysis. They also manage production, the making of sample patterns and products, sales, and promotion.

Role
Fashion merchandisers manage projects and promotions for selling fashion items. They also control the whole distribution process of their goods including production, launch, sales, and marketing. They analyze the markets and find out the needs of consumers. Then, they design and release goods that satisfy customers. There are several kinds of fashion merchandisers, the two major ones being retail merchandisers and visual merchandisers. Retail merchandisers select and distribute goods, and visual merchandisers decorate stores attractively to catch the eyes of consumers.

Qualifications
To be a fashion merchandiser, you have to get an Industrial Engineer Fashion Merchandising Certificate. You can get it from the Human Resources Development Service of Korea by taking two exams. There are written and practical tests, and you must get more than 60 on the tests. The written test has five subjects and each has twenty questions. They are fashion marketing, fashion design, distribution, fashion fabric planning, and information analysis. All questions are multiple choice, and the time limit is two and a half hours. The practical test has one subject and takes seven hours. The examinees have to do a merchandiser’s work such as planning new items, creating fashion illustrations, and marketing. In addition, certificates such as Distribution Management and Shopmaster are highly advised. If an applicant has these certificates, he or she would added points in an interview.

Prospects
As competition among manufacturers is becoming fierce, the ability to meet customer needs will become more important. Therefore, merchandisers will play a major role in companies. Fashion merchandisers work at fashion enterprises, department stores, home shopping companies, and social commerce now, so the need for fashion merchandisers will increase as the fashion market grows.