All About Retail: Sales Associates, Management, etc.

[Allius]

^^
you should prolly ask there.

 

[*Happiness*]

Small boutique or large department chain....doesn't matter. If you did, can you help me with two questions...

#1 - How much did you sell and/or ask to be sold "per day"?
#2 - How much did the store make on total receipts at the end of the day? (were weekends better?)

I'm just collecting some financial info. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[fashionispoison]

wow i am so glad i found this thread. i am a recent college grad..became a financial adviser for a huge company making 6 digits a year but.......don't like the job at all. i've always ALWAYS wanted to do something in the fashion industry but never did anything about it until now (well if sending my resume to ferragamo counts...) well anyway they called me back for an interview which is next tuesday. i'm applying to be a full time SA. my ultimate goal would be to become a buyer or something in the corporate office but i take it there are hardly any 20 something year olds doing that...or at least one needs experience (which i have NONE of..) so i am willing to take the plunge of making 6 digits to...well whatever it is as long as it's something i love. eventually i do want to make some $ though. my friend's friend works at saks selling men's shoes and he makes close to 6 digits a year. i wouldn't mind that job at all. i've applied to saks, nordstroms, NM....and sadly no one has replied i applied to nordstroms a few years ago and they called me a week after i'd taken another job so i said i was no longer looking...and now i'm kicking myself for having done that! well my interview is next week....anyone happen to be ferragamo SA or know one..? wonder what their pay is....any feedback will be appreciated <3

 

[shedonnia]

wow i am so glad i found this thread. i am a recent college grad..became a financial adviser for a huge company making 6 digits a year but.......don't like the job at all. i've always ALWAYS wanted to do something in the fashion industry but never did anything about it until now (well if sending my resume to ferragamo counts...) well anyway they called me back for an interview which is next tuesday. i'm applying to be a full time SA. my ultimate goal would be to become a buyer or something in the corporate office but i take it there are hardly any 20 something year olds doing that...or at least one needs experience (which i have NONE of..) so i am willing to take the plunge of making 6 digits to...well whatever it is as long as it's something i love. eventually i do want to make some $ though. my friend's friend works at saks selling men's shoes and he makes close to 6 digits a year. i wouldn't mind that job at all. i've applied to saks, nordstroms, NM....and sadly no one has replied i applied to nordstroms a few years ago and they called me a week after i'd taken another job so i said i was no longer looking...and now i'm kicking myself for having done that! well my interview is next week....anyone happen to be ferragamo SA or know one..? wonder what their pay is....any feedback will be appreciated <3

Clu - I don't have any insight on the store you are going to interview with. However, I will caution you, you have a career. I understand you don't like the job or firm you are currently employed with. You indicate you are a recent graduate who recently started a job in finance. I would encourage you to stay in the profession a little longer, but perhaps move to another firm. It may the firm, not the occupation that is giving you a problem. In the meantime, I would suggest obtaining a part-time SA position.

Currently, you have a career. In my opinion, SA is not a career it is a job. At this point in life, you should be pursuing a career, not looking for another job. If you go this route in a year or two, you may have enough experience to obtain a corporate level position in retail. Please don't be hasty. I think you should follow your dream, but your risks should be calculated.

This is my humble opinion.

 

[jeffrey0806]

Topanga Plaza Much?

wow i am so glad i found this thread. i am a recent college grad..became a financial adviser for a huge company making 6 digits a year but.......don't like the job at all. i've always ALWAYS wanted to do something in the fashion industry but never did anything about it until now (well if sending my resume to ferragamo counts...) well anyway they called me back for an interview which is next tuesday. i'm applying to be a full time SA. my ultimate goal would be to become a buyer or something in the corporate office but i take it there are hardly any 20 something year olds doing that...or at least one needs experience (which i have NONE of..) so i am willing to take the plunge of making 6 digits to...well whatever it is as long as it's something i love. eventually i do want to make some $ though. my friend's friend works at saks selling men's shoes and he makes close to 6 digits a year. i wouldn't mind that job at all. i've applied to saks, nordstroms, NM....and sadly no one has replied i applied to nordstroms a few years ago and they called me a week after i'd taken another job so i said i was no longer looking...and now i'm kicking myself for having done that! well my interview is next week....anyone happen to be ferragamo SA or know one..? wonder what their pay is....any feedback will be appreciated <3

Are you interviewing in LA for the Topanga Plaza one? I also have my Ferragamo interview on Tuesday. I think they invited a ton of people for the interviews.

 

[fashionispoison]

^ohmygosh yes!! i'll be seeing u there =]

 

[jeffrey0806]

^ohmygosh yes!! i'll be seeing u there =]

i wonder if it would just be accessories, or if it'll also have clothes.

 

[iLoveCouture]

Clu - I know how you feel and I agree with what shedonnia said. If anything, I would get a part time job as an SA to fullfil my fashion fix if I was already financially comfortable like you are. I worked retail for 8 years, from Abercrombie & Fitch to managing the designer dept at Nordstrom; but at the end of the day it is only a job until you make it to corporate or you work full time and sell enough product per year to earn your 6 figures back. Right as I was moving from DC to FL I was asked to be a buyer. I didn't take it b/c I had already committed to my job in the mortgage industry and moved everything to FL. Talk about bad timing.

One good thing about being in these stores full time is that most of them promote from within, so there is that chance of you acheiving your dream. You just need to make yourself known within the company, be a constant producer and let management know what your goals with the company are. That way if anything has opened up and they see that you are dedicated and hard working, you could be considered for the position.

Good Luck with your decision.

Happiness -

To answer your questions from when I worked at Nordys:

#1 - How much did you sell and/or ask to be sold "per day"?
We had to sell at minimum for our dept and store what we sold last year on that same day. It was always about increases.

#2 - How much did the store make on total receipts at the end of the day? (were weekends better?) Most of the time we made the day (of beating LY), but if not it was made up on weekends b/c weekends are always busy.

 

[seeing_double]

I'm interested in possibly obtaining a part time SA position at Marc by MJ. I do have two years of retail experience with more contemporary lines...but I am wondering whether you all think this is enough. Also, how does one go about applying for a job here? Is there an application procedure or do I just send my resume and wait for a call?

 

[jeffrey0806]

I'm interested in possibly obtaining a part time SA position at Marc by MJ. I do have two years of retail experience with more contemporary lines...but I am wondering whether you all think this is enough. Also, how does one go about applying for a job here? Is there an application procedure or do I just send my resume and wait for a call?

Honestly just go in person and ask and if they give you an application then fill it out, if they ask for resume give it to them. Not complicated at all.

 

[Casius]

Clu- I have to agree with everyone else. You're young and very lucky to be pulling in 6 figures a year and have a career set out for you. I commend you for wanting to pursue your dream, but like others said above, I would give your current job more time. But not only that, Fashion isn't all it's cracked up to be.

I'll leave you with this lovely entry I found today....
http://jezebel.com/gossip/i-work-retail/the-devil-wears-prada-because-prada-is-hell-288327.php

 

[baRose]

Wow! I'm glad I found this thread.

I have NO retail experience and spent the last 10 years as an Executive and Administrative Assistant. Last week, I walked into a local high-end boutique (price points $800 - $5000 though I did see a few $80 t-shirts) and the owner asked me if I was looking for a job as I was walking out- just like that.

I am looking for work, but in the same occupation/industry I have been in so far. I would love to work as a SA for this shop, though this job is only until the end of Jan. I really need to weigh the pros and cons especially salary. I hope I learn something from reading this thread!

 

[DevonDevore]

i work at G by Guess which is like the casual side of guess but i get payed horribly omg i hate that part of the job. i mean its fun and all but i dont get payed enough especially coming from against all odds as a merchandiser making 8.50.
im about to apply for a job at coach since i figure its a good stepping stone.
when i first started at against all odds you got 6.5hr + 1% com.
i really want to work for diesel. eversince i went into the store in NY i fell in love with it and desicded i need to work there but i dont know if it would be worth it....
anyway i work in woodbridge mall so anyone close come see me
i get 40% off anything at guess at any guess company

 

[gia0202]

Hey--I just got a main floor position at barneys NY. still trying to plan out the wardrobe. i am young (Edited) ** and ** tall/thin. So I was thinking slightly shorter skirts are ok?
I have a handful of items i can wear:
high rise, skyscraper leg black dress pants in heavy linen.
black knit sweater minidress (leggings too)
black blazer with military flair
brown plaid blazer with sgt pepper flair
knee length sparkly tutu skirt
and the shoes: mid-calf lace-up boots with 4inch heel and covered platform, natural toe box. the color is a washed out choc. brown with a hint of purple.

i know I need pumps--bad. but can i wear those showes with anything? as long as the rest of the outfit is black/dark--- like some cute shift dress--will it be okay?

my supervisor said no dress code but c'mon. i will be selling 2 thousand dollar bags.

 

[baRose]

gia0202

I would think leggings with your minidress would be a bit casual for Barneys NY. Maybe tights would be a better option? Without seeing your boots, its hard to know for sure how you can wear them. Can you post a pic?

 

[BetteT]

I think she means "and" . I'll edit it to make the correction.

 

[baRose]

I think she means "and" . I'll edit it to make the correction.

Thanks! Ill edit my post...

...actually, for some reason, I cant edit mine now. Can you take that last part of my post out?

 

[LifeNatureLove]

I just got hired as a personal shopper at Talbots. However, it is not my style AT ALL and I'm 22 so I can't really identify with my clients who are 35+. The store isn't in the mall, free standing, so I don't have to work until 9 or holiday hours. The pay is actually pretty well (I've had SA jobs at Saks for 3 years), double what I thought it would be. Thankfully, I don't have to wear their clothes!
I'll be an amazing experience, and once I get my college degree (in May), I'll probably be able to move up since they promote within. I think it'll look good on my resume and I hope to move to a more "contemporary" store later on.
It'll definatly be a challenge and teach me I can't put people in clothes I would wear! I'm just nervous about what to wear to work!

 

[BetteT]

Thanks! Ill edit my post...

...actually, for some reason, I cant edit mine now. Can you take that last part of my post out?

Done. And you only have 10 minutes to make corrections after you post ... just so you know.

 

[e-v-elina]

here in sweden it's really hard to get a job at a clothing store. i've (as well as my friends) been looking for a job at a clothing store for over 2 years now and i still haven't gotten one. :/