All About Retail: Sales Associates, Management, etc.

[rollagasper]

^Thanks Juliet! Weird how they don't just call it sales rep... "Stylist" makes me think of visual merchandising or something...

 

[superbeautiful]

There's many different terms of when it comes to S.A's etc. Like for example I work in swimwear and I'm a S.A but the more technical term for my position is a fit specialist. Mainly because I don't just walk around and sell pieces here and there, I have to actually work very closely with a client and help them find a good swimsuit for their body. Which depending on some customers can seriously take up to an hour or two per client.

 

[lmelanie]

Stylist = Sales rep.

I know you have to wear the "uniform" they give i think or either buy... but I do know that they have a "uniform" policy.

Thanks lmelanie, do you know anything about the 14th st store?

haha I work at the 14th street store..so its kind of a loaded question...but what do you wanna know?

 

[Juliet.J]

Someone told me that particular store isn't flexible with hours. Is there any truth to that? What's the minimum amount of hours a person can work there? Do they give you an allowance as far as their clothes are concerned? What's the discount on the clothes?

 

[pinkpalm]

Without details on who you mean, we real.ly can't tell you if they are or not....

 

[Alesso]

Any fashion retail SA from Vancouver here?

Anyway, I currently work at Club Monaco and COACH. Club Monaco is 50% off for fashion for work, and 30% off all other merchandise. COACH is limited 50% off employee discount, and 65% off monthly "deletion" events and 40% off footwear, sunglasses.

I'm getting a job offer at GUESS? by Marciano as a full time SA, and the discount is 50% off at both GUESS? stores and Marciano stores.

I know bebe is 50% off too.

I've worked at Le Chateau as well, and the discount is 50% off fashion for work and 35% off all other merchandise (for yourself).

I am trying to get a job at HOLT RENFREW (Canadian version of Saks), since they get 50% off everything almost and 33% off Louis Vuitton. Anyone have any tips? It's SO competitive =( There are very limited luxury retailers here in Vancouver.

 

[adi]

I've been working at H&M for 2 years now, so I can answer questions about that company if someone has any

that being said... as I'm Finnish and English is my second language, I wonder how willing retail companies are hiring a foreigner? I'm planning to apply to H&M at Glasgow, since I really want to move abroad. Does anyone have any experience on applying abroad? I was planning to call the store managers to show that I can actually speak English but uh other than that I really don't know.

 

[frenchjam]

How to get retail experience?

I figure... if anyone can help me it's you guys!
I'm been trying to get a job in retail (mostly I really want Club Monaco but I've applied EVERYWHERE) here in Toronto for the past month. I know the economy isn't helping, but they are actually hiring.
The problem is no-one will seemingly take me because I have no previous retail experience. I play up my 5 years of Customer Service experience (cashier, volunteer, summer jobs etc) but it doesn't seem to be enough. Plus I always mention that I'm immediately available (6 days a week, anytime), I'm studying in Visual Merch and Fashion Illustration etc. etc.

How am I suppose to get experience if no-one is giving me a chance?
For those of you who work in retail, how did you get your first jobs?

Thanks SO much for your help in advance.
-Yan

 

[Cicciolina]

frenchjam have a look at this thread All about Retail Sales Associateshttp://www.thefashionspot.com/forums/f90/all-about-retail-sales-associates-57530.html.

All over the world there is a downturn in the market so not only are they not hiring, a lot of current sales assistants are being laid off just because there isn't enough work going around - people aren't spending because of the big 'R' word (recession).

Right now is probably a very difficult time to break into the industry, but it doesn't hurt to persevere nevertheless

 

[pout306]

Agree with Cicciolina.

It's extremely difficult to get a job right now, especially in retail due to the economy.
It's crazy how it affects us in Canada SO much as well.
My advice would be to not just focus on the retail sector right now, although it IS what you want to do, I would not be too picky and just take any other job you can find. The economy hopefully will pick up in the near future, and then you can try your luck at the retail jobs again.

 

[frenchjam]

Thanks Cicciolina. I did take a look at the forum.

Thanks for the replies.
I guess despite the fact that I know we're in the midst of a recession and plenty of associates are getting fired, I'm surprised so many stores around me are hiring.
Maybe they're just looking for extremely strong candidates right now.
Anyway.
I thought about it and I'll probably end up being a camp counselor (haha SO different from retail) and try again once the recession ebbs.

 

[Deborah]

Is there anyway you could be transferred to another countrys store or something?

 

[aldn]

Someone told me that particular store isn't flexible with hours. Is there any truth to that? What's the minimum amount of hours a person can work there? Do they give you an allowance as far as their clothes are concerned? What's the discount on the clothes?

There's no allowance. You get 40 percent off all regular priced clothing and accessories. Which to me is not enough unless I'm buying shoes. Right now it's employee appreciation time and we get 40 percent off nearly everything in the store including sale. This is when I funnel money back into the store. I purchased roughly about 300 dollars worth of merchandise for 50.

 

[rollagasper]

I've been working at H&M for 2 years now, so I can answer questions about that company if someone has any

To work at H&M, do you need retail experience? I don't have any experience working in clothing stores, but I was thinking of applying at H&M.

 

[Cicciolina]

The ones who are hiring would be in a really good place right now - they have the pick of a very large pool of candidates who have been retrenched because their positions have been made redundant (or their companies have closed down), rather than sacked because of poor performance. There would also perhaps be new people entering the retail employee market having come from other industries or out of retirement in some cases, times aren't great at all!

I'm going to merge this thread with the thread about Retail Sales

 

[chel4mdavali]

i got hired at the disney store. but they required a background check...its been almost 3 weeks since i've heard from them...i called them and they said they expected to here something by last tuesday...its now saturday...im at a lost...

 

[Deborah]

Well have you any past criminal whatevers? If not I wouldn't worry it just takes time.

 

[adi]

To work at H&M, do you need retail experience? I don't have any experience working in clothing stores, but I was thinking of applying at H&M.

i was fresh out of high school when i got my job and i was only interested in fashion, so no you don't need any previous experience. of course it doesn't hurt if you have some but it's not necessary

 

[TREVOFASHIONISTO]

ugggggh im only 17 but i want to work somewhere like H&M or Zara or Urban Outfitters n which you have to be 18..i dont turn that age unil september and ill be in college so I probably wont hav time to work..any one know any stores that dont require you to be 18?

 

[chel4mdavali]

lots of places higher under 18... American Apparel. specialty stores such as bath and body works. the ones that are known to hire younger is the Abercrombie, hollister family but i dont know how interested you are in working there...