How Roxanne became a Fashion Merchandiser with Shop Direct

How Roxanne became a Fashion Merchandiser with Shop Direct by Michael Cheary Have an eye for fashion, and a head for business? Merchandising could be for you… Merchandisers are an integral part of the retail industry, helping to influence everything from the trends we buy into, through to the stock we see in stores. But how do you break into such a competitive industry â€" and what skills and experience do you really need to stand out to employers?We spoke to Roxanne Doyle, a Fashion Merchandiser at Shop Direct, to see what the role is really like and find out how she got started in the fashion industry.  The InterviewHi Roxanne. Can you tell us how you first got into the fashion merchandising career?My mum has always loved fashion, so I grew up seeing Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar magazines around the house.   I’d spend my weekends in Liverpool and Manchester city centre going from store to store with her, so my love of fashion started at a really young age.In school I enjoyed dance and art, however I also loved maths and history, and how analytical those subjects allowed me to be.   After college I couldn’t decide what I wanted to study at university, so I took a year out and got a job working in retail.Within two years I’d progressed from my role as a coach, training new and existing staff, to Assistant Manager.   It was whilst I was working on opening a new outlet store that I met some of the head office team, who told me that there was a position available as an Assistant Merchandiser that they thought I should apply for.I did and two weeks later I made the move.   I spent a year and a half in London learning a lot, not just about the role but also about how this industry works.   Eighteen months later I moved back home to Liverpool and joined Shop Direct, and I’ve been here since.What exactly does your job entail?Analysing performance across all of our products to understand lessons learnt and possible opportunities. This also means working with the design and buying teams to build future ranges and accurately forecast new trends across our brands within womenswear, which includes Very and also Littlewoods.I’m then responsible for planning stock levels, ensuring product availability at the relevant time and monitoring performance all with the aim of ensuring the best possible shopping experience for our customers.What’s a typical working day like for you?Every day is different but they all start in the same way: checking performance.That could be analysing sales and returns, checking stock and online availability, negotiating with suppliers on delivery dates and quantities, reflecting any forecasts in the weekly sales, stock and intake system (WSSI) and ensuring that the website is in order.All of this helps create my priority list for the day, and the rest of the week.What’s the best bit about being a merchandiser?The variation, and how closely we work with other areas of the business.We need to be involved in what’s happening in design, buying and quality assuran ce (QA) as that influences how we rank, estimate, buy and trade.   We also work closely with other teams across the business too, including online merchandising, central merchandising, shipping, finance and our insight team.Working cross-functionally allows you to gain different perspectives, which I think leads to better decision making.   Shop Direct really encourages it, which is great for me personally as I constantly feel like I’m learning and developing.How would you recommend someone to dress for an interview in the fashion industry?I think it depends on the retailer that you’re interviewing for, so I‘d always recommend doing your research before you apply.However, I’d always aim to look professional, whilst still maintaining a sense of your own personal style and individuality.If you were hiring an assistant what key skills would you look for?Definitely a positive attitude and a good work ethic; I think they’re the key things.Also, someone who enjoys and takes prid e in their work, who wants to learn and is willing to work as a team, even if that means stepping outside of their role.   Everything else can be taught.   Obviously, some people learn and develop more quickly than others, but you can’t teach someone to have a great attitude.Aside from that, ideally I’d want someone who is organised, efficient and thorough, as accuracy and attention to detail are essential in merchandising. I’d also look for someone who asks questions, as that gives me confidence that they’re thinking about what they’re doing, is innovative and is not afraid to challenge in a constructive way.Retail experience is a really good added bonus too, as I think it helps you to think about things differently, especially in regards to the customer.   Some of the best people I’ve worked for have started on a shop floor and worked their way up.How to become a MerchandiserJobs in the retail industryInterested in becoming a Merchandiser? View all available Merchandis ing jobs now.Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Features What job suits me?

The Reason Why Your Resume Personal Statement Could Help You Land the Job Youre Applying For

The Reason Why Your Resume Personal Statement Could Help You Land the Job You're Applying ForIf you're reading this article, then it's pretty obvious that you're either wondering what the big deal is about a resume personal statement or you're already aware of how critical this is to your chances at landing the job. You may be surprised to learn that personal statements can help even the most qualified applicant to land a job, and here's why.Many applicants are applying for jobs, they really don't have an interest in, or careers they've never considered. These types of applicants are usually unsuccessful. The career positions they're applying for aren't what they were looking for, or their skills aren't what they think they are. Because the employers in these fields don't consider them capable of the job, they don't even consider them for the position.But the career field that fits the applicant is exactly what they need. That's why it's important to put yourself in the right place w ith a well-written resume. If you start off by listing all of the things that make you qualified for the job position, they may not even ask you what you can do for them. What that means is, if you were to list all of the many desirable things about yourself on your resume, the employer will get the wrong impression and never call you for the interview.Even if they do ask you what you do for a living, you might even find that the person who wants to hire you already knows that you are qualified. That's because the resume has already communicated what you are to them. They just have to understand what they need to know in order to hire you.There are many different types of resumes out there. These vary widely from one industry to another. All of these resume formats need to be made with one common goal in mind. They need to tell the employer what they want to know, but they also need to make sure that they are well-written and give a good impression to the hiring employer.This brings us to the second reason why a well-written resume personal statement can help you land the job you've always wanted. A well-written resume is going to be the determining factor as to whether you get hired or not. The truth is, most people don't bother to look at resumes in the first place. When they see the resume format, they stop and ignore it.There are certain resume formats that are used almost exclusively in any company that needs to hire someone. This is the type of resume that usually gets used by hiring managers, HR directors, and anyone else who has the authority to make the hiring decision. If you follow the format, it won't take much more than one or two days to see whether or not you're being considered for the job.What this means is that by the time you get an opportunity to apply for a job, your resume will already be read and considered for your job. And, as the hiring manager is more comfortable with the resume, they will be much more likely to consider it for the p osition. So, if you're having trouble with getting the right resume, this should help you get the job you've always wanted.

10 Tips for Saving Money On Your Wedding

10 Tips for Saving Money On Your Wedding There’s no doubt about it, getting marriedâ€"and planning for your wedding, from a year away until the big dayâ€"is incredibly exciting. From choosing what color scheme you want for your custom bridesmaids dresses, to deciding on a venue, to writing the perfect words for your vows at the altar or choosing the perfect priest to marry youâ€"there are so many options and so much to think about it. But with all this excitement, it can also be easy to get stressed about planning. Especially when it comes to money. After all, you don’t want to end up in huge debt at the very time in your life when you’re starting a new chapter with your partner. Luckily, however, there are lots of ways to save money on your weddingâ€"and they’re simpler than you may think. 1 Get married off-season One of the easiest, simplest ways to save money on your wedding is by getting married off-season. In popular months, naturally, rates are going to be higher than when the weather might be slightly less warm. A good rule of thumb is to choose a date that’s right at the beginning or end of the off-season, so that you can still enjoy the wedding but pay a little less. 2 Choose a day other than Saturday In the same way that you can save money by picking a less popular season, you can also save money by picking a less popular day. Saturday is, by far, the most-selected day for weddingsâ€"so if you choose to host your wedding on another day, you’re guaranteed to save some money. Some couples even managed to save a few thousand dollars! 3 Save on the dress Another area where you can cut costs is on the wedding dress itself. Obviously, you don’t want to go so below budget that you end up buying a terrible online dress made in China. Thankfully, with low-cost online alternatives like the Azazie online custom wedding store or blogs online like LoveProm, which help you find ways to save money on festive occasions, you’re sure to save some money on your dress and other attire. 4 Save on drinks There are also some great hacks for saving on drinks. First of all, it’s a good idea to stick to wine and champagne throughout the eveningâ€"it’s really with hard liquor that costs suddenly go up. Another tip is asking servers to fill empty glasses halfway with champagne instead of ¾ of the way. In the long run, this’ll save you a ton. 5 Save on decor There are lots of small ways you can save on decor. One example is using paper flowers instead of real ones; these will look beautiful and crafty, but will cost way less than if you’re ordering fresh flowers by the boatload. For other tips on how to save on wedding decor, check out this list. 6 Save via your registry Another creative way to save money for your wedding is by making money via the registry. Instead of listing objects you don’t really need that much from Bed, Bath, Beyond, you can ask guests to donate money instead. It can also be a good idea to donate some of the money to a good causeâ€"that way, you’ll get some money, but a good cause will, too. 7 Be your own DJ These days, hiring a DJ for an event isn’t really necessary anymore. After all, with so many playlists on Spotify, SoundCloud, and Apple Music, you’ll definitely be able to find a mix of music that suits your tastes. And if you’re feeling creative or have a friend who’s creative, you can even personalize the playlist completely. 8 Save on food Not all weddings have to provide course after course of food. After all, your guests have come to see you and your loved one celebrate your eternal devotion to one another, not sit through plate after plate of food. Instead, you can have a buffet set-up, or a few hors-doeuvres, which can save you on the costs of servers or total food. 9 Make invitations electronic Considering that we’re living in the 21st Century, you might as well go electric with your wedding invitations and RSVPs. There are plenty of ways, too, to tie these wedding invitations to an online site where you can later share your photos and guestbookâ€"take a look at this list of wedding websites by The Knot to get inspired. 10 Be minimalist with bouquets Finally, one last way that you can save some money easily is by making your bouquets minimalist. Instead of purchasing a huge bouquet for the bride, and several other huge ones for the bridesmaids, you can go minimalist and have one or two beautiful flowers for each person to hold. It will look elegant and classy, and cost far less. As you can see, there are lots of great ways to save money on your wedding. Do you have any tips for our readers? How do you think you can save money on your wedding?

How to Take Advantage of Short-Term Loans to Cover Surprise Expenses

How to Take Advantage of Short-Term Loans to Cover Surprise Expenses So, you’ve just been struck with an unexpected financial hardship that you never saw coming. If you need money right away, one option you’re likely considering is a short-term loan. But what are your options, and how can you best use these types of loans? Types of Short-Term Loans Two of the most common types of short-term loans are payday loans and car title loans. The standard repayment period for a payday loan is two weeks to a month, depending on the frequency of the borrower’s paychecks, while the standard repayment period for a title loan is a month. That’s much shorter than the terms of most other types of loans, which are typically at least 1 year in length.  But the upside is that they are usually quickly available no matter where you are.  So whether its an  installment loan Chattanooga or title loan Kickapoo, youll have some options. Payday Loans Payday loans are unsecured personal loans, which means there’s no form of collateral attached. You write the lender a check for the amount of the loan, plus whatever fees they charge, and they issue you the loan. When you get your next paycheck, the lender cashes the check that you wrote. Car Title Loans A title loan is secured, as you use your car as collateral on the loan. The value of your car also determines how much the lender will issue you for the loan. You keep your car throughout the term of the loan, but if you default on your loan, the lender can repossess and sell it. Using Short-Term Loans There are a few important things to understand about short-term loans: They have very high interest rates, which are typically higher for payday loans than for title loans, since payday loans don’t have any collateral. If you can’t pay your loan off by the payment due date, you can usually roll it over by paying only the interest, starting a new repayment period with new interest charges. They’re the fastest loan options on the market, and you’re often in and out of the lender’s office in less than an hour. Minimum lending requirements are low, and lenders will typically issue loans to anyone with steady income. The number-one rule when it comes to short-term loans is that you have a clear plan to pay back what you borrow. The reason that borrowers end up trapped in a cycle of debt is because they take out short-term loans without knowing how they’re going to pay them off, and then they’re only able to repay their interest charges, not the loan principal. They just keep accumulating more interest charges until they’ve paid much more in interest than they originally even borrowed. Considerations For Short-Term Loans One of the big selling points with short-term loans is how quickly borrowers can get them. Even so, it’s smart to take a bit of time before you apply considering how you’re going to repay your loan. Ask yourself: Why do I need this short-term loan? With my current income and expenses, will I be able to pay back the loan in full by the due date? You may be dealing with a financial hardship that you don’t have the emergency fund or the credit to cover. If that’s the case, a short-term loan can be very helpful, but only if you’re able to pay it off on time. Carefully analyze your income and expenses by making a budget. Put your short-term loan payment in your budget and see if you can make it work, either by picking up some extra shifts at work or cutting down on unnecessary expenses. While short-term loans sometimes get a bad rap, sometimes they can be just what you need to get back on your feet. It’s important to realize that a loan is always a temporary solution that you must pay back, and with a short repayment period, that process is accelerated. That’s why you need to be thinking about how you’re going to pay back your short-term loan well before you fill out the application. . Images via pixabay.com

Why Should You Use Professional Resume Writing Services Near Me?

Why Should You Use Professional Resume Writing Services Near Me?If you're looking for resumes and LinkedIn writing services near me, you've come to the right place. I have a few talented resume writers that can help you with your resume. They can take an old resume and make it look completely different by using their skills.Most employers will be much more impressed if you have a well-written resume that is convincing. You should be able to list all of your qualifications and abilities in a resume that is worth a great deal. The way to do this is to use a professional resume writing service. In addition to all of the professional resume writing services I have listed below, there are several other excellent resume writing services around the United States.Using a professional resume writer is a lot easier than you think. They will be able to help you transform an ordinary resume into something exceptional. Also, most resume writing services are very professional, and very nice. This makes it easy to get the job you want, and you are hired without any hesitation. I had a lot of people tell me how they were not able to get hired because they didn't have a killer resume.LinkedIn is one of the most used social networking sites on the internet. These websites are used for connecting people and ideas, and this is something that LinkedIn is particularly good at. The average person uses a computer every day, so it makes sense that they would be using LinkedIn daily.It's not uncommon for someone to connect with someone else on these social networking sites at least once a day. By using professional resume and LinkedIn writing services near me, you will be able to add some professional touch to your resume.Most companies are very strict about the kind of resumes they accept, and the resumes they reject. If you're not hired, this is because you didn't follow these guidelines and you didn't show them how much you actually know. To get past this barrier, resume writing serv ices will make sure that your resume is professional, and fit their company's requirements.Resume writing services are also used for helping people rewrite their resumes, as well as working with various industries. When a resume is written professionally, you will have an edge on the competition. You will also get your job done without having to prove anything to anyone.Having a professional resume and LinkedIn writing services near me makes things a lot easier for you. When you write a resume that will get you hired, you will have a better chance of getting hired. To get that first job out of college, or into the world of work, or to get that promotion at work, the right resume is vital.

Writing-Resume Objective Statements For Teaching Online

Writing-Resume Objective Statements For Teaching OnlineWriting resume objective statements for teaching online is a great way to reflect on your career goals. This is one of the most important parts of your resume and it helps your employer decide whether you should be hired or not. Here are some things you should know about this part of your resume.You must first prepare yourself so that you can better understand why you want to teach online. Once you have answered this question, then you will find out what skills you can offer to your employer. This will help you come up with a resume objective that will highlight your skills and abilities. It is not enough to just write that you are teaching online. You need to describe how you can benefit your employer with your teaching and how you can bring his/her business to a higher level.When people who want to teach at online schools see the fact that their resume objective doesn't contain these two details, they immediately think that the job is in trouble, which it's not; instead, the employers take it as a sign that they have some potential. It's no surprise that employers would like to hire the right teachers for the right courses. And that is exactly what you are doing. Now, what should you do next?Now that you know your career goals, the next step is to put them into writing. You have to get this information down on paper. Write down all the specific details that you are able to. You may find that you need to add additional details later on. However, don't go overboard because if you are to teach online for the long term, then you will need to explain more specific things.Do not be afraid to get creative or make your work better by coming up with some bullet points. It is no good just putting down the facts. This can get too generic, boring and tedious. However, make sure that your resume objective does not sound too vague.Another way to make your writing resume objective statements for teaching online interest ing is to use your school affiliations. You can put in some more information here but stick to the basics. Make sure that you add only the most important ones that relate to the specific course.To summarize, there are many things you can include in your resume objective statements for teaching online. It is up to you to determine which of them is most important to you. Remember that you must highlight your skills and abilities in the resume objective.To make sure that you're on the right track, you should keep in mind that your resume objective is not the same for all positions. It will differ depending on the nature of the business. Therefore, make sure that you address the needs of the specific job.

3 Ways To Speed Up Business Success

3 Ways To Speed Up Business Success Being able to achieve well in the world of business is down to a huge number of tactics, qualities and traits. If you are to ensure that your business can do well, and that you want to do so as quickly as possible, you will want to think about what you can do to make sure that that success comes about as quickly as you would like to. You might be surprised about some of the things you can do here which are likely to help, and it might be that you want to approach it from a number of angles to ensure that you get it right in any case, take a look at the following, as you are bound to see that there are a number of things you can do to really speed up the success of your business to no end. Be Clear On Its Vision If you are not really sure what you are trying to achieve with your business, it’s highly likely that this will not result in the most favourable circumstances for it, so this is one of the first things to think about here. You need to make sure that you re crystal clear on what you hope your business to be and how you want it to operate. Ultimately, you should ideally have a clear set of notions about what the business stands for, how it should operate, and what it is that it exists for. This should be able to be summed up in one brief sentence, or mission statement, in order to further solidify the effectiveness of such an aware practice. As long as you f3l truly secure in what the vision for your business is, you should find that it helps you and your colleagues to drive it on to greater success much faster. Get The Financial Base Sorted If you are just starting up your business, you will want to first make sure that the financial base it is a wellspring of is as secure and stable as possible. This can be hard to do, especially if you have never had to think about wealth in regards to how it affects a business before. But, should you be business-minded to the right degree, you should find that this is surprisingly simple to put into practice, and especially so if you go out of your way to get hold of an expert or two to help you along the way. The kinds of experts you might want to consult here are either going to be of the entrepreneurial variety who can clearly give  you a lot of useful information and ideas or it might be that you want to look into speaking with a financial advisor. Having a financial advisor on board can be hugely helpful because, for the most part, they will be able to help you get your financial base secure to such degree that your business will be much better off for it. It’s definitely w orth looking into how to find a financial advisor and making sure that you do so before you get too far ahead with your business- and ideally before you start it up at all. Enjoy It If you want your business to do well, and to do well fast, then there is one sure way of making sure that that is more likely to happen: by enjoying the work for what it is. As long as it feels like a slog, it is unlikely to get very far very fast, and it is also likely to be a joyless pursuit anyway, so there would hardly be a point. Enjoying it is often also based upon the presumption that you like it for what it is, so it does need to be a business that actually care about and feel is worth something. If you don’t feel that way, it can be considerably harder to enjoy it, and that makes it considerably harder to make a success out of it. The only real solution would be to alter it to such a point that you do enjoy it, or to shut it down and start up instead the business that you really want to run which, in many circumstances, would amount to utterly the same process. The above can all be utilised to ensure that the success of your business can speed up, should it have been coming anyway. As ever, there is a modicum of luck to consider here, but part of the fun is trying to win out over luck. Hopefully, your business is one of the ones that can.

How to Re-think your job search -

How to Re-think your job search - If youve been looking for a job unsuccessfully for a long time, you are not alone. However, just because you havent landed yet doesnt mean a job isnt just around the corner. One adage that is true for job seekers? If youve been doing the same thing, over and over again without achieving the results you want its time to try some new things! This month, the Career Collective (a community I co-coordinate with my colleague Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter) looks at how to re-tool, re-focus and generally re-organize your job hunt. Its almost spring (at least on the calendar), so its as good a time as any to review your plans. 1. First thing to evaluate: does your target job exist? Maybe this sounds obvious, but many jobs are not going to come back. Certain industries may never recover from the downturn, some positions are being replaced with automated systems or being sent overseas, and other jobs are going to contractors and short-term workers instead of permanent employees. (Temp to perm has become a reality for a lot of people.) Even if youre doing everything right, if you are looking for a job that doesnt exist, youre likely going to continue to be very frustrated. Your choice? Either a) hang a shingle (maybe a virtual shingle) and think about going into business for yourself as an independent contractor or b) read on! 2. Have you considered that it may be time to change career paths or directions altogether? Even if your job exists, maybe things have changed and it doesnt exist for you. Its possible companies no longer want to pay for your experience and prefer to hire less skilled people to do the work. No matter the reason, maybe its time to think about a new career path. Identify growth fields and careers and start researching to learn if you may be a good candidate for opportunities in the new industry. Make sure to target your resume and other materials to your new goal employer. (This is very important, as transitioning between fields is not an easy thing to do, especially when there is a lot of competition for jobs.) One thing that may help is to have a strong online presence supporting your skills in your new targeted industry. A social resume (website), where you highlight your expertise and skills (maybe via a blog) can help attract interest in your abilities as they apply to a new field. Consider creating your social resume (YourName.com) I can help! 3. Have you been too picky? Do you have a certain vision of the type of job youre willing to do? Maybe you dont even LIKE the work you did in the past, but you have your mind set on doing it again. Have you been too particular about the type of people or places where you want to work? (A 20-minute commute absolutely not! Work for him are you kidding? When pigs fly!) I am not suggesting you take just any job, but it may be a good time to take a good, long, hard look at what you want and decide if you need to change your goals. Maybe a longer commute is worth it if you can land a job at X company or in Y field or industry. Decide what parameters you can change and refocus your search with new vigor. You never know how opening up a few new windows may result in an open door. Take a look at how my colleagues responded to this months question below and follow our posts on Twitter via the hashtag #CareerCollective. Personal Branding to Fire Up Your Job Search, @DebraWheatman Succeeding in a Final Jeopardy! World, @WalterAkana 5 Steps to Retool Jumpstart Your Job Search, @erinkennedycprw Your Job Search: Lets Just Start Again Shall We? @GayleHoward Checklist for Spring Cleaning Your Job Search, @careersherpa 5 Ways to Spring Clean Your Job Search, @heatherhuhman Ten Surefire Ways to Organize Your Job Search, @KatCareerGal Put Spring Into Your Job Search, @EliteResumes @MartinBuckland Toes in the Water, @ValueIntoWords How to Revitalize a Stale Job Search, @KCCareerCoach How to re-think your job search, @Keppie_Careers Wake Up and Smell the Flowers: Spring Cleaning Your Resume, @barbarasafani Spring Cleaning and Your Personal Brand, @resumeservice Spring clean your mind clutter first, @DawnBugni Managing Your Career 2.0: On Giving Something Up To Get It Right, @Chandlee photo by Werner Kunz (werkunz1)