Zara E-Brochure

ZARA E-BROCHURE
By Charlotte Wetton

Retail Buyer:
Job roles and responsibilities:
Throughout the year, your responsibilities will include:
•Analysing consumer buying patterns and predicting future trends
•Regularly reviewing performance indicators, such as sales and discount levels
•Managing plans for stock levels
•Reacting to changes in demand and logistics
•Meeting suppliers and negotiating terms of contract
•Maintaining relationships with existing suppliers and sourcing new suppliers for future
products
•Understanding the basic rules of vendor management, allocation and price negotiation
•Liaising with other departments within the organisation to ensure projects are completed
•Attending trade fairs, in the UK and overseas, to select and assemble a new collection of
products
•Participating in promotional activities
•Writing reports and forecasting sales levels
•Presenting new ranges to senior retail managers
•Liaising with shop personnel to ensure supply meets demand
•Getting feedback from customers
•Training and mentoring junior staff.
Entry requirements:
Although this area of work is open to all graduates, a degree in retail or
business can equip you with a greater commercial awareness and therefore
increase your chances of getting a job. Graduate programmes are open to
those with a 2:2 or above. In certain buying areas, such as fashion, employers
may look for a relevant degree subject or a demonstrable interest and
commitment to this particular area of retailing. Relevant HNDs and foundation
degrees may be accepted by some employers, particularly if a candidate has
practical experience to offer. It is sometimes possible to work your way up to a
buying position without higher education qualifications. The level of
competition is fierce, however, and there are few vacancies that offer direct
entry into buying.
Personal and professional characteristics:
You will need to show evidence of the following:
•Strong analytical skills
•Negotiation skills and the ability to network and influence people
•Team working and interpersonal skills
•Excellent communication skills
•Numeracy skills and proficiency using IT
•Good organisation skills and the ability to multitask
•The ability to cope with the pressure of having to make important decisions
and meet tight deadlines
•The capability to work in a fast-paced environment and achieve targets
•Drive and determination
•Entrepreneurial spirit and a willingness to take risks
•Commercial awareness
•Leadership attributes
•Creative flair
•Confident presentation style
•A passion for retail.
Salary:
•Typical starting salaries for junior buying roles: £18,000 - £25,000.
•Typical salaries for more experienced buyers: £35,000 - £60,000.
•Typical salaries at senior level/with experience: £55,000 - £70,000 plus.
•Salaries vary according to a number of factors, including location, the size of the
business.

Fashion Designer:
Job roles and responsibilities:
Tasks depend on the market the designer is working for, but core responsibilities include:
•Creating or visualising an idea and producing a design by hand or using computer-aided design
(CAD)
•Keeping up to date with emerging fashion trends as well as general trends relating to fabrics,
colours and shapes
•Planning and developing ranges
•Working with others in the design team, such as buyers and forecasters, to develop products to
meet a brief
•Liaising closely with sales, buying and production teams on an ongoing basis to ensure the item
suits the customer, market and price points
•Understanding design from a technical perspective, i.e. producing patterns and technical
specifications for designs
•Sourcing, selecting and buying fabrics, trims, fastenings and embellishments
•Adapting existing designs for mass production
•Developing a pattern that is cut and sewn into sample garments and supervising the creation of
these, including fitting, detailing and adaptations
•Overseeing production
•Negotiating with customers and suppliers
•Managing marketing, finances and other business activities, if working on a self-employed basis.
Salary:
•Starting salaries in the fashion industry are often low. Design assistants may start
at around £16,000 to £17,000
•A junior designer can expect to earn approximately £25,000 a year
•Typical salaries at senior designer and creative director level range from £42,000
to £85,000+.
Personal and professional characteristics:
You will need to show:
•Creativity, innovation and flair
•An eye for colour and a feel for fabrics and materials
•The ability to generate ideas and concepts
•Design and visualisation skills, either by hand or through computer-aided
design (CAD)
•Technical skills, including pattern cutting
•Garment technology skills and knowledge
•A proactive approach
•Commercial awareness and business orientation
•Self-promotion and confidence
•Interpersonal, communication and networking skills
•The ability to negotiate and to influence others
•Team working skills
•Good organisation and time management.
Entry requirements:
Although this area of work is open to all graduates, a degree in the following
subjects will increase your chances:
•Art and design
•Clothing technology
•Fashion
•Fashion marketing and buying
•Graphic design
•Knitwear
•Textiles.
Foundation degree graduates face increased competition from BA
graduates.
Entry without a degree is sometimes possible but is becoming increasingly
unlikely and you would need to be able to prove that you have already
gained expertise and experience in the industry.

Garment Technologist:
Job roles and responsibilities:
As a garment technologist you could be employed by a large high-street retailer, or
garment manufacturer. Garment technologists support buying and design teams
through all stages of product development, from design to manufacture. You will carry
out a range of technical, investigative and quality control work to ensure the end
product performs to specification. The job involves working in an office, but you must
be willing to travel to meet supplier, customers and manufacturers. You will work
closely with designers, graders, buyers and pattern cutters. The hours are usually
around 38 hours a week, but over time may be needed to ensure collections are
produced on time.
Salary:
•Starting salary: £16,000
•Experienced salary: £25,000
•Highly Experienced salary: £30,000 or more.
Personal and professional characteristics:
•Have an understanding of manufacturing, textiles and garment construction
•Have the ability to work alone as well as in a team
•Be able to work under tight deadlines and cope with pressure
•Have a keen interest in fashion and textiles
•Demonstrate an understanding of pattern cutting, construction and
manufacturing techniques
•Technical knowledge gained preferably within fast paced commercial or supplier
environment
•Flexible approach to be able to adjust to the constantly changing needs of the
business.
•Ability to convey technical information clearly in layman’s terms
•Exceptional eye for technical detail to consistently ensure the correct
documentation is used and followed
•Applied technical knowledge of fabrics and threads
•Highly organised with good prioritisation skills
•Confident and clear communication skills; both verbal and written to work
productively alongside other Product teams and external suppliers
Entry requirements:
There are no set requirements, but you’ll usually need an HND or degree in a relevant
subject. Some courses combine garment and clothing technology with fashion design.
•Paid or unpaid work experience could help you get a job
•You could get into this job through an apprenticeship
•Creative Skillset has more details about this career.

Marketing Manager:
Job roles and responsibilities:
•Interviews, hires, and trains marketing staff members
•Establishes marketing goals based on past performance and market forecasts
•Oversees current offerings and comes up with initiatives for new products or services
•Researches and analyses market trends, demographics, pricing schedules, competitor products, and
other relevant information to form marketing strategies
•Works with marketing staff to develop detailed marketing plans for all media channels and sales teams
•Approves and oversees the creative development of promotional materials, website content,
advertisements, and other marketing-related projects
•Communicates with various media buyers, advertising agencies, printers, and other services to help
marketing projects come to fruition
•Provides in-depth information to interested clients, and acts as a representative for the marketing
department in important buyer meetings
•Works within the department budget to develop cost-effective marketing plans for each product or
service
•Tracks all marketing and sales data and creates detailed written reports and verbal presentations to
bring to senior executives
•Adjusts marketing campaigns and strategies as needed in response to collected data and other
feedback.
Personal and professional characteristics:
•Leadership and motivational skills
•Creativity and great attention to detail
•Excellent communication and IT skills
•Budgeting and project management skills.
Entry requirements:
There are no set entry requirements. You'll usually need 3 to 5 years'
experience as a marketing executive, sales manager or public relations
officer.
•You may need a degree in marketing or business, or a professional
marketing qualification
•Another option is to start as a junior marketing manager or marketing
apprentice and work your way up.
Salary:
•Starting salary: £25,000 to £30,000
•Experienced salary: £30,000 to £45,000
•Highly Experienced salary: £55,000 or more.

Visual Merchandiser:
Job roles and responsibilities:
The type of activities undertaken will depend on the employer and level of seniority. Visual
merchandisers working at higher levels can be based within head office teams, with regional teams, or
at larger or flagship stores.
Activities may include the following:
•Liaising with teams such as buying, design and marketing to create design themes and plans, often
months in advance, including window and in-store displays, signage and pricing concepts
•Conducting research on current and future trends in design and lifestyle, and associated target market
features
•Meeting with business, sales managers and retail managers to discuss sales strategies
•Identifying and sourcing props, fabrics, hardware and lighting
•Maintaining a budget and negotiating with suppliers of visual materials
•Working with architectural features of stores to maximise the available space
•Using artistic skills or computer-aided design (CAD) packages, such as AutoCAD, Mockshop or Adobe
Creative Suite, to create visuals and plans
•Visiting branches to coach in-store visual merchandising or sales teams to interpret the guidelines and
training them in the execution of the visual concept
•Assembling or dismantling visual displays in windows or in-store
•Leading and motivating teams to complete displays to tight deadlines.
Salary:
•Assistant visual merchandiser salaries will typically start at around £12,000 to £18,000 depending on
experience and in-store or field function
•Experienced or management roles can attract starting salaries of £20,000 to £27,000 with senior levels
starting on around £30,000
•Those working at director or international levels can earn between £45,000 and £60,000 per annum
•Some field or regional roles may attract benefits such as a company car, fuel allowance and mobile
phone.
Personal and professional characteristics:
You will need to show evidence of the following:
•A talent for design, colour and style
•Creative flair and imagination
•Strong interest in current and future design trends
•Visual/spatial awareness and manual dexterity
•Effective communication and negotiation skills
•Engaging and working well with a range of teams
•Able to work with constructive criticism.
Entry requirements:
It is not essential to be a graduate to enter this profession, but some
higher education institutions offer awards specific to the occupation.
Some of these are available as a two-year foundation degree, with a
top up year for a full Bachelor’s degree:
•Fashion buying and merchandising at London College of Fashion
•Visual merchandising and promotional design at Hugh Baird College in
Liverpool
•Visual merchandising at Hertford Regional College.