Become a Personal
Shopper
A personal
shopper assists customers with a level of individualized
attention and service beyond what a retail associate would
offer.
A shopper can help a customer pull together an entire season's
wardrobe based on his or her needs, budget or style, or find
just the right gift based on a client,s suggestions.
Personal shoppers usually work in upscale department or
specialty stores; some work on commission, while others are
salaried.
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In our
busy society an increasing number of people need to hire someone
to do their shopping. As a result, personal shoppers are more in
demand than ever before.
As a personal shopper, you will have a job that is fun,
interesting, and rewarding. If you start your own personal
shopping business you will enjoy the freedom of being your own
boss.
You could specialize in shopping for gifts or clothing, or you
might shop for food, furniture, jewelry, toys, or anything else
a client wants. Here are some of the types of shopping done by
personal shoppers. Which ones can you imagine yourself doing?
Taking care of shopping for busy families
Shopping for designer clothing, home furnishings, and other
items for wealthy people
Finding the perfect gifts for companies to give to their
important clients
Buying groceries and other items for senior citizens and other
people who find it difficult to get around
Buying
Christmas presents
Selecting gifts for other special occasions such as:
anniversaries
new baby
bar mitzvahs
birthdays
get well
graduations
retirements
Valentine's Day
weddings
Working as a personal shopper for a boutique, department store,
or shopping center
Being hired by busy executives to buy gifts for their employees
or family
Preparing gift bags for special events such as awards shows and
conferences
As long as you have the desire, you can become a personal
shopper. No special education or experience is necessary to
break into this career and succeed. You can become a personal
shopper immediately.
Personal
Shopper FACTOR:
• Some personal shoppers offer their services as freelancers,
building up their own clientele.
• Tech-savvy personal shoppers create Web sites to attract
customers.
• Many celebrities use their own personal shoppers (called
stylists) to pull outfits for award ceremonies and movie
premieres.
SKILLS
Employers look for candidates possessing a strong understanding
of fashion and product knowledge.
Also critical are patience, tact, good communication skills and
the ability to build relationships and trust with clients
relying on the personal shopper's best judgment.
EDUCATION
There are no formal education requirements for this position,
but a background in fashion and retail is especially helpful.
OUTLOOK
Demand for retail salespersons tends to decline during economic
downturns. Employment depends upon significant numbers of people
preferring individualized attention while shopping.
Because there are no education requirements, competition for
these positions can be stiff.
Example
of Personal Shopper Service
Case 1> Eluxury
Personal Shopper Service
Personal Shoppers provide one-on-one guidance with your
purchases. Our experts will give you gift suggestions,
recommendations and the latest eLUXURY fashion trends. You may
call your Personal Shopper at 1.877.730.7171.
Case 2>
Nieman
Marcus
Neiman Marcus Online Personal Shoppers
provide one-on-one sales assistance for all merchandise sold
through NeimanMarcus.com, Neiman Marcus by Mail, and Neiman
Marcus Stores.
Case 3>Macys
Macy's By
Appointment is a free personal-shopping service tailored to your
taste and budget. Whether you need a new professional look,
sharp gift ideas, or cozy home accessories, Macy's By
Appointment provides the fashion consultants and
personal-shopping staff to get it done quickly and with style.
Shop in person by appointment, or let us know by phone, fax or
email what we can do for you. We offer the following free
services:
· Individual appointments
· Personal Profile of your gift and wardrobe preferences
· Wardrobe consultations, including businesswear
· Birthday, anniversary and special-occasion reminders
· Advance notice of exclusive events and promotions
· Custom gift wrap
· Shopping parties
More Guide
Become a Personal Shopper |
