If you love fashion and naturally find yourself purchasing new clothes, then you have what it takes to be a personal shopper! Personal shoppers assist people in staying up-to-date with the newest fashions and choosing the perfect garments to match their style. If you enjoy styling others and assisting them to feel confident in their clothes, then a career as a personal shopper could be perfect for you.
If you’re considering becoming a personal shopper, knowing what the role comprises and what possibilities are accessible is vital. They’ll try to let you understand the steps on how to be a shopper and tell you what you can anticipate in terms of salary and career advancement. Here are all the things you should learn to become accomplish as a personal shopper:
What Personal Shoppers Do
Personal shoppers make a living by purchasing items for different people. Some shoppers also take on the role of stylists in departmental stores, where they help clients pick outfits or select and display them before customers arrive.
Depending on your area of expertise, this may expand over several different areas.
Fashion: standard personal shoppers are found in most retail stores, assisting their clients in choosing outstanding outfits, accessories, and footwear.
Beauty: Many personal shoppers are located in beauty agencies selecting makeup and skincare for their clients. To make the best choices for their clients, personal shoppers need in-depth knowledge of different skin types and what products best suit each. It ensures that their clients always look their best.
Home wear: A home wear shopper may be an ideal job for you. You would pick fashionable products to complement your clients’ homes or workplaces.
Gardening: Do you have a knack for gardening? You could buy plants and flowers for a small group of customers. If you’re passionate about this, see if your clients need assistance in renovating their gardens.
Grocery shopping: Some working parents find it challenging to find time to go for greengrocery shopping. As a result, there is a huge demand for people willing to help with this task. You don’t need much expertise to be a good grocery shopper, but it is vital to be efficient and careful.
- Although what you do day-to-day can differ, your legal duties and responsibilities might look something like this:
- Before purchasing any items, always consult with customers and discuss their purchasing requirements.
- Suggesting complementary items or putting together looks that fit the client’s initial specifications. It could involve creating mood boards for inspiration.
- Going to stores and malls to purchase the items the client wants
- Achieving the perfect balance of quality and affordability for your client by creating a budget and sourcing products accordingly.
- Keeping up to date on the newest trends is essential.
- Maintaining an appealing social media profile to draw in potential customers.
- It is essential to comprehend what a client desires and has in mind, then be able to carry out the said vision.
- To secure future business, you must manage positive relationships with customers.
- Contacting and working with vendors to haggle for lower prices
What The Job Is Like
Are you curious about the work personal shoppers do, what hazards they face on the job, and if their day-to-day is as glamorous as it seems? Here is everything you need to know:
Work environment
As a personal shopper, you will work in a variety of settings. If you have a workplace, you will conduct preliminary consultations there or at your client’s homes. After the consultation, you will spend time purchasing goods in and out of stores. You may travel long distances from your home to various locations and stores.
Being a personal shopper usually means being on your feet for most of the day, often carrying heavy bags. The job can sometimes be demanding physically and requires good stamina.
Work hours
A typical day for a shop assistant can involve running from one store to another to find the demanded items at a reasonable price. It may require some internet research before leaving the house. Personal shoppers must be flexible with their hours, as they may need to work on weekends or even late evenings to satisfy their clients’ demands.
Personal shoppers who work for one firm rather than running their own company will have more organized working hours. They can, however, be seen working excessive overtime to meet the demands of high-end clients.
Job satisfaction
Working as a fashion shopper can be gratifying, according to PayScale, which rates the profession 3.68 out of 5. Respondents were mainly content with work. Letting shoppers keep their record of clients and hours is an attractive quality for people with outside obligations.
Job market
The Labor Department in the US predicts that the demand for individual shoppers will grow 7-10% in the next decade. It is faster than the normal growth rate for all businesses. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a decrease in personal shopping, there is still a lot of potential for growth in this area.
Salary
Being a personal shopper may provide decent money, depending on the client list you develop. You might find yourself working for stars and rich clients more willing to pay extra for the work — and tip generously!
The below shows an estimate of how much money a personal shopper can make, depending on their experience level and where they work:
Average wage
In the US, the total wage for personal shoppers is down below:
Mean annual wage – $32,000
Mean hourly wage – $12.39
Average wage by experience
It is displayed the varied hourly earnings of personal shoppers, which largely depend on experience:
Experience Average hourly wage
Entry level $11.91
Top-level $13.71
Senior level $13.60
Mid-level $13.87
Junior level $12.32
Average wage around the world
Personal shoppers may earn a decent living in any part of the world. If you’re thinking about moving to another country, they’ve compiled a list of average personal shopper salaries in the five largest English-speaking countries around the world:
Country Mean hourly wage
New Zealand NZ$19.32 ($13.07)
Australia AU$21.53 ($15.51)
UK £10.28 ($13.43)
South Africa R100.00 ($6.60)
Canada C$14.25 ($11.10)
Steps to Become a Personal Shopper
If you still believe that working as an individual shopper is the best option, read on to learn all there is to know about beginning your job.
Step 1: Determine if it’s the right job for you
One way to see if you would excel in a specific role is to consider the advantages and disadvantages and the technique needed for excellent performance. Another option is taking a particular test like their CareerHunter quiz, which will gauge your hobbies to find what job best fits you.
To assist you in recognizing if the role is proper for you, here are 10 qualities and skills that are needed:
- Physical stamina
- Good communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Time management skills
- Creativity
- Patience
- Organization skills
- Flexibility
- Teamwork skills
- Budgeting skills
Step 2: Learn all the latest fashion trends
You’ll need a thorough grasp of the fashionable sector to service your customers, including the most current trends and forthcoming seasons. As a result, before becoming an individual shopper, consider taking education in fashion dressing to discover which styles work best for various sizes and shapes.
One way to gain fashion experience is by interning at a magazine or working for a photographer. Alternatively, you could work in a shop and help customers with their style choices. Also, keep up with current trends by following all the high designers.
Step 3: Learn about tailoring
Although you will rarely be contemplated to alter and customize clothing, having some knowledge of the trade is a good idea. It may assist you in deciding which fits and cuts suit each customer. Aside from having simple tailoring abilities, being able to connect in the business arena is essential. Find out about local tailors you can believe who can quickly complete orders.
Step 4: Practice your photography skills
It’s critical to capture good photos of prior work to demonstrate your expertise. As a result, enroll in an introductory photography class to assist you in getting excellent results that showcase your talents. You don’t need expensive equipment if you understand how to shoot attractive angles with just your phone.
Step 5: Build a portfolio
A strong portfolio is critical in this career field. Prospective clients need to be able to view your professional technique, and the best way to do that is through an online portfolio website. Include examples of previous work, a service list, and helpful contact information.
Apart from a website, you’ll need a solid online presence that includes professional social media handles. Make regular styling pictures available on your accounts to be sure you’re active. If you want to attract new clients, investing in marketing is also an excellent idea.
Step 6: Practice with friends and family
You can improve your styling abilities by practicing with family and friends. You can if you are able to use their pictures on your professional profiles in exchange for some helpful tips; doing this will help draw in new clients. Furthermore, it’s beneficial to leave your safe place occasionally by trying to style different genders and age ranges outside those you usually purchase clothes for. If you’re a woman, attempt to style your father or brother- people with whom you don’t typically shop for clothing items.”
Step 7: Provide a VIP shopping experience
A significant selling point for hiring an individual shopper is the luxury and convenience of the dignitary shopping experience. Make your clients feel like royalty when they walk into a shop, with a space dedicated solely to them and their fittings. Furthermore, they should be given a rail of outfits, footwear, and carefully curated additional suggestions. So no matter who your customer is, always go above and beyond to give them the best possible experience.
Step 8: Select a niche
When starting as a personal shopper, it’s important to narrow in on a specific alcove that you desire to work with. It could be anything from a specific age group or gender to working within a specific industry. Remember that personal shoppers don’t always have to stick exclusively to fashion retail.
Step 9: Get qualified
Although you aren’t required to qualify to be an individual shopper, it would still be beneficial for you to get one. Wide variety of short courses that you may take at a fashion academy or even on the internet. Below are some famous options:
- Fashion design and accessories
- Fashion styling and design
- Costume design and wardrobe technician
- Fashion communication
- Image consulting
Step 10: Consider adding online services
If you’re too busy to shop in person, consider using an online personal shopper service. This kind of service normally includes consultations and presentations via Zoom or other a different facility provider and the ability to place orders for goods to be delivered to your place. With more businesses moving online due to the pandemic of COVID-19, this service can help you reach a larger audience while following a few restrictions.
Final thoughts
Becoming a personal shopper is an excellent career option if you enjoy seeing new people and letting them feel self-assured! Aside from providing customers with a unique experience, you’ll also need strong organizational abilities and punctuality. Knowing that you’ve made someone else feel good or helped them somehow is a gratifying profession. All these things are essential, but it comes down to one thing: you must be dedicated to working hard and putting in long hours.
FAQs
What does a personal shopper do?
A personal shopper assists people in choosing outfits and accessories that suit their style.
What are the benefits of becoming a personal shopper?
Various benefits of being a personal shopper include pliable hours, chances to work with various types of clients, and the capability to help others feel good about them.
How do I become a personal shopper?
To be a personal shopper, you should be skillful in taking a short course in fashion design or image consulting. You should also contemplate specializing in a certain niche, such as working with a particular age group or gender. Further, adding online services to your collection is the best plan to reach a greater crowd.
What qualities do I need to be an excellent personal shopper?
Besides being outgoing and personable, successful personal shoppers are also highly organized and punctual, and they should also be able to think on their feet and come up with creative solutions quickly. Finally, they should always be professional and respectful of their client’s needs and wants.
What is the average salary for a personal shopper?
According to PayScale.com, the average salary for a personal shopper in the US is $15.82 per hour. Wages can differ depending on expertise, location, and other factors.
What are some common challenges that personal shoppers face?
Some of the most common tasks personal shoppers face include managing tough customers, dealing with demanding schedules, and staying up-to-date with the latest fashion trends.
