Fashion Design/Merchandising vs Accounting

[Starfire75]

D is considering attending school to study Fashion Merchandising. Her dream career would be as a buyer. I am trying to convince her that an accounting degree would be a better choice and give her much more flexibility if the retail industry thing doesn't work out. Tried to tell her that getting hired by a fashion retailer as an accountant then working into a purchasing position is a viable alternative. She isn't buying it. Am I selling FM short?

[tom1944]

Why not major in FM and take her electives in accounting. She could even do some summer accounting classes on-line to get an adequate number of accounting credits

[PackMom]

My niece, a college senior, is doing a double major in Fashion Merchandising and Marketing. She's interning for the second summer with a manufacturing company that produces legwear(Hue,Calvin Klein,etc),hosiery and sleepwear. She posted pics from her NYC workplace. Reminded me of the MTV show,The Hills. Niece is loving it.

[scout59]

Does your D have an aptitude or an interest in accounting? It can be a very diificult field if you don't like it. While I personally think that an introduction to accounting is very useful for a variety of careers, majoring in it would be excruciating if the desire isn't there.

Disclaimer: My D just graduated with a degree in accounting and had her choice of job offers. Her original plan (as a freshman) was to major in business and then find a job with an alternative music-related field. However, when she took her first acc class, she was hooked; later, when the fascination with emo music waned she was left with great career options.

[Starfire75]

PackMom - Do you know if most of the students in school with your niece are finding employment in the fashion industry? Any suggestion on schools?

Thanks

[Starfire75]

Scout 59 - I agree about the desire for accounting! Her Mother is a retired accountant but those genes might not have transferred over. You experience though does confirm my thoughts about the options available with an accounting degree.

[scout59]

Starfire, D swore she would never be an accountant because "accountants are boring." That was before she ever took an accounting class and before others told her about the career options available with an accounting degree.

It did work out for her. Good luck to your D, whatever her major turns out to be!

[2boysima]

Having worked for many years in the retail/wholesale industry.....she will find that the major buying programs (Macys, etc.) hire from all majors - liberal arts, business and fashion merchandising. These days, an aptitude for math is as important (in some cases more important) than a "good eye."

She should search the career sections of the websites for major retailers. There will be info. on the backgrounds required. Most entry level positions in merchandising are Planner or Assistant Buyer. Here's some info. from the Macy's site:

Merchant Organization
Macy's Jobs

And from the Belk site:
Careers at Belk

Many retailers and wholesalers offer internships. Whatever major she selects, she should try to get a summer or term internship.

If she finds a school with a good business school and a fashion/merchandising program....she could major in a business discipline like Accounting or Marketing , and take courses in the fashion merchandising program.

SUNY Oneonta has a joint program with FIT in NYC, and University of Cincinnati has an excellent Design Program and you might be able to take courses in the business school (or visa-versa)

However, you will find that many people in top merchandising management at the larger retail operations did not have formal education in fashion management.

[PackMom]

starfire, I don't have any info. as to how the FM grads fare in finding jobs.
Niece will be a senior this fall. The internship is required (counted as a class) for graduation. Her aunt (other side of the family) works for this corporation. Niece is hoping that her two internships plus a relative who works in management for the company will get her foot in the door for a real job when she graduates next May.