It might not be the glamorous fashion office job you envisioned, but working retail is often the first step in a successful fashion career—and it’s one of the best ways to build essential industry skills.

Whether you’re aiming for a career in buying, merchandising, PR, or brand management, the sales floor is where many fashion professionals begin. And trust us, it’s more than just folding jeans and managing a cash register.

Retail Builds the Foundation

Retail is where you learn to understand the customer—what they want, how they shop, and why they buy. That firsthand insight is gold if you’re planning to work behind the scenes in fashion. Buyers need to anticipate trends and customer preferences. Merchandisers must know how product placement affects purchasing decisions. Brand managers need to connect with audiences in a way that feels authentic. Retail teaches you all of that from day one.

It also builds real-life business skills: problem-solving, multitasking, team dynamics, communication, and sales strategy. These aren’t just nice-to-haves, they’re the core of what makes a great fashion professional.

Where Industry Pros Get Their Start

Still not convinced? Some of the most respected names in fashion started on the shop floor.

Eva Chen, Director of Fashion Partnerships at Instagram and former Editor-in-Chief of Lucky Magazine, has shared that one of her earliest jobs was working retail at Abercrombie & Fitch. That early exposure gave her a sense of how branding and customer connection work in real life—an understanding that still plays a role in her career today.

Tory Burch, now a globally recognized designer and entrepreneur, spent time working in various fashion industry roles, including department store promotions and brand marketing, before launching her namesake brand. Her early exposure to retail environments helped shape her understanding of customer needs and brand identity—key elements of her brand’s success today.

Even our own founder, Christie Lohr, started her fashion career working in retail. That experience provided valuable insight into retail hiring, customer service, and team dynamics, and ultimately helped her launch Style Nine to Five, Canada’s first fashion job board and career resource platform.

You’ll Learn to Read the Room—and the Rack

One of the most underrated benefits of retail? You become an expert at reading people and understanding what drives them. These are the soft skills that make you a standout in interviews and a valuable team member in any role.

You’re also surrounded by brand storytelling every day. You’ll gain a feel for how fashion brands connect with their audience—and what makes someone choose one label over another.

It’s Not Just a Job. It’s Your Training Ground

Think of your first retail job as your fashion industry bootcamp. You’re learning how to forecast trends, deliver great service, represent a brand, and make real-time decisions that contribute to business success.

Hiring managers are looking for people who understand how fashion works from the ground up. And often, those people are the ones who’ve done their time on the floor.

What You Can Start Doing Now

If you’re currently working in retail or considering it, here are a few ways to turn that experience into a stepping stone for your fashion career:

• Track your wins. Keep a log of customer service success stories, sales numbers, merchandising contributions, and leadership moments. These are strong resume builders.
• Learn about the business side. Ask your manager how buying decisions are made or how visual merchandising is planned. It’s valuable insight.
• Pay attention to what sells—and why. Take note of which pieces move quickly, how displays influence buying behavior, and what customers are asking for.
• Practice brand storytelling. Learn how your store communicates about products and apply that same storytelling to your resume, interviews, or networking.
• Connect with head office teams. Ask about job shadowing opportunities, brand trainings, or internal openings. Many people move from store-level roles into buying or marketing this way.
• Treat your job like training. Be proactive and professional—you never know who’s paying attention. A great reference could be your next break.
• Keep your resume current. Don’t wait until you’re actively job hunting. Keep it updated with your accomplishments and skills.

If you’re not sure how to highlight your retail experience on your resume or in interviews, that’s where we come in. Style Nine to Five offers resume refreshes, cover letter help, and interview coaching to help you stand out.

And don’t forget to check out our Style Nine to Five’s Fashion Job Board—it might just have the opportunity that launches your career.

Photo image credit: PixelBiss – stock.adobe.com