How to Become a Personal Shopper & What Skills You Need?

What are personal shoppers?

What Skills Do You Need To Be A Personal Shopper? | How to Become a Personal Shopper. A personal shopper is someone who buys/shops for other people for a living. Some personal shoppers can also work as stylists in department stores, helping clients choose items or pre-selecting outfits and displaying them to customers on their arrival. 

Some personal shoppers work directly for clients or their personal stylists; others work for boutiques or department stores that offer personal shopping services. Becoming a Personal Shopper and an Image Consultant requires coaching abilities, protocol, and body language knowledge to get your recommendations right.

What skills do you need to be a personal shopper?

To become a Personal Shopper, you will need to be able to:

• Forecast trends.
• Work as part of a team as well as on your own initiative.
• Handle people tactfully and discreetly.
• Pay attention to detail.
• Keep accurate and well-organised records.
• Build up product knowledge.
• Deal with customers who are difficult or demanding.

What Does a Personal Shopper Do?

The job description for a personal shopper varies depending on the client. Personal shoppers might offer advice to clients when shopping together, helping them build self-confidence in their look without being overly pushy. Some personal shoppers choose clothing for clients who don’t want to shop for themselves, sending photos of clothing options, or bringing racks of clothing to the client’s home.

Crucial skills needed to Become a professional personal Shopper

If you are looking to pursue a career in styling and become a Personal Shopper, you need to know the following crucial skills  for this type of professional:

1. You need to work on your people skills, empathy is the key to success

A Personal Shopper or an Image Consultant listens to the client’s needs and tries to fulfill them in the best possible way. Some clients require style assistance, others need to find confidence in themselves. There is no standard case to work with as every person is unique and has different wardrobe choices. You should foster soft skills such as being a good listener, friendly, and tactful while diagnosing a case.

2. You must know how to network, look for a fashion retail network to work with

The stylists and personal shoppers know every single fashion retail where to find wardrobe treasures. From luxury destinations to second-hand and vintage stores, every personal shopper develops a network for trustful stores. They can advise their clients on the spot or eventually do freelance consulting for the retailer’s clientele. 

3. You have to create your own consulting process, and advise smartly

Personal shoppers and style advisors usually develop a method to approach their customer’s needs. You can create a unique way to gather important information to deliver a solution. Ask for several aspects of your client’s daily routine create a workflow where you can register your client’s color selections, skin, and body complexity, height and weight, best hair and make-up choices, and wardrobe needs for business and special events.

4. You must become a fashion expert in all senses.

To become a professional personal shopper is not enough if you enjoy the shopping experience at a personal level, In this career path, you will need to know everything about fashion, from fashion designers, latest trends, changes in average fashion silhouette, and be aware of the timeless fashions. Culture in the fashion industry is a very important thing to foster.

3. You need to build a client portfolio, and deliver the best experience

Several personal shoppers work with a high-profile clientele such as celebrities, actors, or politicians. However, this is not the only career path you can aspire to. A lot of people are having difficulties dressing for their jobs or special events. Sometimes they do not have time to browse the stores to find clothes for next season or, simply they do not know how.

Stages on how to become a personal shopper

1. Determine if it’s the right job for you

A great way of determining if you’re a good fit for the role is listing the pros and cons, as well as the skills needed to execute the duties well.

2. Learn all the latest fashion trends

You’ll need to have a solid understanding of the fashion industry, including the latest trends and upcoming seasons, in order to offer information advice to your clients. So, before starting out as a personal shopper, you could take a course in fashion styling to understand which styles suit different shapes and sizes.

3. Practice your photography skills

It’s important to take good images of previous projects to showcase your skills. So, take a basic photography course to help you achieve great results that show off your work.

4. Learn about tailoring

While you typically won’t be expected to resize and custom-tailor garments, it’s a good idea to have a general understanding of the trade. It can help you determine what cuts and fits will suit each client. Besides having basic tailoring skills, it’s important to be well connected in the field.

5. Build Your portfolio

It’s essential to have an impressive portfolio in this career path. To show your professional skills, you will need to invest in a website that showcases past work, references your services and also has a functional contact page. it’s also essential to have a strong online presence with professional social handles. Be sure to be active on your profiles by uploading regular styling photos.

6. Provide a VIP shopping experience.

Shopping can be a vulnerable experience, so it’s important to make your clients feel comfortable. Consider ways you can prepare for your client in advance, such as planning a shopping route, making connections with helpful salespeople to get the best customer service, and ensuring an easy and relaxing dressing room experience.

What is a personal shopper salary?

Personal Shoppers in America make an average salary of $32,875 per year or $16 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $50,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $21,000 per year.

Personal shoppers can work as freelancers for private clients, but they can also find work in boutiques and stores. Either way, this job requires excellent customer service skills, a keen eye for detail, and a good knowledge of the market and industry they are serving.

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