Professional Shopper
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Personal Shoppers
There are many career options for a shopper in the private sector. You can work for busy families, the elderly, executives or even celebrities.
"Buying the right thing for somebody involves being tuned into who that person is, and not only what her tastes are, but what her values are and what kind of an image she wants to project," says a personal assistant and personal shopper for a TV star living in New York City.
"Personal shopping is a lot about making sure my client doesn’t run out of honey or milk, but it’s also about making sure that everything I buy -- whether it’s a gift for a family member or a major household appliance -- is congruent with the lifestyle and personality of my client," she explains, adding that good knowledge of the client’s budget and spending habits is essential.
Boutique Shoppers
Department stores and specialty boutiques also employ personal shoppers to help patrons select the right items from their collections -- and to offer the kind of personal attention that keeps customers coming back for more of the same good fashion advice.
"I find that especially in a high-end store, customers feel more comfortable being served by someone who knows them, knows their size, their tastes and a little something about their lifestyle," says a sales associate at a major designer store for men. "So it’s important for boutique shoppers to pay attention to every customer they help." Boutique shoppers should ask their clients lots of questions to learn what looks good on them. This will help the client trust your advice, he adds.
Building a book of clients you’ve helped in a boutique can be a useful tool when you’re ready to start your own personal shopping business; a customer base that knows you well and has come to trust your fashion instincts can be a great start.
