Styling @ OSKA Blackheath (my part-time job)

    It is clear to say, after 2 and a half years of working at OSKA Blackheath, I have really come to grips with what it is like and what it takes to work in a clothing retail business. OSKA is a German company which has shops all over the World, however they tend to fall in the rank of a much higher priced market, thus we tend to get quite a few wealthy people coming in, which can either be delightful or an absolute nightmare! However, the customer is ALWAYS right.

    My main jobs are dressing up the mannequins either on the shop floor or for the window for people from outside to see, marketing, stock check and helping customers. Plus, I get to enhance my charisma and communications skills with not only customers, but other fellow business owners too. Today I got the opportunity to use some of the new Autumn/Winter 2014 collection, which helps to draw in customers and get them to see our new variety of clothing. The target market for the OSKA collection tends to be females around the age of 40+. Not to mention, the clothes are a bit more pricy than your average high street brand, typically for a pair of trousers, you have to be willing to pay around £160-250 for a single pair, hence my customer/styling skills have to be extremely high.

    Regardless of wanting to purely do designing, I think it is a great opportunity for me to experience and experiment with other sectors within the fashion industry because it will develop my overall skills in fashion production/knowledge and make me more aware of what looks good and what doesn't. Moreover, working in a franchise boutique shop also helps me to know what materials are quality for money, plus it enables me to tell how something will look on someone by just holding the garment on the hanger, which is what is needed to be a very good and productive seller.

   Furthermore, working at this shop for such a long time has helped me to develop all new skills which not many people get the chance to and to meet the head of the company from Germany was a great opportunity and experience for me, which showed me how to make connections and friendships with people all over the country and even in Europe!