Find a fashion school near you!
Boutique Owner - Career Profile
Also called: Specialty Store Owner, Owner
Job Description
Successful boutique owners are very entrepreneurial-minded and driven people who use a combination of savvy business skills and in-depth knowledge of the fashion retail industry to make a profit. Their stores often target a specific customer profile and often carry a specific mix of clothing and/or apparel designers that appeal to this demographic. Boutique owners must be jacks or jills of all trades as they typically oversee all aspects of a boutiques operations from planning and purchasing their inventory, setting up the in-store displays and managing employees. You could start a fashion boutique in one of the following areas: sportswear, beachwear, novelty items, vintage, T-shirts, dresses, tuxedos, shoes, handbags, accessories, lingerie, watches, sunglasses, and more.
Salary Range
$0 to $100,000+
*Losses are expected in the first few years of operations due to initial investments and expenditures. Once stabilized, boutiques can become a good source of income for its owner as well as an alternative to working very hard for someone else.
Outlook
Being a small business owner is a dream for many people, and the value of being one's own boss cannot be underestimated. Setting up a boutique usually requires obtaining a bank loan or drawing from personal savings to cover initial investments. Often, successful owners are those who can attract investors with a solid business plan and operational structure. Once the store is profitable, owners can go on to open additional stores, or if they have created a strong enough brand, sell franchises for subsequent locations.
The Art Institutes
- Indianapolis, IN
- Phoenix, AZ
- Charlotte, NC
- more...
- Accessory Design (AA)
- Fashion Design (BS)
- Fashion Design (BA)
- more...
Academy Of Art University
- San Francisco, CA
- Associate-Jewelry and Metal Arts
- Master-Jewelry and Metal Arts
- Bachelor-Jewelry and Metal Arts
- more...
American InterContinental University
- Atlanta, GA
- Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Marketing and Design
- Bachelor of Fine Arts Fashion Marketing
International Academy of Design and Technology
- Chicago, IL
- Troy, MI
- San Antonio, TX
- more...
- Fashion Design
- Fashion Design and Marketing
Berkeley College
- Little Falls, NJ
- White Plains, NY
- Newark, NJ
- more...
- AAS, Fashion Marketing & Mgmt
- BBA, Fashion Marketing & Mgmt
- BS in Fashion Marketing & Management
Qualifications
Education - A bachelor's degree in Business Management or Fashion Retailing/Merchandising/Marketing is common. An MBA is a plus in attracting investors. Experience - Extensive experience in the fashion retail industry in a variety of positions usually starting at the level of retail sales associate or stock clerk and with some experience as a retail store manager.
Personal Characteristics/Skills - entrepreneurial and risk-taking personality; solid business background in fields such as Marketing, Accounting, Sales and Management; in-depth and up-to-date knowledge of the fashion retail marketplace, including trends and forecasts; flexible; multi-tasking capabilities; excellent time management and communication skills.
Career Path: Retail Sales Associate > Buyer > Retail Manager > Boutique Owner
