Who wants to spend their time folding sweaters while making minimum wage? You do.  Ashley Kraynak explains why starting at the bottom as a sales associate is the perfect foundation for a career in fashion.

by Ashley Kraynak

At the early age of 16 I realized I was not fit to work in the restaurant business. I wasn’t even capable of seating patrons or even looking the part—I refused to wear closed toe shoes in the summer—but after I was “no longer needed” at the local restaurant I was a hostess at, I applied to Express at my local mall, and the rest is history. I turned out to be a natural seller, and I have worked in retail for six years now, with employment at stores such as Lacoste, Bebe, Anthropologie, and even dabbling in furniture at West Elm. Having such a background in retail has provided me with the ability to literally become and represent a brand, which is crucial in the fashion industry. Not to mention the obvious perks, like discounts on clothes, you get experience in learning style/color codes, fabrics, and how to properly merchandise the product—all of which are needed in fashion.

Before I realized fashion was meant to be my career—I had never thought it was possible before, being a small town girl and living in the smaller city of Philadelphia. However, my coworkers at Lacoste were all design students, and one of them recommended me to a PR internship at a brand in New York City. It was, to date, the most exciting opportunity I had access to—and I got it! I spent my entire senior year of college traveling back and forth twice a week, and then three to four days a week after graduation, for this opportunity that gave me my experience and the connections to move on to more challenging endeavors, such as interning at one of the best fashion agencies in New York.

Currently, I am a PR Coordinator at an Italian brand, and everything I learned while working in retail has helped me in selling myself for internships and jobs in the past two years.  I already had one up on candidates who did not know that patent leather is called “vernice” in French or Italian—even though any self-respecting Louis Vuitton addict would know this—and other interns who would forget a style code right after it was spoken. I have a knack for visual display and pitching to editors is almost no different than pitching to a customer, and making boxes is a piece of cake.

While retail isn’t for everyone, it’s a definite start to learning the ropes of fashion, and you’ll even get a taste for how things run if you turn out loving your job. It’s also something to keep in mind while job searching—you won’t be too far away from fashion working in retail if you can’t get a job right away doing what you aspire. Trust me, even if the hours are terrible (I would love to ban shopping on Sundays!) the experience—and the clothes!—are well worth it when it comes to your future!

About the Author
Ashley has been a fashionista since she was four years old and adamant about owning the must-have purple bikini for her birthday. Years–and many, many bikinis and outfits–later, she is a graduate of Temple University with a degree in Strategic and Organizational Communications. Her love for luxury goods, fashion, and experience is what keeps her happy and motivated to continue running high-heeled and diving head first into the fashion industry. Currently, Ashley is a PR Coordinator at a pioneering Italian brand, where she truly feels at home amongst the seven-inch heels and high-end eyewear she promotes.

You can find more information (contact and experience) about Ashley on her Linked In page.

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