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RetailISCO 5223

Personal shopper

A personal shopper is a person who helps individual clients choose and buy clothing and other products, such as gifts, according to their taste, their wishes and their style. The service is the client's own judgement extended by someone who knows the market.

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Check yourself in a minute: personal shopper

Rate 5 of the 12 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

advise customers on clothing accessories

implement customer follow-up

identify customer's needs

maintain customer service

satisfy customers

About personal shopper

Understanding the client comes first and takes longer than the shopping. The personal shopper listens actively, communicates with clients, and advises on dress style, finding out the client's personal tastes, wishes and preferred style. A purchase that suits the shopper's taste rather than the client's is likely to be returned.

Knowing what exists is the professional knowledge. The personal shopper works from the fashion trends, which is what makes a recommendation current rather than safe, and builds a network of specialists in the field: the shops, the buyers and the people who know what is coming in and what can be held back.

Two parts of the role are about continuity. The personal shopper accompanies clients on shopping trips and carries out client follow-up afterwards. A client comes back to someone who remembers what they chose last time.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (12)

trends in fashiontrends in fashionNew developments and trends in the world of fashion.communicate with customerscommunicate with customersRespond to and communicate with customers in the most efficient and appropriate manner to enable them to access the desired products or services, or any other help they may require.advise customers on clothing accessoriesadvise customers on clothing accessoriesRecommend accessories to match customer's clothing style.implement customer follow-upimplement customer follow-upImplement strategies that ensures post-sale follow up of customer satisfaction or loyalty regarding one's product or service.identify customer's needsidentify customer's needsUse appropriate questions and active listening in order to identify customer expectations, desires and requirements according to product and services.maintain customer servicemaintain customer serviceKeep the highest possible customer service and make sure that the customer service is at all times performed in a professional way. Help customers or participants feel at ease and support special requ...satisfy customerssatisfy customersCommunicate with customers and make them feel satisfied.listen activelylisten activelyGive attention to what other people say, patiently understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; able to listen carefully the needs of cus...accompany peopleaccompany peopleChaperon individuals on trips, to events or appointments or to go shopping.develop professional networkdevelop professional networkReach out to and meet up with people in a professional context. Find common ground and use your contacts for mutual benefit. Keep track of the people in your personal professional network and stay up ...advise on clothing styleadvise on clothing styleProvide advice to customers on fashionable styles of clothing and appropriateness of different garments for particular occasions.apply fashion trends to footwear and leather goodsapply fashion trends to footwear and leather goodsBe able to stay up to date on the latest styles, attending fashion shows and review fashion/clothing magazines and manuals, analysing the past and present fashion trends in areas such as footwear, lea...
Optional (16) — show
sales argumentationsales argumentationTechniques and sales methods used in order to present a product or service to customers in a persuasive manner and to meet their expectations and needs.teach fashion to clientsteach fashion to clientsProvide clients with tips on which clothes and accessories to match, and how patterns or designs on clothing and different garments can influence the clients appearance.advise customers on jewellery and watchesadvise customers on jewellery and watchesProvide customers with detailed advice on watches and pieces of jewellery available in the store. Explain about different brands and models and their characteristics and features. Recommend and provid...network with store ownersnetwork with store ownersBuild professional relationships with store owners. Try to make agreements with them about promoting their stores in return for a certain commission or fee.offer cosmetic beauty adviceoffer cosmetic beauty adviceProvide customers with advice and beauty tips for creating a new look.use different communication channelsuse different communication channelsMake use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.assist with dressingassist with dressingAid clients to choose clothes for different occasions, ensure that the chosen clothing pieces are clean and ready for wearing, and help the client with putting them on.advise on hair styleadvise on hair styleMake recommendations to customers about suitable hair styles, based on their preferences and your own professional judgment.assess characterassess characterAssess how a certain person will react, verbally or physically, in a specific situation or to a specific happening.maintain professional administrationmaintain professional administrationFile and organise professional administration documents comprehensively, keep customer records, fill in forms or log books and prepare documents about company-related matter.advise on furniture styleadvise on furniture styleProvide advice to customers on fashionable styles of furniture and appropriateness of different furniture styles for particular locations, considering the customer's taste and preferences.assist clients with special needsassist clients with special needsAid clients with special needs following relevant guidelines and special standards. Recognise their needs and accurately respond to them if needed.achieve sales targetsachieve sales targetsReach set sales goals, measured in revenue or sold units. Reach the target within a specific timeframe, prioritise sold products and services accordingly and plan in advance.control of expensescontrol of expensesMonitor and maintain effective cost controls, in regards to efficiencies, waste, overtime and staffing. Assessing excesses and strives for efficiency and productivity.stay up-to-date with hair style trendsstay up-to-date with hair style trendsKeep abreast of current and future fashion trends in hair styles.perform services in a flexible mannerperform services in a flexible mannerAdapt service approach when circumstances change.

Related Occupations

Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.

personal stylist9 shared essential skillsclothing specialised seller4 shared essential skillscustomer service representative4 shared essential skillsdating service consultant4 shared essential skillshairdresser4 shared essential skillsservice manager4 shared essential skillswedding planner4 shared essential skillsbarber3 shared essential skills

Frequently asked questions

What does a personal shopper do?

Personal shoppers assist their individual clients in selecting and buying clothing items and other goods such as gifts, according to their personal tastes, desires and style.

What skills does a personal shopper need?

A personal shopper needs 12 essential skills, including trends in fashion, communicate with customers, advise customers on clothing accessories, implement customer follow-up, identify customer's needs.

Will AI replace personal shopper jobs?

The AI disruption score for personal shopper is 36/100 (moderate risk). Skills most exposed to automation: maintain professional administration, sales argumentation, communicate with customers. Most resilient: accompany people, listen actively, assist with dressing.

AI Replacement Risk

36/ 100
Moderate Risk
Low riskHigh risk
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Quick Facts

SectorRetail
ISCO GroupSales workers
Essential Skills12

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