Title
Bridal Stylist
Year
August 2022 - April 2023
Location
Atlanta (GA, USA)
Key Skill Set:
-
Customer Relationship
-
Styling Advice - Taste and Aesthetics of BHLDN
-
Store Visuals - Displays aligning with the brand DNA
-
Merchandise & Shipments
-
Teamwork & Communication
1.
Customer Relationship
-
Start the relationship with our brides since they made the appointments online.
-
Sending confirmation email and store-visit related info to them 1~2 days before the appointment.
-
Engaging the bride and guests she brings with by greetings and a small talk before selecting the gowns.
-
Assisting the bride trying on gowns inside the fitting room and figuring out their IDEAL look.
-
Complete the appointment by providing the customized store card with the measurement and gowns info, or make the online order for the bride if they purchased right after the appointment.
-
Follow up for both non-purchased and purchased customers' shipping status via email or phone call.
-
Through the bridal appointment, we connect with the bride and invite her to visit our store again for other categories purchase.
-
Store Technology: Digitalization is the conduit to the brick-and-mortar, drawing brides from online to stores trying on the physical dresses. Our customers are highly educated in general, 75% of them are with Bachelor's Degree and would do researches and make their own aesthetics board on Pinterest before the appointment.
2.
Styling Advice
-
During the appointment, listening to the bride's appeal and vision for the wedding, and assisting them to select the gowns on the floor according to styles, silhouettes, fabrics and design details.
-
While the bride is trying on and off, I will observe the bride's reaction to each gown and then suggest pieces, such as veils, headbands, earrings, high heels and accessories to complete the look and fulfill the picture.
-
There might be a new thought coming up after they try on, which we call the "Happy Moment", and it is the best moment to extend to other ideas the bride will build on.
-
Always related back to the bride's vision and preference since it is HER Big Day in Her life. So we hold a respectful yet professional attitude when the appointment is coming to the end.
-
Instead of pushing them to buy, we provide all information about BHLDN to them. The collections we have, the seamstresses we have worked with, the purchase links, shipping and return policy, store information and other after-sale services are beneficial for our customers to KNOW BHLDN BETTER from the first frontline - retail store, and from this standpoint to encourage them to possess their own BHLDN dresses.
3.
Store Visuals
-
Maintaining the store in a neat and organized look adhere to BHLDN/Anthropologie's aesthetics.
-
Collaborating with Anthro's team on displays to elevate the visual presentations.
-
Supporting seasonal visual projects with props crafting and art installations.
-
Styling the looks for the mannequins with the new sample dresses/gowns/accessories.
-
Executing Visual Merchandising Guide (VMG) with the store Visual Merchandising team.
Merchandise Management
-
PRODUCT: Signal the brand with 6-month rotation of Spring & Winter Collections.
-
Product Knowledge: Updating new-in product information every week to keep up-to-date so that we share with our customers the latest trends and find their dreamboat dresses in store.
-
Product Organization: We have sample gowns on the floor and also at the back (a small warehouse). Regularly check each sample gown, dress, sellable piece is still in well-preserved and preventing it to be stolen. Especially keep an eye on the new arrivals according to managers' instructions.
-
Product Maintenance: Repairing & Fixing gowns by regularly checking to ensure each sample is in good condition for the appointment use.
-
Inventory (Back-of-House): Adhere to store's safety standards, stock accuracy, and uphold all company policy to support sales for the store.
-
Labeling the returned items, retiring items and new coming items according to managers' instructions.
-
Shipment: Unboxing, organizing the new arrivals, and loading them onto the carts to racks. For dresses, they should be steamed before hanging up on the floor.
4.
Teamwork & Communication
-
BHLDN Atlanta team is highly collaborative to offer the best in-store customer experience for BHLDN brides.
-
Stylists who are in their down time are motivated to help co-workers during appointments, cleaning up sample gowns, finding the matched accessories and assisting the ordering process by teamwork spirit.
-
The team leaders, aka Customer Experience Manager (CEM), are the key people to supervise the operation, reconciling conflicts between staff and customers, and are supportive to each member before/during/after appointments.
-
Email and phone call are the main ways we communicate with customers, depending on the bride's preference.
-
Inspired by one another's dressing styles that align with BHLDN dress code is the BEST communication for BHLDN Atlanta team.
5.
Motivation & Goal
This Retail experience enhances my understanding of the operation in the first front of a corporation, including selling products, visual displays' formula, and cross-functional communication. As a stylist, it is the step stone for me toward Visual Merchandising by learning how a brand works from the very first front line, knowing the aesthetics of the brand, what customers' like, and use visual power to represent the brand.
During this journey, I also gravitate to the brand building and promotion parts since it relates me with what I have learned at SCAD: the brand identity, brand DNA and brand code of knowing WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE SELL, and HOW WE DO, and sell the right GOWN to the right BRIDE. Also doing the research by knowing the target audience (TA), who and where are our customers is critical in advance. So that we have better ideas to sell the products to the right person using styling professions and communication skills.
​
As a visual person (Pinterest Junkie), I was motivated with creative works, Visual Merchandising & Styling, from the beginning of this job, and still enjoy curating a look for myself and others now. After I have done with my internship in Merchandising position, this job consolidates my career goal as a Visual Merchandiser more clearly.
​
Connecting with customers and playing around different looks are fun, at the same time I found myself more related to product displays and mannequin styling behind the scene.After this experience, I aim to learn more sides on Product Displays and Styling, a key part in Visual Merchandising, and keep building on my path toward VM team by learning more visual language.
​
