We’re not in a downturn anymore.
Hooray! Do I hear applause and cheers echoing throughout the country? I sure hope so. Folks nationwide are getting jobs, employees are getting raises and consumers are returning to consuming (although in a much more socially responsible way).
It’s happening in the retail world as well. New York-based 24 Seven recently released its fifth-annual salary survey in collaboration with the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA). They reached out to more than 2,000 retail, design and fashion professionals to get the scoop on what’s happening in today’s retail job market.
Below is some of what they uncovered:
- 68 percent of those surveyed plan to make a career change in the next year.
- Base salaries are increasing by almost 20 percent (Woohoo! Here’s to making money again!)
- 62 percent of folks surveyed expect their salary to increase this year, while 43 percent anticipate that their bonuses will increase in 2011.
- Design, digital and e-commerce will see the most growth. Positions in visual merchandising, graphic design, apparel design, social media-related positions, such as strategist, campaign manager and blogger (yay me!), and luxury brand management and sales are all expected to grow.
- Flex-time and telecommute options are the biggest drivers in job satisfaction.
2011 is starting to look better than ever. It’s exciting to see this potential for growth and to already be experiencing the increases.
Are you working in retail? What has your experience been? Share your story here.
-Heather Strang
*Photo courtesy of Psychonaught (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
This post is so overwhelmingly out of touch I don't know where to begin. With all 2011 Wall Street gains lost in the last 8 days, retail layoffs at an all time high, and the softest retail spending in years (for June) I beg Heather to explain what alternate universe she inhabits. Personally, I was laid off, spent 18 months on a job search and settled for twice the work at 15 percent decrease in gross earnings….I'll have some of whatever the "Diva" is drinking…
Dear Hdtexan,
First of all, take a breath!
It's not as though I manufactured the survey. It's a real survey, answered by real people. So maybe you need to send an email to all 2,000 people who had such positive results…
I'm sorry about your financial loss, but this Diva ended up making more money during the downturn than she's ever made in her life.
We (the Retail Design Diva(s)) choose to focus on the positive whenever possible and want to support retail growth, not bemoan it and argue in favor of job losses and downturns.
Thanks for sharing your opinion, but we respectfully disagree (and think it quite rude to be so snarky to anyone at any time).
-Heather
I'm not doubting the accuracy of the study, but I *am* interested to see if the AAFA does a similar one in Q3 or after Q4. I'm in the charitable giving world, and we're waiting for donation revenue to turn around. Oftentimes, spending money is a direct competitor to giving money away charitably.
P.S. to my previous comment, I just read this:
http://www.economist.com/blogs/freeexchange/2011/08/double-dips?fsrc=scn/tw/te/bl/benanketotherescue
Snarky? No…realistic…and your reply was way out of line…Talk about snark. If you don't want a reply, don't ask for one. As usual The Diva is just that…a Diva….out of step, out of touch. How is it you guys stay in business?
Thanks for reading the Diva and sharing your perspective!
2011 is near its end and retail jobs are still high. Let's all hope that it has a bright future for the coming 2012.