Some people love to shop by themselves or with friends. Others, however, find the process very tiring or boring, or they might be too busy to spend much time on it; these people need a personal shopper.

Suppose that you go into a store to look for a gift to buy for a friend or relative. Maybe you already knew what you wanted to get, or maybe someone else gave you advice on what to buy. Personal shoppers learn what people want and then try to help them find it, either by telling them where to go or by going out and shopping themselves.

The first step in personal shopping is normally getting to know the customer’s needs and wishes. An interview with the client is the first step so that the shopper knows what kinds of items to buy or to recommend. Some personal shoppers work through large department stores or other shops, but some set up their own businesses.

Many personal shoppers work in a specific area such as groceries or garden tools. A common type of personal shopping is in buying groceries for elderly people or others who have trouble walking around or carrying heavy loads. The personal shopper asks the client about allergies, tastes, and anything else that might be important and then goes out to buy the items at the store before taking them back to the client’s home. Sometimes, a personal shopper might take the client along to look at what is available, but not usually.

In many cases, working as a personal shopper might be a daily or weekly job, but in some cases, it might be something special like shopping for a wedding or family gathering. Personal shoppers need to keep track of their clients and be able to remember what each client wants. An ability to work with money is necessary, and an understanding of different brands, colours, and designs is useful.

Becoming a personal shopper normally requires experience but no particular education. Most employers are likely to prefer someone who has graduated from high school. Personal shoppers should also be able to keep up with the latest trends by reading about them or getting help from store managers.

Salaries for personal shoppers can vary widely, depending on where they work. The average salary for people in this career in Canada is about $25,000 per year, but some personal shoppers can earn $100,000 or more. Most people start by working in a store where they learn about the products and working with the public. As they gain experience, they will have the skills they need to become personal shoppers in an established store or in their own businesses.

Do you enjoy shopping with your friends and family? Do you have a good sense of what people like and what suits them? If so, why not consider becoming a personal shopper?

Bibliography:

Farfan, Barbara. “Personal Shopper Job Description – Retail Career Job Profile of Personal Shopper.” http://retailindustry.about.com/od/retailjobscareers/p/personalshopper.htm.

Henricks, Mark. “Starting a Business as a Personal Shopper.” http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/75238.

Kennedy, Casey. “How to Become a Personal Shopper.” http://www.ehow.com/how_15306_become-personal-shopper.html.

Wow Jobs.com. “Average Salary of Jobs Matching Your Search: personal shopper Salary in Canada.”

Wow Jobs.com. “Personal Shopper Salary in Canada.” http://www.wowjobs.ca/salary-personal+shopper.