How To Become A Bra Fitter
Thinking of opening your own lingerie store one day? Or maybe you just love lingerie and have always wondered what it would be like to work at a lingerie store. If this sounds like you, a job as a bra fitter could be the perfect fit.
Bra fitters play an important role in the bra shopping process. They do all of the bra fittings at the store. Their training in bra fitting, vast product knowledge, and ability to ask the right questions comes in handy when they’re doing bra fittings.
While it might seem like a walk in the park, there is more to a bra fitter’s job than meets the eye. Aside from helping women find bras that fit well and feel amazing, bra fitters wear many hats. It’s not uncommon for a bra fitter to fit and sell bras, clean and replenish the racks, write orders, clean the fitting rooms, call customers to tell them about new products, and hang more bras than you’d ever imagine – all in the same day. Plus, they’re constantly moving around and on their feet 8+ hours per day, which can be tiring at first. But, as exhausting as it may seem, bra fitters have an incredibly rewarding job. Most bra fitters love what they do and they get to do what they love. What could be better than that?
Wondering how to become a bra fitter? While there isn’t a specific path, here are some things that might help:
1. Remember that you don’t need prior experience
You don’t need to have any lingerie industry experience in order to apply for a bra fitting job. This is because bra fitters are trained on-site. Don’t let your lack of experience stop you from applying if you feel like you’d be happy working at a lingerie store. Empathy, kindness, self-motivation, and a strong work ethic are some of the qualities they’re looking for in potential candidates.
2. Visit your local lingerie store
Looking for a job as a bra fitter? Head to your local lingerie store first and ask if they’re hiring. Many small businesses don’t post their job openings online. Before you do, research the store online to see what the store is like. Then, on the day you’re visiting, dress nice (business casual), bring a copy of your resume with you, and ask to speak with the manager. Let her know that you’re looking for a job and would love to work for his/her store. If you have previous retail experience, don’t forget to mention it. If not, that’s ok too. Focus on why you’d be an asset to her team. Most lingerie stores need extra help around the holiday season, so now is a great time to start if you’re looking for a part-time or seasonal job that could turn into something more.
Related: What Is A Bra Fitting Specialist and What Do They Do?
3. Take your job search online
There are plenty of stores that do advertise job openings online. Some list the job as a ‘Lingerie Sales Associate’, ‘Seasonal Lingerie Sales Associate’, ‘Bra Fit Specialist’, ‘Bra Fitting Expert’, ‘Bra Fitter’, etc., but the postings can vary. Indeed, Monster, and Simply Hired are all great places to search. Try typing ‘Lingerie’ and your zip code into one of those sites to find a lingerie-related job near you.
4. Broaden your search
Stores like Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue also offer bra fittings at their stores. Their staff is hired as lingerie sales associates and then they go through bra fitting training. Keep in mind that one of the biggest differences between working at a department store and working at a local lingerie boutique is the pay structure. Department stores typically utilize a commission-based system (meaning you get paid a percentage of how much you sell minus your returns) while local lingerie stores typically pay per hour. This is important to keep in mind while you’re doing your search.
Related: A Day In The Life Of A Bra Fitter
A bra fitter’s take
If you’ve made it this far, congrats! Bra fitting might just be the thing for you. Personally, I absolutely love being a bra fitter. I get to solve bra fit problems, share my knowledge with my customers, and be surrounded by beautiful lingerie all day long. It’s a perfect match.
I would recommend applying for a bra fitting job if it sounds like something you might like. I’ve worked in a few different departments and I can honestly say that working in lingerie is much more intimate than any other department. As such, it’s not for everyone. Customers want someone that is caring, kind, knowledgeable, and helpful. In the fitting room, you’re the expert. The store is your domain. You’re in charge of determining your customer’s bra size and helping them find bras that fit. You don’t need to know everything about bras or breast shapes to be a good bra fitter, but you do need to have a willingness to learn and empathy for the people you help. I wouldn’t say that the job is easy (you’ll definitely have days in the beginning where you have no idea what to do), but it is incredibly rewarding and definitely worth it.
Looking for more? If you’re wondering what a day in the life of bra fitter is like, check out our article here.
