| Ask yourself what would be the perfect job for you. | | | | them, use them as a list of references if a potential |
| For many of the women I know it couldn't get much | | | | client asks for one. It couldn't hurt to have that list |
| better than being a professional shopper. You are | | | | just in case someone would want to confirm past |
| being paid to shop till you drop. Does it get much | | | | client's satisfaction with your work. It is a good way |
| better? This isn't some made up dream job either. | | | | to show that your career in shopping is more than |
| More and more people are making a career out of | | | | some part time hobby. |
| professional shopping. | | | | - Fine tune your shopping talents. Use those first |
| The reason for it being a viable career is that, believe | | | | shopping expeditions as a way to see what you did |
| it or not, a growing demand for personal and | | | | right and what you did wrong. It's a great way to |
| corporate shoppers is growing. You don't need an | | | | make improvements with your shopping. Talk to your |
| expensive education to break into this field, just a | | | | clients and ask them what you could have done to |
| knack for finding the right shoes to go with the right | | | | make their experience with your better. This |
| dress. | | | | information is priceless at this beginning stage of your |
| It also requires patience and a perceptive and | | | | shopping career. |
| personable nature. Shopping for somebody involves | | | | - Think about specializing your shopping towards a |
| knowing who that person is, what their tastes are, | | | | specific client base. It isn't unusual for upper-class and |
| and their values are. Here are a few tips on how to | | | | wealthy people to use personal shoppers. That |
| start and make a career out of your favorite | | | | doesn't mean you shouldn't completely ignore |
| pastime. | | | | everyone else. There are a large number of busy |
| - Before you make a career jump into something like | | | | middle class parents that unfortunately that don't |
| professional shopping, think about what you are more | | | | have time to go shopping. |
| of an expert on. Do you think you would be better | | | | - Do some marketing and start a small advertising |
| suited to buying gifts for others or are you more into | | | | campaign targeting the type of client you want to |
| fashion and would be better shopping for clothes? If | | | | shop for. The yellow pages is a decent place to star |
| you've taken courses in interior design, then shopping | | | | but don't rule out starting your own website or even |
| for home furnishing may be a better match for your | | | | a simple MySpace page. Design and print up some |
| talents. | | | | business cards, highlighting your new title of Personal |
| - Get some practice by shopping for your family and | | | | Shopper. Word of mouth doesn't hurt, either. |
| friends before you make it your full time career. | | | | - Since you're first starting out and looking to build a |
| Have them give you a fixed amount of money and | | | | client base, give out discounted prices for your |
| then shop for items they need. | | | | services to all of your new customers. After you do |
| - If you're friends and family are happy and still | | | | a good job for them, they can pass along how |
| talking to you after your practice run of shopping for | | | | pleased they were to their friends and family. |