Join our team
Come work with us
Our mission: To bring fashion education to the nation.
We hone people’s talents, give them confidence and new skills while inspiring enthusiasm and having fun.Our students are focused, talented and dedicated to creating something wonderful. They want to change their lives — and the world around them. Every member of this diverse group is here with a purpose. They are “in it to win it.”
PFI offers what few other schools offer: Apparel courses taught by apparel professionals. Our 24 contract instructors come from every sector in the apparel industry from large corporations to independent design.
PFI is located in the Hollywood District of NE Portland, Oregon. We are close to shopping, bistros, farmers markets, homes and one of Portland’s largest libraries. Thanks to holding both in-person and interactive online classes, it can bring exciting skills to the rest of the world. Help us grow your dreams so you too can join and shape the apparel industry.
Portland Fashion Institute aims to be the best education center for apparel in the USA. Our teachers work in apparel. Our goal is to exceed expectations while giving students a fun and rewarding experience.
OPEN POSITIONS
POSITION OVERVIEW
• Develops store strategies to raise pool of customers, expand store traffic and optimize profitability. Increase followers on social media and mail lists.
• Meets sales goals by training, motivating, mentoring and providing feedback to store staff.
• Ensures high levels of customers satisfaction through excellent service.
• In charge of the general operations of Portland Fashion Supply store, making sure it runs smoothly, cleanly and meets any budget or sales goals.
• Plans and promotes the daily schedule of employees and the business. Interviews, hires, coordinates and disciplines employees.
• Makes sure the store is stocked, clean and in proper working order, creates and maintains budgets.
• Coordinates with and reports to senior management of Portland Fashion Institute.
JOB BRIEF
We are looking for a results-driven retail fabric store manager to be responsible for the overall store management. The successful candidate will be able to enhance customer satisfaction, meet sales and profitability goals and manage staff effectively. Candidates will have the most success if they have a background in financial planning, employee recruitment, or retail management. Store Manager responsibilities may include supervising assistant store managers and includes the following:
• Idea generator. Keeps the store in step with changes in fashion design and needs of the instructors.
• Adds new product lines. Portland Fashion Supply is an apparel fabric store, not a quilting fabric store. The manager will look for branded and quality fabrics, trims, notions and tools suitable for trends in apparel.
• Sets profitable strategy and direction. Meet fiscal targets. Able to apply ROI analysis to determine if existing and new materials will grow PFI’s bottom line. Manage store budgets in order to increase profitability.
• Help market and develop new avenues for sales. Work with Portland Fashion Institute to promote Portland Fashion Supply. Set up and maintain online store. Maintain daily social media blogs and posts.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
• Develop business strategies to raise our customers’ pool, expand store traffic and optimize profitability.
• Meet sales goals by training, motivating, mentoring and providing feedback to sales staff. Work with Portland Fashion Institute to hire student retail staff. Sets staff schedules.
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Ensure high levels of customers satisfaction through excellent service.
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Complete store administration and ensure compliance with policies and procedures.
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Maintain outstanding store condition and visual merchandising standards
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Report on buying trends, customer needs, profits, stock to sales, stock turnover, markups and markdowns. Purchase stock in line with return-on- investment (ROI) analysis.
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Propose innovative ideas to increase sales.
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Conduct personnel performance appraisals to assess training needs and build career paths.
• Deal with all issues that arise from staff or customers (ideas, complaints, grievances, terminations).
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Be a shining example of well behavior and high performance.
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Creates & executes on ideas to promote, sustain and grow Portland Fashion Supply through point of sale, visual merchandising, website and social media.
QUALIFICATIONS. Has:
— At least three years successful experience working in a fabric store.
— At least one year of successful management experience.
— Experience in selling sewing machines and fashion design equipment.
— Proven skill in retail math, point of sale and inventory management.
— Known skill in effective communication, leadership and management skills. — Ability to work under pressure, juggling many priorities at the same time. — Knows textiles, fashion trends and Portland’s apparel design community.BENEFITS:
-$20-25+/hour DOE
– Control over your working environment.– Vacation, sick leave and holidays.
Apply here:
https://portlandfashioninstitute.com/about/jobs/online-application-employment/
JOB DESCRIPTION | STORE AMBASSADOR
POSITION OVERVIEW
PFI is currently seeking a sales associate (~30 hours per week) for its fabric store next to its school in Northeast Portland. Applicants must be available to work such hours as Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, 12-6 pm (with breaks).
PFI has a wonderful story, one that our PFI Ambassadors should always be telling, where the customer and the product come together. Our PFI Ambassadors are in a unique position; they connect people to products that could enrich their lives and offer solutions with quality products that will create memories for generations. A curious, enthusiastic attitude and brand knowledge of the company’s values are crucial to success. Superior training in our company’s rich history and products will inspire excitement, loyalty and positivity. Become a PFI Ambassador and bring your passionate attitude to help us connect generations.
JOB DESCRIPTION
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Passionate about apparel sewing.
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Provide exceptional customer service.
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Meet store sales objectives.
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Complete sales transactions.
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Build customer database.
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Store opening and closing.
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Assist in maintaining store visual objectives, housekeeping standards and stock
replenishment. Keep Store Manager informed on low stock and requests.
QUALIFICATIONS
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Prior retail apparel sales experience.
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Excellent customer service, organization and communication skills.
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Self-motivated, sales driven and a “team player”.
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Basic computer/POS systems skills.
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Skilled with social media.
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Able to work a flexible schedule, including Saturdays and able to be on time.
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Include a complete resume when applying.
COMPENSATION $15-$20/hour DOE
We are an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.
INTERESTED?
If you feel you are a top performer and would like to join our dynamic, growing group:
Fill in the application form (https://portlandfashioninstitute.com/wp- content/uploads/2017/10/Job-application.pdf)
– Write a one-page cover letter showing how your knowledge, skills and abilities address each point in the job description and qualifications plus why you are the best person for this position.
– Or send your application, cover letter and resume to info@pfi.edu Subject Line: Ambassador
We are an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.
