More and more, top companies seek to use information collected from tens of millions of fashion customers鈥攕tyle preferences, how they shop, which designers they Tweet about鈥攖o create new product lines, build efficient supply chains, and form successful strategies for their brands.
LIM鈥檚 Master of Science degree program in Consumer Analytics is designed to match fashion鈥檚 growing emphasis on "numbers science" and big data analysis. In one of the world鈥檚 most consumer-driven industries, here are five key positions companies need 鈥渄ata storytellers鈥 to fill:
Data Scientist
With the expansion of the data analytics field, this is a broad in-house role that many companies are creating. Brands seek employees with analytics backgrounds to look at vast data systems and report on everything from why certain regions perform best to what new products are likely to sell. To teach you how to be a data storyteller, LIM鈥檚 master鈥檚 degree in Consumer Analytics offers a range of relevant courses, such as Data Visualization & Graphics, Consumer Journey Mapping, Information Management, and Multi-Variant Statistical Analysis.
Trend Analyst
A trend analyst studies information that relates to their company鈥檚 sales and marketing efforts. What is selling? At what pace? What isn鈥檛? Which marketing efforts are gaining traction? Which are falling flat? LIM鈥檚 advanced degree in Consumer Analytics is designed to teach you how to look at big-picture marketing results, query datasets for answers, and understand how the data ties into marketing initiatives, all with an eye toward driving future efforts.
Supply Chain Expert
From solving transportation issues to tracking special handling requests, Consumer Analytics plays a major role in establishing smart supply chains. Top apparel and accessory brands seek employees who can monitor, maintain, and, when necessary, improve the flow of product to and from factories, distribution centers, and stores. A big-data expert can be a great asset in researching order histories, looking at logistics figures, and identifying patterns that impact efficiency.
Business Analyst
The person in this type of position looks for areas of the business that need improvement, often liaising with executives, supply chain members, and more to collect and validate data. In addition to the foundational analytics skills needed for this role, coursework in LIM鈥檚 Consumer Analytics program teaches you effective methods for communicating findings 鈥渦p the chain鈥 and working with large teams.
Customer-Relationship Management (CRM) Specialist
The individual in this role analyzes and evaluates the performance of a company鈥檚 various forms of digital customer outreach. It often involves tracking and consolidating data from multiple web analytics sources and optimizing the brand鈥檚 email or social media campaigns. LIM鈥檚 master鈥檚 program in Consumer Analytics prepares students to pursue such positions via courses that include Advanced Marketing Metrics, Customer Relationship Management, and Data Mining and Analytics.