WorkingIt: Buyer says best part of job is helping people look good

photo After graduating from Boston University, Ani Yacoubian returned to Chattanooga to work in her family's business, Yacoubian Tailors on Broad Street. "I'm trying to update our women's fashions to give it a fresher look," said Yacoubian. Staff File Photo by Gillian Bolsover/Chattanooga Times Free Press
  • Name: Ani Yacoubian

  • Location: Yacoubian Tailors

  • Position: Yacoubian said she does "a little bit of everything, from buying to sales, to working with customers, inventory management, trying to deal with the computer and the processing that has to be done when UPS shipments arrive." One thing she does not do is tailoring. "My actual title is buyer, but it doesn't just limit me to that."

  • First job: Working at Ann Taylor

  • Best part of the job: "It's cool that I get to be with my dad and brother all the time, which I really enjoy most of the time. The other part that I love is getting to work with all the people who walk in here and getting to build relationships with them." Recently, Yacoubian said, she had a female customer who had expressed frustration at finding clothes that fit correctly. She was able to help her find flattering attire and restore the woman's confidence. "She was really fun to work with."

  • Size doesn't matter: Yacoubian has learned that not all clothing is created equal, a lesson she helped her aforementioned client discover. "Sometimes, a certain brand doesn't work for you," she said. "You've just got to try a different one. It's frustrating. Sometimes even in the same brand, I'm anywhere from a two to a six."

  • Worst part of the job: "I hate dealing with the computer. It is a help when it's running smoothly, but when it's not, it's just a big headache."

  • What she's learned: "Treat everybody the same and with respect. Never judge a person by how they look."

  • How to make a career of it: "I was just born into it." Her degree in business administration and management, with a concentration in marketing and advertising, helps. And for anyone who believes they might be interested in working for the clothing industry because of a love of fashion, Yacoubian suggests getting a job in a store. "Some people find out it's a lot tougher than they think it is. ... A lot of people go to school and get merchandising degrees. There are lots of different ways you can do it."

- Contact Holly Leber at hleber@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6391. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/hollyleber.

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