4 tips for becoming a personal shopper

You might love shopping for yourself, but becoming a personal shopper requires a whole different skill set.

Does becoming a personal shopper sound glamorous? You have to learn about your clients, do their shopping and then deliver clothes that fit your clients' bodies and tastes. If you want to become a personal shopper, check out the helpful advice below.

One of the keys to being a great personal shopper is becoming fashion savvy. Have your eye tuned into what's going on in the fashion world, what's trendy and what trends are on their way out. Read fashion blogs, subscribe to fashion magazines and go to fashion shows. Having a real understanding of what's on-trend and what flatters your clientele will contribute to your success.

Some personal shoppers shop for all kinds of people, but the best and most reputed shoppers narrow their focus down to one niche. Choose one type of client: women, men, children, plus-size or even members of different age groups. Then, learn about the best stores for those clients while building a reputation among one client base. Personal shoppers who specialize in a niche are often seen as experts and trusted by clients looking for a specific type of clothing for their age, career or body type.

If you want to satisfy your clients, you'll need to get to know them. While most personal shoppers will have sit-down meetings with clients and give them written info to fill out, it can help to spend more time with a client to get a real feel for their personality and style. Go out to a couple of meals with your client, and ask them about their general likes and dislikes. It's a great way to understand his or her overall aesthetic.

If a client absolutely loves something that you hate and think looks terrible, it's much more important to have a happy client than be right. So, if you find a piece that you don't agree on, voice your opinion once (honestly but politely) and see how the client responds. If he or she insists on wearing the garment, despite your objections, don't argue. Your purpose is to offer advice, not to disparage a client's taste or make them feel bad.