retail/fashion design

I work in a small boutique in Carytown. The store just opened in September so it has been interesting to see the start of a business I will be a part of for the rest of my life. The boutique carries all European fashion lines, something that is completely new and exclusive to Richmond. The lines we carry are all designers out of all over Europe, but we get the garments from vendors in New York and LA. We don't get the lines directly from Europe due to export/import issues, but the vendors we work with work directly out of Europe. This is a great experience for me because I one day hope to be selling my own line to independently owned boutiques. I have been able to see how the entire process is executed, from placing orders, communicating with design houses and vendors in both the US and Europe, and developing line sheets. As a design student, I don't get to learn much of the merchandising/business end of the industry through my classes - so this gives me a chance to see it first hand through a small, intimate learning experience.