It was the buzzing lifestyle full of creation, history, sociology and aesthetics that intrigued Mélanie Meunier and brought her to the Luxury Fashion industry. Now a seasonal Fashion Training Tools Manager in Chanel, she tells us about her thrilling job and the creation of unique customer experience in the fashion house..
“Be humble, patient and pay attention to details. It is a really competitive and tough world, with no room for improvisation.”
What was your first career step?
I first worked as an advertising executive in the event industry, selling multi platform communication solutions to service providers (from venue owners to caterers). It allowed me to develop a real know-how in selling speech as well as an understanding of small structures’ communication issues.
You studied Communication and Cultural Management, what triggered your interest in Fashion?
Its cultural aspect: creation, intellectual references, history, sociology & aesthetic, I am an esthete! I need to work for an industry that makes sense to me; Fashion is a field of creation that has a massive impact in our everyday life and is a key factor in human interactions. Moreover, it is buzzing with millions of sensitive ideas.
Let’s talk about CHANEL, how did you approach this brand?
Very normally, I sent my application for a job position posted on their career website. I believe that my IFM diploma was key, as it is the best school Paris for Fashion Management.
What was the interview like?
Like I pictured them, as I had 3 interviews before joining the House! The HR one was a mix of classical questions such as how would you define the CHANEL woman, why this Maison… The second one was a real exchange about the position and its stakes. The last, but not least, was about my intellectual background and fields of interest: we spoke about music, art…
Tell us about your role today and what it includes.
It is a really thrilling position mixing internal communication, training and fashion as I create a multimedia kit sent to CHANEL schools worldwide to help fashion advisors to understand the new collections and enrich the selling ceremony: the shopping experience has to be unique! I therefore meet creative, development & marketing teams and gather, in an understandable way, the contents, in line with the strategy. I have to be really creative as fashion training tools evolve at the pace of business, which means very quickly. I have to think ahead and create a real training experience through innovative, beautiful and fun “learning assemblage” tools (blended learning: printed “bible”, e-book, ppt path, quiz, short films, script…).
You have had 4 different positions in CHANEL, tell us how you made the transition from digital to training and why.
Each time they were short term missions but always in the communication field (external/digital, PR, internal/training), thus it really made sense. I know the Maison very well, its culture, history and products. I know how to communicate about it but the big shift for me was to adapt the way I was writing, as one obviously doesn’t tell the same story when speaking to CHANEL employees as to customers. You need to explain and get involved, using easy vocabulary and understandable notions on the one side or create a dream by using poetic words and inspirational pictures on the other side. The aims are not the same, but the background is: promoting amazing craftsmanship and creativity!
What defines CHANEL to you?
An incredible adventure and dream, an independent Maison with strong know-how and identity, a reference in the industry.
What would you suggest to someone who wants to succeed in any of these sectors in luxury house like you did?
Being humble, patient and paying attention to detail. It is a really competitive and tough world, with no room for improvisation.
On luxury: “It is a certain distance, a mystery that everybody wants to be part of.”
THE INSIDER:
Your favourite CHANEL piece? A pair of two-tone shoes, both comfortable and versatile, a wardrobe staple!
What is luxury to you? A certain distance, a mystery that everybody wants to be part of. Applied to fashion, I would add the emotion of having a handcrafted product, both unique and delicate.
I couldn’t leave the house without my … Contacts, I have met amazing people and professional colleagues over time.
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