Day in the Life as a Wholesale Intern at HUGO BOSS
Day in the Life as a Wholesale Intern at HUGO BOSS
Vishwa Dave, a recent graduate with a Master’s Degree in International Fashion Management from Nottingham Trent University, has been working as a Wholesale Intern at HUGO BOSS for the past four months. Securing this role straight after university was no small feat, but with support from the Fashion Minority Report mentoring programme, she began her journey into the fast-paced world of wholesale.
This is Vishwa’s first experience in wholesale, and it has been an eye-opening opportunity to see how HUGO BOSS collaborates with its wholesale partners. The Wholesale Division is organised into three key teams: Key Accounts, which manages major partners like Harrods and Frasers Group; Digital, focused on online retailers like ASOS and Very; and Independents, which works with smaller, independent brands such as Trendy Golf and Jules B.
Just two months into her internship, Vishwa experienced the AW25 wholesale selling season—a pivotal time in the calendar that involves showroom setups, trade meetings, and sample stock clearance. Here’s a closer look at what a typical day looked like during this busy period while she worked with the Key Accounts team.
8am: Mornings always start with a quick caffeine boost (of course!) and diving into emails. Wholesale is all about collaboration, so I spend this time checking updates from internal teams or buyers. I follow up on queries about orders, deliveries, budgets—basically, anything that needs attention to keep things moving smoothly. Working closely with the Supply Chain and Finance teams has taught me the importance of clear communication—it’s truly the backbone of what we do.
10am: Placing orders is a big part of my role, at HUGO BOSS, we handle three types of orders: NOS Orders: “Never-Out-of-Style” classics that partners reorder for stores, websites, or warehouses. These are the bread and butter of wholesale! Seasonal Orders: New-season styles placed after the selling season wraps up. Sample Orders: These are like the teaser trailers of fashion—test pieces partners review, shoot, or evaluate before making big commitments. There’s something so satisfying about seeing these orders come together and knowing I played a part in it.
12pm: During the selling season, the showroom is like our home base, and I’m in charge of keeping it looking flawless. This means organising samples by brand lines (BOSS Black, HUGO Red—you name it), steaming garments, tagging items, and making sure pricing is spot-on. It’s a lot of work, but there’s something magical about seeing the collection come to life in a perfectly curated space.
2pm: Afternoons are usually a whirlwind of ad hoc tasks. No two days are ever the same, but some of my regular responsibilities include: Creating reports to analyse past-season stock for our partners (hello, Excel sheets!). Handling imagery requests from partners for their websites—visuals are everything in this industry, Packing and shipping stock (yes, I’ve mastered the art of labeling boxes!). Generating product descriptions in PLM software, where I get to dive into fabric details, sustainability metrics, and care instructions.
It’s a mix of creativity, organisation, and problem-solving, which keeps things interesting.
4pm: One of my favourite parts of the internship is getting to sit in on trade meetings. Seeing how we collaborate with Key Account partners to build strong relationships is so inspiring. It’s like watching the gears of the wholesale machine turn in real time. I also love picking the brains of my team members—they’ve been so generous in sharing their knowledge and experiences.
6pm: By the end of the day, I take a moment to reflect on what I’ve learned. There’s always something new to take away—whether it’s a fresh insight from a meeting, or even just a new way to fold and organise showroom samples. This internship has been such a whirlwind of growth, and I’m grateful for every minute of it.
Looking back, Vishwa’s time at HUGO BOSS has been more than just a learning experience—it’s been a journey of discovery. She’s gained hands-on knowledge about wholesale, built her communication skills, and developed a deeper understanding of the industry. This internship hasn’t just been about learning the ropes; it’s been about finding her stride.
If Vishwa’s story resonates with you, keep an eye on Fashion Minority Report’s mentorship opportunities—they might just open doors to your dream role. Who knows? Maybe next year, you’ll be the one behind the scenes at an iconic brand like HUGO BOSS!
