Retail Fashion Intern in Astoria, New York at Hourchildren.org

Retail Fashion Intern

Location: Hour Children Thrift Store - Long Island City, NY
Department: Retail Operations
Reports To: Store Manager / Retail Supervisor
Status: Internship Part-Time

Position Overview

Hour Children is seeking a Retail Fashion Intern to support day-to-day thrift store operations with a focus on fashion merchandising, product curation, and customer experience. This role is ideal for a student pursuing study in Fashion, Retail, or Business who wants real, hands-on exposure to how clothing moves in a retail environment-not just theory.

You'll be working the floor, handling merchandise, and helping turn donated goods into sellable inventory that drives revenue for the organization.

About Hour Children

Hour Children supports formerly incarcerated women and their families through housing, employment, and community programs. The thrift store plays a key role in funding these services while providing affordable fashion to the community.

Key Responsibilities

• Sort, categorize, and price incoming clothing donations based on brand, quality, and seasonal trends
• Assist with visual merchandising to create appealing and organized displays
• Support floor restocking and maintain store presentation standards
• Identify high-value or designer items for special placement or promotion
• Assist customers with styling suggestions and product inquiries
• Support sales events, promotions, and seasonal transitions
• Monitor inventory flow and help reduce overstock or slow-moving items
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of racks, fitting areas, and sales floor
• Collaborate with team members to improve overall shopping experience

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a degree in Fashion Merchandising, Retail Management, Business, or related field
• Strong interest in fashion, resale, and retail operations
• Ability to identify clothing brands, styles, and quality (or willingness to learn quickly)
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced retail environment
• Strong customer service and communication skills
• Ability to stand, move, and lift merchandise as needed

Preferred Skills

• Previous retail or thrift store experience
• Knowledge of current fashion trends and brands
• Experience with merchandising or styling
• Interest in sustainable fashion and resale markets

Learning Outcomes

• Hands-on experience in retail fashion operations
• Understanding of pricing strategy and inventory flow in resale environments
• Exposure to visual merchandising and customer engagement techniques
• Real-world insight into nonprofit retail business models

Compensation

• Unpaid

We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Hour Children is a leading provider of services to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women in New York State. Focused on women and their children, we support families during a mother's incarceration and help families get back on their feet upon release. We do this by providing housing, childcare, job training, and mental health services.