What aspect of marketing focuses specifically on engaging customers and building relationships?

The correct choice highlights that selling is fundamentally about engaging customers and building relationships. In a fashion merchandising context, selling is not limited to merely exchanging goods for money; it encompasses understanding customer emotions, preferences, and needs. This relational aspect is crucial in creating a loyal customer base, as effective selling techniques involve communication, persuasion, and rapport-building. Strong relationships can lead to repeat business, customer loyalty, and positive word-of-mouth, which are essential for long-term success in the fashion industry.

Other options, while important components of the overall marketing strategy, do not specifically emphasize customer engagement and relationship building. A sales strategy may focus more on targets and techniques to increase sales volume. Product design pertains mainly to creating appealing and functional products, and service management involves the delivery of customer service but does not exclusively highlight the engagement aspect. Therefore, selling stands out as the aspect that directly prioritizes the connection and ongoing relationship with customers.