how to become a buyer

Want to shop all day and get paid for it? You should be a Buyer…

Buyers choose which products their stores should sell, understanding customer needs and buying habits to maximise profits. They can work for retailers of all sectors and sizes, and their skills are vital in ensuring that a store's stock resonates with its customers. Without a Buyer selecting the right stock, there will be no sales.

Typical duties for a Buyer may include:

Analysing customer buying patterns
Sourcing new items
Forecasting an items success and projecting sales
Using KPIs such as customer demand to determine success
Meeting with suppliers
Keeping tabs on market trends and competitor activity
Presenting new product ranges to senior staff and suggesting promotional activity to help items sell

Commercial awareness is probably the most vital skill for anyone thinking of becoming a Buyer.

Having a good understanding of what your customers want and the latest market trends will help you keep up with demand, as well as keeping you ahead of the game when it comes to your competitors. A good level of creativity is similarly essential, keeping your store fresh and relevant, rather than simply following the crowd.

Other key skills for a Buyer include:

Excellent decision making skills
Enthusiasm
Flexibility
Business acumen
Communication and team-working skills
Excellent analytical skills

Junior Buyer

Up to 15,000

Buyer

Up to 40,000

Purchasing Manager

Up to 60,000

I've worked in retail for about the last 10 years, in a variety of different roles. Although I started out on the shop floor, I always loved learning about the products I sold, and that's really how I got into buying as a career. I started out in a junior position, and absolutely loved it. Now I get to help choose what our latest product ranges will be made up of, and research all the latest trends to make sure we're ahead of the game. Although I'm based out of our head office, my favourite part of the job is definitely still that buzz you get from the industry. I'm in and out of stores every week, talking to customers and finding out what they think about our brand. It's great.

Get qualified

You will not generally need a degree in order to become a Retail Buyer. However, you will generally need some experience in the retail industry, or a qualification which demonstrates your commercial awareness or retail expertise.

The International Buyer Mini MBA

This intensive 5 day programme starts with topics related to Management such as People Management; Leading Teams; Strategic Planning, Negotiating and Operational Excellence, topics commonly found on most MBAs. The second week will be devoted entirely to international buying techniques and best practice.

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Fundamentals of Purchasing for New Buyers

Increase your company's savings through better purchasing management – and increase your chances for success. Become a more efficient and productive buyer through applying the techniques of purchasing management.

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