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Thursday, May 22, 2008

Work Activities of a Retail Buyer

A retail buyer has a considerable amount of responsibility and autonomy in what is often a pressured environment. Typical work activities can vary according to the season. This is particularly true for those working in fashion. For example: out of season, the majority of the time will be spent in the workplace (in the office and on the shop floor); during the buying season, a significant amount of time will be spent away from the workplace in order to assemble a new collection of merchandise. Throughout the year, tasks typically involve the following:
  • Analyzing consumer buying patterns and predicting future trends;
  • Regularly reviewing performance indicators with sales;
  • Managing plans for stock levels, reacting to change in demand and logistics;
  • Meeting suppliers and negotiating terms of contract;
  • Maintaining relationships with existing suppliers and sourcing new suppliers for future products;
  • Liaising with other departments within the organization to ensure projects are completed;
  • Attending trade fairs, in the country and abroad, to select and assemble a new collection of products;
  • Participating in promotional activities;
  • Writing reports and sales forecasts, and analyzing sales figures;
  • Liaising with shop personnel to ensure product/collection supply meets demand;
  • Seeking merchandise feedback from customers;
  • Training and mentoring junior staff.

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