Fashion Buyer

Fashion Buyer

In the retail industry, a buyer is an individual who selects what items will be stocked in a store, based on his or her predictions about what will be popular with shoppers. Retail buyers usually work closely with designers and attend trade fairs and fashion shows to observe trends. They may work for large department stores, chain stores or smaller boutiques. For smaller independent stores, a buyer may participate in sales as well as promotion, whereas in a major fashion store there may be different levels of seniority such as trainee buyers, assistant buyers, senior buyers and buying managers, and buying directors.[1] Decisions about what to stock can greatly affect fashion businesses.

Qualities of a successful buyer

There are many qualities that are necessary to be a successful buyer. A few of the qualities are enthusiasm, creativity, imagination, decisiveness, good judgment, and strong analytical skills. Some of these qualities can be obtained from experience and others cannot be taught. The most important qualities that cannot be taught are enthusiasm and self-motivation, all else can be taught on the job. A buyer needs to be flexible because they may be working in the office one day and traveling to another country at short notice. A buyer also needs to be analytical and computer-savvy. Buyers must possess a strong analytical ability because they will have to study past and present fashion trends in order to forecast future trends. Buyers must also be able to work under pressure since they will often find themselves in high pressure situations. If one has some of the above qualities and is willing to learn the rest, they have the potential to become a successful buyer.