In my opinion, a fashion buyer is someone who works in the retail industry. It is also in my understanding that you do not need to be a graduate of any fashion-related course to become one. However, it is a given that you have to be creative, have an eye for details and of course, have a good sense of fashion. It can also help if you have a strong sense of numbers as well. Another thing that a fashion buyer must have is instinct, which I think will only be developed thru experience and over time. And one thing is for sure, you must have the passion for fashion.
The textbook definition of a fashion buyer is someone who chooses what to sell in stores (What is a Fashion Buyer, n.d.). In buying, the fashion buyer must always have the wants and needs of the customers in mind, depending on the season and the current trends. This can be attained through proper research, exposure in the stores and keeping up to date with trends. Other factors they consider when buying would be who the potential suppliers would be and the price points they would be selling these items at. It is very important for them to be able to match the items they purchase to what the customers would like to see in the shelves. Depending on what they buy for, either for a department, a small store or for whole sale stores, they either buy just a single line or the whole inventory (in the case of smaller stores). Aside from purchasing merchandise, a buyer is also responsible for the visual display of the purchased line in the stores. How items go together (clothes, shoes and accessories), often influences the buying decision of a customer.
Job Description
It is my dream to work for the Inditex Group, particularly at Zara. I find their clothes very fashionable but classic at the same time. I went online to look for current job openings. I have attached the actual job postings to this paper.
Analysis
In my research, the main responsibilities of a fashion buyer include the following: to analyze current trends, predict future trends, be aware of customer preference in relation to merchandise that one needs to purchase for a particular store, stock level analysis, be able to coordinate orders with vendors and suppliers, writing reports, and communicate with the stores (Job Profiles: Retail Buyer, n.d.). In both the job posting above, these responsibilities are present and are required to be accomplished. In terms of the qualifications, this is where the postings differ now. One requires for a degree in Fashion Merchandising and one only requires for experience in the same field. In terms of the similarities of requirements of the position, it is preferred that the applicant have experience handling the same responsibilities in the same field. Also, strong analytical skills are required since a fashion buyer analyzes market trends and translates these trends into actual purchase orders. A fashion buyer is also required to have strong math skills since they are required to submit reports and analyze sales data coming from stores. Since both postings are for an Assistant level position, salary range is at $35,000 to $40,000 per year. A fashion buyer is also expected to clock in regular work hours at 8 hours per day, 5 days per week.
References
What is a Fashion Buyer? (n.d.) Learn.org. Retrieved from
http://learn.org/articles/What_is_a_Fashion_Buyer.html
Job Profiles: Retail Buyer. (n.d.) Prospects. Retrieved from https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/retail-buyer
