Love cool gear and travel? Become a fashion buyer!
The position of fashion buyer for a retail chain has to be every shopaholic’s dream job as it involves not only attending trade shows, fashion weeks and fabulous events, but also travel to some of the planet’s most fascinating cities. Retail buyers get to predict which of the fantastic creations on show will be the latest new-season must-have for the fashion conscious as well as forecasting trends in accessories, styles and colours.
Admittedly its one of the most high-profile, glamorous and interesting careers but it’s also extremely hard work and involves decisions on which the future of the company may depend. Backing the wrong horse as regards style and colour when second-guessing which trends will take off and which will be ignored is a stressful task, especially given the unpredictability of the female fashion-buying public in these tricky times. Ecological awareness is a useful tool – remember that many retailers of fur coats were bankrupted by the planet-wide anti-fur movement.
Working closely with in-house designers is a major task for fashion buyers employed by large retail chains, brands or department stores. Awareness of cost control and profit margins on the latest line is a must, with simplifications of famous fashion houses’ elaborate designs, exquisite materials and workmanship a must for the mid-to- low price high street chains. Coordination with departmental managers and sales professionals at executive level is another important part of the job.
Creativity and adaptability are important qualities, as are strong communications skills, as the fashion buyer is required to work in tandem with merchandising teams, manufacturers and suppliers, keeping a stern eye on quality and finishing in factories usually scattered across Asian third world or developing countries. Understanding the target market, whether for traditional designs or versions of the latest from Paris and Milan is essential, and negotiating prices and delivery dates with suppliers is equally important. Being last in line with the latest hot gear due to delivery or manufacturing problems can break smaller specialist retailers and even affect major chains.
Self-motivation, confidence and networking skills when attending major fashion shows are necessary qualities for this exciting job, with entry-level assistant buyers needing a degree in fashion design, merchandising, business or public relations to keep them ahead of the pack. A number of large fashion chains and department stores offer in-house training for likely applicants with a background in retail, with learning on the job a good way to get ahead and gain experience.
Career advancement in this industry, in spite of its competitive nature, is perfectly possible, with assistant fashion buyers with a flair for what’s new gaining promotion to fully-fledged buyers in the relatively short time of three to five years. Entry-level salaries begin around £22,000 ($33,000), dependent on the size and focus of the company and rise with experience to £60,000 ($90,000) or more. Benefits such as store discounts and health insurance are common and the upside is travel to exotic locations and the chance to be in on the latest and greatest new designs from exclusive fashion houses. If you love fashion, this is the perfect job.
