Essential skills. Solicited vendors, reviewed Achieved double-digit revenue growth in category assignments over a consecutive five-year period. But we are looking at, what we call, KPIs, key … Utilized inventory management system to input data regarding new phone models and part, maintaining accurate, up-to-date inventory. Audited and approved vendor invoices ensuring accuracy prior to payment. This includes identifying current fashion trends, negotiating on prices and reacting to changes in demand. Are the sizes right for our customers? , that specialise in trends research for creative industries like fashion. Federated Product Development Assistant Product Manager Fashion Buyer Work Environment. Before making their decisions, a buyer must consider factors such as customer demand, price points and market trends. buying needs. Monitored allover merchandise performance on key items and seasonal collections. Purchasing Buyer Skills List. Analyzed key items, vendor profitability and aged inventory. Are the colors salable? Achieved departmental and organizational financial goals. Completed financial analysis and projected seasonal sales goals. And of course, your sense of style and ability to spot trends is paramount.”. Is it on-trend? (Source). What skills do you need to be a great buyer? A fashion buyer is responsible for selecting and ordering what is sold by brands for maximum profit. Managed and mentored junior members of the specialty team, specifically my associate and assistant buyers. Analyzed, edited and created point of purchase materials, used on sales floor. A buyer is required to possess visual creativity, analytical skills, negotiation skills, business acumen, and a keen awareness of fashion. Because the hiring manager can see they fit the company and job. Supported and managed $85 million retail sales and $7 million in Pure Product Margin. What skills should appear in your Purchasing Buyer resume? Worked closely with planner and buyer to manage OTB and determine when to maximize business and when to protect liabilities. Successful fashion marketing professionals are: Self-reliant: Fashion Marketing employees need to be able to rely on their own skills and abilities as sufficient enough to complete tasks and projects. Another is staying updated on the social media influencers whose importance is hard to overlook: “Fashion moves quickly so you need to keep yourself informed. Increased gross margin four points by initiating product development in Providence factories. Developed marketing strategy seasonally for key items from each vendor. Here's how Sales Goals is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how Vendor Relations is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how Sales Trends is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how Financial Goals is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how Vendor Invoices is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how OTB is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how New Merchandise is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how Product Selection is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how Market Research is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how Buyers is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how Vendor Communication is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how Fashion Trends is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how Product Development is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how Inventory Management is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how SKU is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how Key Items is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how Payment Terms is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how Trade Shows is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how Online is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how Sales Floor is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how Retail Sales is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how Store Locations is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how Promotional Activities is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how Future Trends is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how Sales Process is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how Window Displays is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how Stock Levels is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how Visual Standards is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how Photo Shoots is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how Revenue Growth is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how Financial Plans is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how Customer Demand is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how GMM is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how Annual Budget is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how POS is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how Cold Weather is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Here's how Supplier Performance is used in Fashion Buyer jobs: Negotiated exclusivity contracts with various furniture vendors by projecting and achieving sales goals with proper placement and merchandising of product. Modern Girls Apparel. Managed overall business and receipt flow by analyzing sales trends and forecasting departmental growth. Managed market samples and helped coordinate photo shoots. Increased hair accessories by 300% year over year and increased cold weather by 100% from 2008. Match Your Resume to the Buyer Job Description . Analyzed sales trends, determined SKU seasonality, and optimized order profitability. Last, but not least, the importance of being organized is often cited as a key requirement if you want to succeed as a buyer or merchandiser. Processed vendor invoices and communicated discrepancies with suppliers reporting to New York State Liquor Authority. Provided style and classification selling analysis, and competitive information to product development departments to ensure line assortment needs were met. $42,000. Completed the merchandise selection process by tier for 51 outlet stores on a seasonal basis totaling $50M in retail sales. Provided luxury wholesale vendors with weekly selling reports and executed sample management process for photo shoots. Compiled spend analysis reporting and market research to achieve maximum contract and supply negotiation potential. Developed seasonal financial plans to achieve sales objectives and department profitability. I possess the ability to select items that prove to be profitable and in demand. Ensured availability of materials and prevented shortages by communicating with vendors, identifying alternate sources, and maintaining safety stock levels. We ranked the top skills based on the percentage of Fashion Buyer resumes they appeared on. The role of a buyer is influenced by the type of retail and business. Managed vendor relations and negotiated pricing and shipment terms. Leveraged purchasing qualifications to save thousands of dollars after reviewing vendor invoices and identifying over-charges and other mistakes. When you look at a piece of fabric, you should have enough creativity to envision what it is going to look like in a garment. “From two seasons, traditionally, winter and summer, we have shifted to four-plus seasons, it’s a permanently repeating cycle of preparation, hunting, gathering out in the market.”. Remained relevant and trend-savvy by staying current with fashion trends.Bought clothing for the store based on company standards.Diversified product selections. Negotiated new vendor agreements regarding price, payment terms, and ad support and product selection. Managed over $21 million dollars in annual retail sales. Tracked detailed product histories, including department and SKU-specific forecasting and product demand fluctuation. Planned and merchandised new division of Big and Tall Men's Clothing and Accessories exceeding all corporate sales goals. A retail buyer is responsible for planning, selecting and purchasing quantities of goods and merchandise that are sold in retail stores. Worked with OTB to assess and react to business, determine buys, pricing strategy, markdowns, and promotions. Those mainly sell your buyer skills, but it helps to add accomplishments. How much money do you make as a retail fashion buyer? Fashion Buyers are in charge of selecting and purchasing fashion items that will be sold in retail establishments. Planned and executed promotional advertising strategies to meet divisional financial goals. Assisted in planning promotional marketing strategies to increase traffic, sales conversions, and exceed sales goals. Select, order, and authorize payment for merchandise according to contractual agreements. And then we’re going into the real numbers: how much cash is it? Includes assistant wholesale and retail buyers of nonfarm products. Apparel Buyers purchase clothes for fashion stores. Defined and managed sales, markdowns, inventories (OTB plans) achieving financial objectives for all years in position. The Fashion Marketing — Buyer’s Profile online diploma program is geared towards teaching you an exciting profession where you can expose your talent, and even influence future fashion collections! You will negotiate contract agreements, shipping costs, and terms. Executed purchase orders, daily vendor communication, Worked with the web and marketing department on designing our website, photo shoots, bulletins and floor sets. Why? Assisted with vendor and supplier selection, supplier performance, supplier development, confidentiality agreements and maintain vendor/supplier insurance files. 3. Negotiation, communication, and people skills are important. I have been a fashion buyer with a good sense of fashion trends and designer psychology. For companies, a good Assistant Buyer helps them manage their inventory and maintain profitable operations. Achieved financial objectives by preparing an annual budget; scheduling expenditures; analyzing variances; initiating corrective actions. By the end of this course you will be in a position to understand what a fashion buyer does. Managed and organized the Supplier Performance Improvement Program resulting in a 50% reduction in material certification and delivery setbacks. Retail businesses are generally classified as manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. Maintained vendor relations including new vendor additions, terms negotiations, on-time delivery tracking and reconciliation, and quality tracking. Supported a team of procurement buyers in the execution of telecommunications network deployment project procurement and outsourcing plans. Maintained knowledge base of industry and shop competition to identify current trends and potential key items and reacted accordingly. Solicited equipment and supply quotes and negotiated pricing, payment terms and delivery which impacted cost-effective results. To make an informed decision, buyers need to amalgamate this information, … Worked closely with sales team to generate sales through product selection and placement. Tracked and maintained records of external supplier performance, monitored quality of materials and resolved material issues. Directed inventory management by ensuring effective analysis and decision making regarding pack and hold usage, markdown, and re-orders. To do that, you need an extensive knowledge of consumer behavior, fashion trends, as well as global macro trends. Contributed to branding/sales for international boutique that consists of four brick-and-mortar stores and plans to launch online in 2013. Budgeted analysis Being a fashion buyer or merchandiser is a dream job for many fashion students around the world. Fashion buyers must also be imaginative and have a creative sense. The Assistant Buyer is the unseen hero who works to make sure the product you want is available all the time. Created categorical analysis tool operating with a series of data pastes to allow buyers to analyze business through different product attributes. Conducted SKU rationalization and collaborated with design team for optimal product mix. Worked to confirm all products and collections met customer demand. Maintained appropriate stock levels for effective customer order fulfillment while keeping financial goals obtainable to meet inventory levels where required. Education. Generated and organized reports for upper managements detailing sales trends and performance. Analytical skills… You'll be part of an extensive team that works very closely together on major projects and in meetings. (Source), “Buying and merchandising is really about the weird and wonderful tension between art and science. One of the key fashion skills you'll need is the ability to collaborate with others effectively. Followed and reported cutting-edge fashion trends and proposed retail environment concepts to upper management. One in absence of the other makes a lopsided buyer.”, Shira Suveyke, Vice President of Global Buying at theoutnet.com. The number of buying seasons keeps going up. Communicated and supported monthly print and digital marketing strategy from conceptualization, product selection, and approval of final assets. Conducted market research regarding sourcing and making purchasing decisions, effectively managing company costs, and maintaining company budget. or merchandiser is a dream job for many fashion students around the world. Purchasing plays a key role in helping retailers earn profits. Created seasonal financial plans by department and classification. Tracked field activities to verify that the subcontractor/vendor invoices matched subcontract/purchase order agreements. An experienced purchasing agent or buyer may become an assistant purchasing manager before advancing to purchasing manager, supply manager, or director of materials management. In fact, for some retailers, this analytical mindset is one of the top skills they look for when deciding who to bring into the team: “At Ssense, one of the top qualities we look for are analytical skills. So what does having “a good eye” mean? someone who makes purchasing decisions for a clothing retailer Performed market research and data analysis of wholesale and retail selling for the development of strategic initiatives. Generated regular reports regarding current fashion trends. Without a vision, there is no business and without business, there cannot be creativity.”, Susanne Tide-Frater, brand and strategy director at Farfetch. 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