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Retail buyer

Alternative titles for this job include Wholesale buyer, food buyer, buyer for retail

Retail buyers choose products for shops to sell, like clothing, toys, electrical goods and food.

Average salary (a year)

£18,000 Starter

to

£70,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

38 to 40 a week

You could work

evenings attending events or appointments

How to become a retail buyer

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • a graduate training scheme

College

You could do a course at college to get some of the skills needed to work in retail. Examples are:

  • Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Retail Operations
  • Level 2 Diploma in Fashion Retail
  • Level 3 Diploma in Retail Skills

A course like this may help you to get your first job. You could then move into buying as your experience grows.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course

More information

Apprenticeship

You might start your career with a retail team leader advanced apprenticeship or retail manager higher apprenticeship before moving into the buying side.

You could also apply to do a buying and merchandising assistant higher or degree apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More information

Work

You can start as an assistant buyer and go on to become a junior buyer and work your way up. To go straight into a buying role, you'll usually need a qualification in retail or business.

It's possible to get experience in retail on the shop-floor, in visual merchandising, or as an admin assistant in a buyer's office. You can then spend time learning, doing training and getting qualifications on the job.

Other routes

Some companies in fashion retail offer training schemes specifically for buyers. These tend to be aimed at graduates. Other types of retailers offer general store management training schemes with the option to specialise in buying later on.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • the ability to work well with others
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • maths knowledge
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • customer service skills
  • the ability to sell products and services
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

Your day-to-day tasks may include:

  • analysing and forecasting trends from consumer data
  • attending trade fairs to find new products
  • managing product quality and getting customer feedback
  • negotiating prices, orders and delivery dates
  • presenting collections to senior managers
  • tracking sales figures, managing stock levels and keeping to budgets
  • checking and reacting to competitor activities
  • adapting quickly to changing consumer behaviour

Working environment

You could work in an office or at a store.

Career path and progression

With experience and training you could become a senior buyer, buying controller or head of buying. You could also move into product management, marketing or merchandising.

Current opportunities

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Allocator Apprentice - Distribution Hub

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Courses In England

Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Retail Operations (Distance Learning)

  • Provider: LAKES COLLEGE WEST CUMBRIA
  • Start date: 31 July 2029
  • Location: WORKINGTON

Certificate In Understanding Retail Operations

  • Provider: Vocational Skills Solutions Limited
  • Start date: 01 February 2020
  • Location: LONDON
Find courses near you

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