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Retail buyer

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

Retail buyers find products for shops to sell at the right time and the right price, like clothing, toys, electricals and food.

Average salary (a year)

£26,000 Starter

to

£50,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

37 to 40

You could work

evenings attending events or appointments

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • completing private industry-recognised training

University

You can do a degree before joining a retail company graduate scheme. Employers recruit from a range of degree subjects, including:

  • fashion buying and merchandising
  • retail business management
  • supply chain management
  • marketing

You could choose a course that includes a year's work placement to get relevant experience alongside your qualification. Or you could gain experience from a part-time job or a summer internship.

Your university careers service can help you to find part-time roles, placements and internships.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an apprenticeship with a company, for example:

  • Buying and Merchandising Assistant Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
  • Retail Manager Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
  • Assistant Buyer and Assistant Merchandiser Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 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, 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 or merchandising later on.

You can also take procurement and supply qualifications through the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply.

Further information

You can find out more about working as a buyer from the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, and as a clothing retail buyer from the Fashion Retail Academy.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • persuading and negotiating skills
  • the ability to work well with others
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • the ability to use your judgement and make decisions
  • maths knowledge
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • customer service skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

As a retail buyer, you could

  • attend trade fairs to find new products and services
  • negotiate prices, orders and delivery dates with suppliers
  • work with a quality team to meet standards
  • obtain and analyse customer feedback
  • forecast trends based on consumer data
  • present collections to senior retail managers
  • track sales figures, manage stock levels and keep to budgets
  • check and react to competitor activities
  • adapt quickly to meet changing consumer behaviour and trends

Working environment

You could work in an office or at a store.

Your working environment may be you'll travel often.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience and training, you could become a senior buyer, with responsibility for developing retail strategies.

You could also progress to become:

  • head of buying and merchandising
  • a retail business analyst
  • a self-employed retail consultant

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Apprentice Store Manager

  • Wage: £31,392.52 a year Annually
  • Location: Northampton

Apprentice Store Manager

  • Wage: £31,392.52 a year Annually
  • Location: The Leggar, Bridgwater

Courses In England

CIPS Level 3 Advanced Certificate in Procurement and Supply Operations

  • Provider: DARLINGTON COLLEGE
  • Start date: 09 September 2025
  • Location: Darlington

Jobs In the United Kingdom

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