Retail buyer

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

• equivalent entry requirements
• funding advice
• search for courses

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

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

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.

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.

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

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

You could work in an office or at a store.