Do You Love to Shop? How About a Job as a Buyer?

How would you like to put your shopping skills to the test and actually get paid to shop? If this sounds appealing to you, then maybe you should become a buyer for a retail chain! Here is a complete Buyer job description...

Retail buyers work for retail stores, including department and variety stores, specialty shops, and chain stores. They buy the goods that a store sells to its customers. Buyers who work for large department stores usually specialize in one type of merchandise such as home furnishings. Those who work for small stores may buy a variety of merchandise, and those who work for chain stores often purchase goods for a number of the store's outlets.

Buyers must be able to choose items that are appropriate for their store and its clientele. For example, a budget department store will need low-cost goods, whereas a clothing boutique may specialize in relatively expensive clothes for young customers. Buyers usually purchase merchandise about six months before it is shown in the stores. Therefore, they must be able to anticipate trends in fashion and consumer needs.

Retail buyers familiarize themselves with available merchandise through catalogs and by traveling to trade shows that display new consumer goods. Fashion buyers attend seasonal fashion shows held by clothing manufacturers that feature the latest designer styles. In order to choose items that will sell, buyers must know their customers. They do this by examining computerized sales records and by spending time on the selling floors.

Retail buyers also work with the advertising department on sales promotions. Buyers are rewarded for increasing sales in their department. Computers and other business equipment have greatly improved buyers' efficiency by providing instant access to merchandise specifications and inventory records and speeding up the selection and ordering process.

Assistant buyers help buyers with the routine aspects of retailing. They may supervise sales personnel, keep records, verify orders and shipments, and deal with customers who want to return or exchange merchandise. (info from careers.stateuniversity.com)