Retail buyer

Retail buyers play a crucial role in the success of a retail business by ensuring that the right products are sourced at the right price

As a retail buyer, you'll plan and select ranges of merchandise for retail outlets (both in stores and online), balancing factors such as:

• customer demand
• convenience
• price
• choice
• quality
• availability.

You'll monitor market trends, work within store policies and budgets, and source new products while reviewing existing lines to keep the range competitive.

By fully understanding the product, market and your customer base, you'll help maximise profits and deliver a commercially viable range of merchandise at competitive prices.

Responsibilities

As a retail buyer you'll need to:

• analyse consumer buying patterns and predict future trends
• review performance indicators, such as sales data, margins and discount levels
• plan and manage stock levels with merchandising and supply chain teams
• keep up to date with market and digital trends, reacting to changes in customer demand and logistics
• maintain strong relationships with existing suppliers and help source new ones
• use data-driven tools and analytics, including online sales data, to forecast demand and identify opportunities
• meet suppliers and negotiate contracts, prices and delivery terms
• incorporate sustainability and ethical sourcing considerations into buying decisions
• attend trade fairs and supplier showrooms, in the UK and overseas, to select and assemble new product ranges
• work closely with e-commerce, marketing and store teams to ensure ranges perform across all channels
• manage the full product lifecycle, including introductions, markdowns and end-of-line clearance
• present new ranges and buying plans to senior managers
• mentor and support junior staff.

Salary

• Salaries for junior buyers/buyers' assistants are in the region of £25,000 to £35,000 depending on your experience.
• Buyers can expect salaries in the region of £30,000 to £45,000.
• Senior retail buyers can typically earn between £45,000 and £65,000. This can rise to between £70,000 and £90,000+ for some director or head of buying roles.

Salaries vary according to several factors, including location, the size of the business and product type. Store turnover may also have a bearing on salary, rewarding good performance. Some companies offer attractive benefits like retail discount, a company car and private healthcare.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

You'll often face tight deadlines, which means working hours can extend beyond the standard 9am to 5pm. Early starts or late finishes are common during busy buying periods, especially when travelling to trade fairs, supplier showrooms or fashion weeks.

Workload often peaks around key retail cycles, such as Christmas, summer sales and new season launches, when longer hours are required to meet deadlines and secure stock.

Many buyers work full time, and part-time opportunities are limited due to the workload. There may be some opportunities for hybrid working for tasks such as data analysis and planning, although face-to-face supplier meetings and travel remain a key part of the role.

What to expect

• You'll spend much of your time in an office environment, analysing data, meeting with colleagues and planning ranges.
• Most buyers are based in head offices, many of which are in London and the South East, although opportunities also exist across the UK. Freelance or contract work may be possible once you've built up significant experience, particularly in fashion, luxury or consultancy buying, but most buyers are employed directly by retailers.
• Buying is constantly evolving, shaped by customer behaviour and wider trends such as the growth of online and personalised shopping and the increased focus on sustainability.
• The role can be fast-paced and pressured, especially around seasonal deadlines, but it also offers variety and the chance to influence what customers see both in stores and online.
• Travel is a regular part of the job, whether that's visiting suppliers in the UK or overseas, attending trade fairs or reviewing products in store.

Qualifications

Although this area of work is open to all graduates, a degree in the following subjects may increase your chances:

• fashion buying and merchandising
• fashion buying and brand management
• business or retail business management
• supply chain management
• marketing.

Graduate programmes are usually open to those with a 2:2 or above.

Relevant HNDs and foundation degrees may be accepted by some employers, particularly if you have practical experience as well.

It's also possible to get into a career in retail by taking an apprenticeship, such as:

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

Apprenticeships combine paid work with part-time study, meaning that you can train on the job.

It's sometimes possible to work your way up to a buying position without a degree by starting in a role such as buying administration assistant, merchandise assistant or stock controller and gaining experience and further qualifications.

When applying for jobs, find out as much as you can about the company and the products they sell as part of your interview preparation. You can read trade journals such as:

• Drapers (fashion industry news)
• Retail Week
• The Grocer (food and drink retailing).

Skills

You'll need to have:

• strong analytical and numerical skills, with proficiency in IT
• commercial awareness and a clear understanding of customer needs
• good organisation skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks
• excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• resilience, determination and drive to work under pressure and achieve targets
• negotiation skills and the ability to influence people
• creativity and a flair for product selection
• confident presentation skills
• teamworking skills, with the potential to lead and motivate others
• initiative and problem-solving ability.

Work experience

Previous retail work experience is important, as employers value candidates who understand customers and the realities of the industry. If your degree includes a placement year, this is a good opportunity to gain hands-on experience and build a network of contacts.

Other options include part-time work on the shop floor, which develops your commercial awareness and customer insight, or head office roles such as buying administrator, merchandising assistant or stock controller, which can provide a direct route into trainee buyer positions. Many large retailers also offer summer internships, insight days and virtual experience schemes in buying and merchandising.

Work shadowing a retail buyer or can also give you valuable exposure to the role and help you stand out when applying for graduate roles.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

All types of retailer and manufacturer employ people who are responsible for buying. Typical employers include:

• general discounters
• high street department stores
• supermarkets
• DIY and homeware retailers
• clothing, footwear, food and drink, sporting goods, electrical goods, furniture and furnishings retailers
• niche and specialist retailers
• luxury and designer brands (e.g., fashion, jewellery and cosmetics)
• pharmacy and health/beauty chains
• online and multi-channel retailers (including catalogue-based companies)
• e-commerce giants (e.g., Amazon)
• television shopping channels
• charity retailers
• food service and hospitality groups (e.g., pubs, restaurants and hotels).

Buyers are predominantly based at company head offices, many of which are in London and the South East, although a number of large national retailers are based elsewhere in the UK. Smaller regional retailers may also employ buyers.

Skills are transferable across sectors as most organisations need to purchase goods, services or materials.

Many of the largest retailers offer structured graduate schemes in buying and merchandising, which provide a common entry route into the profession.

Look for job vacancies at:

• DrapersJobs
• GrocerJobs
• RetailChoice
• CIPS Procurement and Supply Jobs

Specialist recruitment agencies such as CASTUK and Michael Page have vacancies within the retail buying sector.

Professional development

Training programmes, particularly in fashion, provide a direct entry into buying and usually take one-to-two years to complete. Some large retailers run general management schemes with the option to specialise in buying, giving you the chance to gain wider retail experience first. Competition is strong, so determination and a solid understanding of the industry are essential.

New buyers typically learn by working closely with more experienced colleagues, attending trade shows and supplier visits, and supporting product sourcing. Larger employers tend to offer more structured training, while in smaller organisations trainees may combine buying with other responsibilities such as marketing, pricing and merchandising.

Many large retailers provide structured continuing professional development (CPD) programmes and in-house training. Professional and postgraduate study, such as an MBA or qualifications offered by the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), can also support career progression.

Career prospects

Progression often begins with a place on a graduate trainee scheme, which may last up to two years. Alternatively, you could start in an entry-level role such as a buying administration assistant.

From there, the typical route is junior or trainee buyer, buyer and then senior buyer. Each step usually takes two to three years, depending on your experience and the size of the organisation.

At senior level, you may progress into roles such as buying manager, buying controller, head of buying or buying director, with responsibility for larger budgets, teams and product ranges. In supermarkets, major retailers and manufacturing, category management roles also provide a pathway into senior leadership. At the highest levels, opportunities to become a buying director or head of trading are highly competitive but can be very well rewarded.

Geographical mobility can be a factor, as many buying head offices are located in London, the South East or other key retail hubs.

It's also possible to move into merchandising, marketing, e-commerce, product development or supply chain management. Some buyers eventually establish consultancies or independent retail businesses.