EASYUNI Ultimate University Guide 2013 Issue 6 | Page 33
CO U R S E S & C A REERS
What is a
Fashion Buyer?
This is a job not many people hear of.
They do work in the fast-paced and
aggressive fashion industry, where
trends constantly come in and out
of the public eye. Ultimately, fashion
buyers select items to display in stores
based on what they think will be trendy.
This is not all just about domestic
work either; they go around the
world to try and work out favourable
deals and situations for their
company or retailer, talking to foreign
manufacturers and scope out the
latest at fashion show.
Qualifications and Skills
To be able to work in an industry such
as this, a person has to be:
• Innovative;
• Witty;
• Confident;
• Self-motivating;
• Able to predict future trends;
• Able to identify and analyse patterns
in sales reports;
• Enthusiastic about the job.
Being able to negotiate and knowing
how to deal with others is another must
in this job. It doesn’t end at the deal;
a fashion buyer must maintain good
standings with their suppliers and even
designers to make sure they continue
to get the best-quality merchandise
possible. Being a fashion buyer is almost
all about being a people person and
reading others. Another important
quality that a fashion buyer should have
is enthusiasm for the job.
Humans are creatures of habit, so
the past and the present may hold
clues to what future merchandise
might sell to potential shoppers.
Spotting these clue require talent
and skill.
If a person enjoys it wholeheartedly, then it’s more of a
hobby than a job. Pursuing one’s
passion is the best thing a person
can do for their company, because
they would want to strive for
nothing less than success.
Education
A bachelor’s degree would be a great boost. There isn’t one specific degree
deemed the best, but ones that would probably be the most beneficial would
be in business, marketing or even fashion in general. Obtaining any one of these
degrees shows that an individual has at least a little bit of experience in the field
already, and is willing to learn more.
easyuni Guide 2015
Issue 6
31