Finding and understanding your body type

how to be a store buyer

Erin Depew (website)

Hi,
I'm a college student who has been following your blog for a while, and I just realized that you used to be a buyer for a department store. I would love to get into the same field (actually, personal stylist/shopper, store buyer, fashion magazine writer ect.... but I'm still interning around)
However how do I hook up with a store buyer? what kind of stores have buyers? is it only flagship stores? How would I contact one or would I just try and speak to a store manager? I'm not quite sure how the behind the scenes of retail work, so if anyone has ever worked in retail and can get me started that would be great.
thanks,
Erin

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3 Replies

Posted 6 months ago
Angie (website)

Hi Erin! Fashion buyers work in head offices, and ALL stores in the world have buyers! They are responsible for selecting the merchandise that ends up in stores.

Buyers work for a retail chain, department store, or boutique. You need to contact the head offices involved, speak to HR and ask about their Fashion Buying training programmes – each chain has a different modus operandi. Buying is a very responsible and skilled job because you are spending millions and millions of company dollars and your selections have to be profitable. So for this reason, Buying is not an entry level position. You’ll need to work yourself up to becoming a Buyer and it’s best to do so with a particular company from the bottom. That way you’ll get the experience that is necessary for the Buying environment. My suggestion is to find ANY trainee position or program in the field. That’s how you get a foot in the door.

Posted 6 months ago
Chris

Also, check with your college for retailers coming to campus career center or career fairs. That is how must retailers seem to recruit for entry level buying positions these days - they will call it "buying assistant" or planning manager or something else but you will need to start somewhere :)

As for stores, I hate to say that most companies don't make the transition from store side to buying side easy. I have experience in both but times have changed. WIth computerized distribution programs and cost/margin control done by computers, things have tightened up in the industry.

What is your major? Make sure you are taking some business and accounting courses.

Posted 6 months ago
Erin Depew (website)

Thanks guys. I'm living in New York so I'm guessing finding a store won't exactly be a problem, and thanks for the tip on how to find a buyer and exactly what they do!
I'm kind of all over the place in the fashion field for what I want to do (that's what interning is for right?) So I'm a visual art and computer science major, and I started out taking a few business/economic classes just because I thought they were interesting.
But thanks again for the advice, and getting a foot in the door is what I am all about right now!

-Erin

Posted 6 months ago