Being a fashion buyer can be a rewarding experience--it's an opportunity to travel and shop for glamorous clothes. But it also takes hard work and dedication.
As is the case with many aspects of the fashion industry, a long list of contacts can go a long way toward helping you succeed. In fact, it helps to know influential people merely to get your foot in the door.
Identification
A fashion buyer does just that: purchase clothing from various designers to sell in boutiques and department stores. Fashion buyers attend fashion shows and trade fairs, where they choose pieces they think will sell. When a buyer attends a fashion show, she is given a booklet that details every piece of clothing she will see at the show. During the show, she will choose the pieces that are best suited for her boutique or department store. After the show, she contacts the designer for purchase and buys the pieces wholesale.
Impact
A buyer is the individual who decides what items will be featured in boutiques and department stores, thereby determining what the general public will wear. The type of clothing he chooses can drastically affect the fashion business and trends, in general.
Typical Day
A typical day for a DKNY buyer is as follows:
8 a.m. Take a look at the breakdown of items sold at every store.
10 a.m. Consult with assistant buyer to make sure they are on track with deals and operations.
11 a.m. Spend more time on sales analysis.
2 p.m. Attend buyers' meeting to discuss what's coming up next season.
5 p.m. Meet with assistant to review the details of the meeting.
6 p.m. Plan store visit for the next day.
Function
The sole purpose for fashion buyers who are employed by department stores and boutiques is to find clothing that will sell. In most cases, the store's executives will give the buyer an idea of what they want, but they always take the advice of the buyer. If the fashion buyer sees a great piece at a fashion show and she knows it will sell well with a certain demographic, she can pick it up. Department stores and boutiques profit from the expertise of the fashion buyer.
Background and Education
Many people who want to become fashion buyers attend fashion school, where they learn the business of fashion. For example, the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York can be a good place to start; you can earn a degree in marketing or in buying and merchandising.
It's common to start your career as an assistant buyer before advancing to fashion buyer.
Salary
According to Payscale.com, the median salary for a fashion buyer with a B.A. in merchandising is $55,000 a year.
Benefits
Fashion buyers have the opportunity to travel to the fashion capitals of the world, including Paris, Milan, Los Angeles and New York, and be on the cutting edge of the industry.
Tags: fashion buyer, department stores, will sell, assistant buyer, attend fashion