Buyers and purchasing agents must possess basic math skills. A retail buyer is responsible for planning, selecting and purchasing quantities of goods and merchandise that are sold in retail stores. Work experience. The ideal candidate will have a passion for fashion and train to become a certified buyer for the store…: customer service: 1 year (Preferred) merchandising: 1 year (Required) retail: 1 year (Preferred) retail sales: 1 year (Preferred) sales: 1 year (Preferred) Additional Compensation… Capella University responds quickly to information requests through this website. An experienced purchasing agent or buyer may become an assistant purchasing manager before advancing to purchasing manager, supply manager, or director of materials management. They need to be able to predict what will appeal to their customers. Rate how you like work as Retail Buyer. If not, you're missing out. To receive the CPSM credential, candidates must pass three exams and those with a bachelorâs degree must possess at least 3 years of relevant work experience while those without a bachelorâs degree must have at least 5 years of relevant work experience. They do this by studying sales records and inventory levels of current stock, identifying foreign and domestic suppliers, and keeping up to date with changes affecting both the supply of, and demand for, products and materials. Buyers should have computer skills and a working knowledge of resource planning and forecasting . You may be required to work more than the standard 40 hours per week, including some night and weekend hours, especially during rush periods like back-to-school and holiday seasons. Some places are better than others when it comes to starting a career as a retail buyer. In order to get hired as a retail buyer, you also typically need knowledge of retailing and wholesaling processes, as well as the prospective employer's merchandise categories. Although a high school diploma may be sufficient for some positions, many employers require buyers and purchasing agents to have a bachelorâs degree. For example, a large sporting goods store may have a separate buyer or buyers for each department or line of merchandise; in this case, you might purchase nothing but fishing tackle or a particular type of footwear. Candidates initially become eligible and can renew their certification through a combination of purchasing-related experience, education, and professional contributions (such as published articles or delivered speeches). Get the facts about education, salary, and potential job growth to determine if this is the right career for you. Keep up to date with market trends and react to changes in demand and logistics 5. meet suppliers and negotiate terms of contract 6. maintain relationships with existing suppliers and source new suppliers for future products 7. understand the basic rules of vendor management, allocation and price negotiation 8… You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients. Duties. Whereas in Iowa and New Jersey, they would average $59,807 and $57,232, respectively. Annual Salary £18,000 to £70,000. Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products buy items for the operation of an organization. Opportunities are available at department stores, grocery stores, gas stations, and other retail establishments. A retail buyer selects and purchases goods for an establishment to resell; for example, a buyer might choose the clothing, electronics or footwear that a company sells in stores or online. © Copyright 2003-2020 Be numerical 11. The National Institute of Government Purchasing (NIGP), Institute for Public Procurement offers preparation courses for the UPPCC certification exams. Examples of these products are grain, cotton, and tobacco. A variety of other skills are deemed useful in this field, including good communication and math skills, the ability to negotiate and analyze financial data, and knowledge of computer software programs and supply-chain management. Certification or continuing education may also be necessary to advance in this field. They try to get the best deal for their organization: the highest quality goods and services at the lowest cost. Working as a Retail Buyer? Tell us your goals and we'll match you with the right jobs to get there. Buyers and purchasing agents typically do the following: Buyers and purchasing agents buy farm products, durable and nondurable goods, and services for organizations and institutions. They source new and review existing goods to ensure their products remain competitive. Retail buyers make the most in Illinois with an average salary of $60,550. These professionals must interview and evaluate various vendors/suppliers and their products for quality, price and other important factors. They evaluate suppliers, negotiate contracts, and review the quality of products. See the table below for more information on key job duties, salary expectations and more. Retail Buyer Resume Examples. Certification is valid for 4 years. Graduates will need a 2.2 or higher degree in any subject, although a relevant discipline such as business, marketing, mathematics or management can be helpful. Learn.org. Buyers and purchasing agents buy products and services for organizations to use or resell. Love Mondays by finding your ideal Retail Buyer job on reed.co.uk now. Most entry-level positions require some form of on-the-job training. The job often requires travel and long hours. The Institute for Supply Management offers the Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) credential, which covers a wide scope of purchasing professional duties. They examine finance reports, decide what investments to make and help make the organization as profitable as possible. You'll usually need: 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship. Be organised 9. multitask 10. APICS offers the Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) credential. Merchandising Sales, Distribution and Marketing, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration: Purchasing, Master - Business Administration: General Business, Master - Business Administration: Management, Doctor - Business Administration: General Business, Doctor - Business Administration: Management, Retail Buyer: Career Profile, Employment Outlook and Education Requirements, Fashion Retail Buyer: Career and Salary Facts. They negotiate and manage contracts for their company with multiple suppliers, and must address and correct any issues with defective products or unacceptable services. Some employers won’t require you to have any previous work experience at all. Some related jobs include financial managers, purchasing managers and logisticians, all of which require at least a bachelor's degree. Retail buyer. Purchasing agents and buyers consider price, quality, availability, reliability, and technical support when choosing suppliers and merchandise. Liberty University responds quickly to information requests through this website. They evaluate suppliers, negotiate contracts, and review the quality of products. What do I need to do to become a retail buyer? Share your experience anonymously. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four. What Will I Learn in Retail Certification Courses? There are several certifications available for buyers and purchasing agents. Retail buyers at small stores are sometimes responsible for purchasing the entire inventory, but as a retail buyer for a larger company, you might specialize in just one or two types of merchandise. Entry to this occupation may be improved if you have qualifications. • Able to gain a clear understanding of your organization’s customers. Candidates must also earn a certain number of professional development points to renew their certification. Start your free 14-day TalentLyft … Explore the career requirements for retail buyers. The Next Level Purchasing Association offers the Senior Professional in Supply Management (SPSM) Certification. Buyers and purchasing agents must make certain that the supplier can deliver the desired goods or services on time, in the correct quantities, and without sacrificing quality. X years of experience as a Retail Buyer or similar position; Customer-oriented approach; Critical thinker and problem-solving skills; Team player; Good time-management skills; Great interpersonal and communication skills; Do you use a modern recruitment software? Buyers who work for smaller businesses or government agencies may be responsible for making a greater variety of purchases. Although there are no education or work experience requirements, applicants must complete six online courses and pass an SPSM exam. Although they're not necessarily as common, majors in retail merchandise and management are also available with concentrations in buying and product management at some schools. Entry requirements. You'll likely enjoy the best job opportunities with a bachelor's degree in business, economics, engineering or an applied science field, especially if you want to work for a large company. The American Purchasing Society offers the Certified Purchasing Professional (CPP) certification. While retail buyers would only make an average of $56,631 in Kansas, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. Pros of a Retail Buyer Career Competitive average salary (about $58,000 per year as of May 2014)* Can apply for entry-level positions with a high school diploma* Possible career advancement to management-level positions with experience* General Purpose . They must be able to compare prices from different suppliers to ensure that their organization is getting the best deal.Â. They typically work for an organization and examine how efficient a product's life cycle is by following the product from the supplier to the customer. They attend meetings, trade shows, and conferences to learn about new industry trends and make contacts with suppliers. A major in marketing or fashion merchandising may also be applicable. You will probably get some informal training on the job. Use our Job Description Tool to sort through over 13,000 other Job Titles and Careers. Previous work in the retail industry (including customer service) will always help. Junior retail buyer positions require, … Buyers who purchase items to resell to customers may determine which products their organization will sell. Examples of these goods are clothing and electronics. Grand Canyon University responds quickly to information requests through this website. Can remain calm under pressure 3. Purchasing managers supervise buyers and purchasing agents for an organization. Candidates must complete 32 continuing education hours in procurement-related topics to recertify for an additional four-year period. Although training requirements vary significantly for this field, many retail buyer jobs require a college degree. Northcentral University responds quickly to information requests through this website. Negotiating skills. 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