Case studies : Buyer of womenswear: Kelly

Kelly is a buyer for a large retail head office. She graduated from Huddersfield University with a degree in fashion design with manufacture marketing and promotion.

I am a womenswear buyer for a large retail group. I got the job from working my way up the buying career ladder. Buyer was the next step from my previous role as junior buyer.

If someone is interested in a buying role I would seriously recommend a degree in a fashion-related subject. I would also recommend either work experience in the summer holidays or, if you are on a sandwich course, trying to secure a work placement.

After graduation, I worked on a shop floor for six months while I applied for buying positions. This extended my retail experience and allowed potential employers to see I was serious about a career in retail. I then secured my first buying role as a buyer’s assistant for a jewellery company. From then, I worked my way up the career ladder from buyer’s assistant to assistant buyer, then junior buyer and finally to my present role as buyer.

As there are so many people interested in this career, I would recommend being very flexible in the product area you are prepared to work for. I started my career with a jewellery company, then progressed to lingerie, kids clothing and now womenswear (which is the area I always wanted to work in). There may not, however, be any roles in your chosen area so be prepared to work your way up. I would also recommend not being fussy about where you would like to work. Certain companies may not be the type of places you would want to shop from, but big companies can provide a lot of good experience and knowledge.

The role encompasses a wide range of tasks, such as developing product, planning ranges, buying different products types, sourcing new products and factories, negotiating prices, reacting to trends, monitoring sales, managing a team and much more.

The aspects that I enjoy are developing the product and watching the sales reactions. It is a very challenging career path to take, but extremely enjoyable and rewarding. I never find myself watching the clock! The only downsides are that it is an incredibly demanding job and at times very stressful.

I would just like to progress one final stage in my career to senior buyer/buying manager. I would thoroughly recommend a career in buying.