Job description | Specific skills | Career path
Mainland opportunities | Entry requirements | Salary scale
Related jobs | Training opportunities

Job description

A retail buyer is responsible for planning and managing the full merchandising cycle, from sourcing to profits and sales forecasting and the designing, costings, sampling, distribution and follow-up of bulk orders. A hands-on approach is generally required.

Retail buyers work on a product range. In addition, they may need to liaise with suppliers on stock distribution and work with management on sales promotions.

They also act as a bridge between designers and suppliers and should therefore clearly understand the specific taste and unique requirements of different markets, in terms of specifications, style details and preferences. This particularly applies to retail buyers working in the fashion retail business.

Like all merchandisers, retail buyers also need to ensure that their company's products reach outlets on time, in appropriate quantities and in the most cost-effective manner possible.

Back to top

Specific skills

Retail buyers need distinct skills and characteristics, including:

• a "rapid response" approach, reacting fast to market changes and customer reactions within a short time-span
• excellent communication skills
• open-mindedness
• an ability to work closely with people of different backgrounds
• attentiveness to detail
• negotiation skills
• organisation skills
• hard-working
• a strong work commitment

Back to top

Career path

In general, the career path of a retail buyer is performance based. While some manufacturers offer in-house, on-the-job training or executive training programmes, many retail buyers develop through hands-on experience.

Some retail buyers enter the field through lateral promotion, although this is more usual with large retail organisations or at a senior management level.

Although there is no industry standard, the typical career path of a retail buyer is as follows:

1. Merchandising clerk or buyer assistant (entry level: fresh graduate or new joiner)
2. Assistant buyer (two years of practical experience)
3. Retail buyer (four to eight years of practical experience)
4. Senior merchandiser (seven to 10 years of practical experience)
5. Merchandising or retail buying manager (eight to 12 years of practical experience)

Back to top

Mainland opportunities

There are considerable opportunities for retail buyers within the very fast-moving mainland Chinese market and these are likely to increase from 2005-8.

Back to top

Entry requirements

While a sound educational background is helpful, university degrees or post-graduate qualifications in marketing, commercial studies, business management or business administration are valuable but not mandatory within this field. However, some businesses prefer students with mathematics-related degrees, a high level of computer literacy and strong analytical and numerical skills.

Positions are not barred to candidates without qualifications, as employers tend to place acumen and experience above qualifications and personality and attitude count as much as actual skills. Retail experience, commercial awareness and industry knowledge are also an asset. In addition, communication skills are highly valued.

Although fresh joiners are not required to have industry experience, retail experience is helpful. In addition, an interest in industry trends is welcome.

Back to top

CT Salary Survey

See updated salary scale, please click here.

Back to top

Related jobs

- Wholesale merchandiser

- Marketing executive

- Retail/Store manager

- Market research analyst

- Public relations account executive

- Advertising account executive

- Account executive

Back to top

Training opportunities

Diploma courses in fashion merchandising and retailing are offered by the Institute for Vocational Education (IVE), Kwai Chung.

Merchandising courses are offered by the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC).

The Clothing Industry Training Authority (CITA) offers a range of diplomas and certificates in apparel-related merchandising.

Diploma courses in apparel studies and merchandising are also offered by the Hong Kong Institution of Textile and Apparel (HKITE).

Back to top

Merchandising-related courses in Hong Kong

	Click here to download the merchandising-related courses in Hong Kong (298K).