Any Merchandisers/Buyers out there

[Octopus37]

Hi,

Posting here for traffic. Hope noone minds me asking for advice. I am looking to do a course in Merchandising/Buying, but really need to make sure that I am making the right decision. Bit of background, I graduated with a 2i in Sociology from Warwick in 1996, I did the wrong degree cause it followed on from my A'levels. I then fell into Secretarial work, but then started doing Mystery Shopping/Merchandising calls/price checking on a freelance basis when I had my kids. This line of work is definitely me but I want a permanent job and everything that comes with it an also to have a hope of earning a decent salary. My kids are 13 and 10, not quite old enough for me to work full time and not need childcare yet but in another year I think they will be. I'm anxious about the financial side, dont want to put my husband under pressure, have some savings but not loads, obviously although there aren't any guarantees, I want to be in a situation where I have a high chance of getting a job afterwards. I've been looking at courses at the Fashion Retail Academy near Tottenham Court Road, and was wondering if anyone had an experience of them. Any advice or recommendations would be very gratefully received.

Buying is a hard role to get into.
I gave up on trying to go into buying and went into pricing.
My advice? Try to find an junior buying role in a major supermarket with lots of different categories. Get some on the ground experience.
Then move sideways once you have proven yourself. They tend to like the years experience you have rather than your education in my experiences.

It very much depends on what sort of buying you want to do.

My experience is in food buying for supermarkets. My view is that a buying degree wouldn’t help you, work experience as a Buyers Admin Assistant would be far far more valuable. None of the buyers that I know have specific buying qualifications.

I would gently ask if you know what is involved in Buying? You have to be hard nosed and basically be very comfortable with being uncomfortable in negotiations. People who are more ‘people pleaser’ types wont be successful. But again, my experience is big supermarkets so different areas of buying may be different.

Thanks for the advice. Wondering if a Merchandising or Merchandising Assistant role might be better for me then. When you say pricing, what does your role involve please, just trying to get an idea?
Thanks again for the reply?

Yes merchandising would be better. Though possibly a bit dull (just planning out where products go on a screen).

Can I throw out a left field suggestion of working for a supplier as a National Account Exec sort of role, rather than Buying? Probably more opportunities as there are more suppliers than retailers. Roles tend to be better paid and a bit more varied.

I worked in B&M at a well known high street stalwart through the 00s. I left because it wasn't particularly conducive to family life & part time wasn't an option. Tbh after the high street struggles over the last few yrs I'm glad I did.

I had a science degree. Maybe look at the equivalent roles in supermarkets?

Can I throw out a left field suggestion of working for a supplier as a National Account Exec sort of role, rather than Buying? Probably more opportunities as there are more suppliers than retailers. Roles tend to be better paid and a bit more varied.

that's a good suggestion

Thank you, will look into National Account Exec roles. I'm very much still at the doing my homework stage, but believe that it makes sense to somehow use the experience that I have gained in recent years. Thanks again.

Ex homewares and fashion buyer here, it is hard to get into at anything other than a buyers assistant level with no previous experience, which pays around £18k. You’ll need to really show a decent set of skills to progress through to senior buyer level where the good money is. The definition of merchandiser varies massively from company to company and is a glorified stock control job in some companies. I liked the fashion industry, so was prepared to work myself into the ground for it. I liked the travel, but I did not have a family then.

Thanks for the advice. I'm getting a better idea of which direction to go in now, definitely leading towards merchandising, even if it is a glorified stock controller role, I think I'll be ok with that.

Hi OP, B&M has always been and remains competitive, and at the moment head office jobs are being lost left right and centre as retailers look to cut costs so it’s a tough time to switch into this area to be honest.
But if you have a good understanding of these roles and have decided this is the career for you, then yes FRA course will give you a good grounding, would be good idea to back this up bu getting some experience too if you can.
I’ve worked in fashion B&M for twenty years.