Looking into Fashion Job Profiles

Whilst in Topshop I came across an interesting book 'How to prepare for a career in Fashion' It talks about the different job profiles, essential info you want to know about the skills and education you need for your chosen career path, interviews with people in a certain field in the fashion industry, and what you can do that puts you above someone else.

- Fashion Buying

' You get to indulge your passion for fashion on a daily basis and work in one of the most exciting industries in the world. You kind of get to shop for a living!'

What does a fashion buyer do?

Buyers have a lot of power in the fashion industry and ultimately decide what product goes into stores. There are two different types of fashion buyer- Product Development Buyers and Selection Buyers. Selection Buying is seen as the more glamorous of the two, as this role offers the opportunity to collaborate with designers and get to select the most exciting pieces from their collections through attending fashion shows going to private buying events and visiting showrooms.

A Product Development Buyer works closely with a design team providing there input on how ranges will look in store. They will follow each product throughout the whole process. from a discussion of key trends at the beginning of the season then to establishing which pieces go into ranges once the prototypes have arrived back from the suppliers.

It's the responsibility of the buyer to come up with a balanced cohesive range, including deciding on what colours each piece should be, negotiating the best price to buy from the suppliers, and then fixing a price to retail at.

Key Working Relationships...

Buyers work very closely with a design team,merchandisers, the product development team, and their supply base either in the UK or overseas.

Working hours...

For employees in a High-Street retailer working hours are typically 8.30am to 6pm on an average day, but its common to work at weekends and do overtime especially on buying trips.

Salary...

This depends on the type of company you work for and where you're located. Here is a guide to what is expected in London:

BAA: 16K-20K

BA:20K-28K

Junior Buyer:28K-35K

Buyer:36k-50k

Senior Buyer-50k-65k

Head of buying:-70k-100k