L4 FASHION BUYING  L4 FASHION BUYING Fashion Retail Academy ../webroot/files/QualificationSubSubjectAreas/cover_photo/1537332756fashion.jpg

This one-year buying course, taught two days per week has been specially designed for those looking to pursue a career in buying.

It combines theoretical study and hands-on experience teaching you both practical and creative skills. Students will also have the opportunity to complete an invaluable three-week work placement with a recognised high street fashion brand.

The course is designed to thoroughly prepare students for a career in buying. A Buyer is ultimately responsible for deciding which products make it onto the shop floor. They are key to maximising profits and must have a thorough understanding of the brand's target audience. It’s a Buyer’s job to recognise customer demand and at the same time keep a brand contemporary and up-to-date with current trends.

This role is highly collaborative, as buyers are expected to work alongside merchandisers to maximise sales and measure performance, as well as the design teams to develop new products and take them from initial concept through to completion. This role is also responsible for negotiating the best deals with suppliers to boost a brand’s bottom line. Essentially, the function of a Buyer comes down to getting the right products, at the right time, at the right price. Learn more about the life of a Buyer here.

You’ll be equipped with all of the skills you’ll need to succeed in a Head Office environment. Communication skills are at the foundation of the course, as many buyers work as part of a team and are also required to negotiate with suppliers, share ideas and research with stakeholders. As a Buyer, you'll be involved at many points of the supply chain, so during the course, you'll follow the journey of a garment from trend history and development to creating commercial range plans. Students will learn all about the outside influences which must be taken into account when devising a range of clothing and also gain essential marketing skills.

Additional areas covered include:

• Supply chain management
• Garment technology
• Use of fabrics
• Costing and sourcing
• Manufacturing regions
• Critical path management
• Merchandising

The L4 Fashion Buying course is an ideal choice for those seeking a creative role that’s exciting and varied. A passion for and knowledge of current trends and the fashion retail industry as a whole is essential, and candidates should be interested in working across a wide range of faculties. A good head for numbers is also useful when working alongside Merchandisers to analyse data and inform strategy.

Graduates from our Fashion Buying course are ideally placed to pursue careers as BAA (Buyer’s Administrative Assistant), MAA (Merchandising Administrative Assistant), Allocator and Buyer’s Clerk roles, or a career in the sourcing and supply chain.

1 A-level (or the equivalent Level 3 qualification) and 5 GCSEs grade C/4 or above, including Maths and English. If you have any non-UK qualifications, please provide us with a NARIC Statement of Comparability, as well as, the IELTS test for English language (our entry requirement is 5.5 overall and in all sections) if you have not studied in the UK or English speaking country.