what you will study
monthly topics
month one: introduction to retail buying
The first month of the ULTIMATE program is designed to give you an overview of the history of fashion retail and how it has evolved through the 19th and 20th century to where it is today, as well as examining the different market levels from luxury brands and designers through to mass-market fast fashion brands. We will introduce you to the functions and activities that take place in a buying office throughout a season as well as outline any jargon and retail maths calculations that you will need throughout the course. There are three subjects in month one:
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- UR – The Global Fashion Market
- UR – The Product Lifecycle
- UR – Calcs & Jargon
month two: strategy & planning
Fashion buying is a combination of art and science. In month two, we look at the technical skills needed in the strategy and plan stages of the product lifecycle. How to develop a category strategy? How Merchandise Planners build a merchandise financial plan? How does the buyer decide what products to put in the range and how many to buy? There are four subjects this month:
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- Creating a Strategy
- Merchandise Planning
- Assortment Planning & Range Building
- Store Visits & Competitor Shopping
month three: trends & product
Where do trends come from? How do you put together a balanced colour palette that is both on trend and commercial? What are the different types of fabrics and fibres and how do you use these when developing your range? These are some of the questions we answer in month three of this course. There are six subject area covered:
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- History of Fashion
- Trends & Trade Shows
- Colour
- Fabric & Fibres
- Silhouette, Shape & Fit
- Sample Management
month four: sales performance & pricng
Understanding range performance and reacting to trade is a key skill for buyers and planners. In month four, we cover the tasks and skills needed during the buy, move and trade stage of the buying calendar. We start with order management and the importance of the critical path. We look at how you evaluate range performance and the decisions you need to make at the beginning, middle and end of a season. We examine how you profitably manage a range through the season, as well as how to plan and manage key/core lines and how to deal with pricing changes. There are five subjects this month:
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- Order Management, Allocate & Replenish
- Evaluating Performance
- In-season Management
- Managing Key Lines
- Price Management
month five: sourcing & negotiation
One of the key responsibilities for buyers is managing and negotiating with suppliers. In this month we look at how buyers source products, how to prepare for buying trips, as well as the sustainability issues around fashion. We also look at how decisions affect cost prices and how to negotiate and manage suppliers. There are six subjects:
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- Sourcing
- Supplier Management
- Buying Trips & Factory Visits
- Sustainability
- The Journey from Cost to Profit
- Introduction to Negotiation Skills
month six: career development
The fashion industry is incredibly competitive and you need to stand out from the crowd in order to get ahead. In month six we look at personal branding, networking and how to best present yourself during interview, as well as employers expectations and how to conduct yourself in the workplace. This is the opportunity to launch your career. We have many industry contacts and will help you wherever we can to land that first role. There are three subjects:
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- Personal Branding
- Presentation Skills & Interview Prep
- Work Experience Report
To find out if this course meets your career aspirations and if it is right for you, book a careers consult today…
Do you know what a buyer & planner does?
Think you know, but would like to learn more. Sign up for our FREE Module:
The World of Buying & Planning.
In this module:
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- Unit 1: The Merchandise Management Process
- Unit 2: The Role of the Buyer & Planner
- Unit 3: Challenges Facing Retailers Today