RETAIL BUYING

PROJECT BRIEF

Fashion retail is rapidly changing as retailers have to deal with economic challenges and different
consumers buying habits. Despite these challenges, there are fashion companies that have adapted and
are thriving in these changing times.

You will choose a fashion company and will research into the company’s success and chose to be a
Fashion Buyer for them. You as a fashion buyer are going to launch a new range for the chosen company
for Spring/Summer 2025

You will develop this range from concept through to in store/on line and the decisions that you make
will be analyzed to see if this has been a commercially successful collection and will it contribute to the
success of your chosen company. You will be involved in every stage of the buying process and you will
take responsibility for planning and selecting the range; This will include: in depth research into trends,
fashion shows and exhibitions, color predictions, fabric choices, styles and silhouettes and lead times
(buying calendar)

You will present your ideas in stages, from an initial range boards and then your final range in a power
point presentation accompanied by a concept board where you will justify your choices.
The collection will feature the minimum of six pieces (plus accessories) focusing on ONE of the key
themes for Spring/Summer 2025

Week Activity

Project brief explained

Week 1 Group Formation
Brain Storming

Week 2
Task 1 Brand Profiling

Analyze brand’s existing range

SKU’s of current range
Creating a brand board

Task 2 Customer Profile

Week 3-4
Create an in depth visual and written profile of your target customer.

You must research and document in your

Presentation ways in which your company and other high street stores would gather
 customer profile information e.g. data from store cards, demographic profiling etc.

Week 5-6 Task 3 Comparative boards of chosen retailer

Conduct research into chosen retailers’ current competitors ranges. Document one
specific range and analyze the different garments that are in the range you must
include: prices, fabrics, sizes, different color ways

You must then conduct the same research with 4 key competitors

Illustrate your findings in an A3 board and evaluate and compare what each of the
store’s offer and how the different ranges have USPs

Task 4 Directional boards of chosen retailer

Conduct research into your companies’ directional brands ranges. Document one
specific range and analyze the different garments that are in the range you must
include: prices, fabrics, sizes, different color ways
Week 7-8
You must then conduct the same research with 4 key directional brands

Illustrate your findings in an A3 board and include the products that the brand might
use for inspiration for their own collections.

Task 5 Concept Boards

You will create a series of at least 2 visual concept boards, using your Spring/Summer
Week 9-10 2025 trends that will research. These should depict the concept of your trend,
silhouettes, fabrics, prints and textures, and color palette.

You will Adobe Photo shop tools and digital photographs from your primary research.

Task 6 Proposed collection and range plan

a. Detailed images for the collections

Week 11-13 b. Fabric swatches
c. Embellishment techniques
d. Trims and accessories

Task 7 Vendor Research and Costing

Week 14
Conduct in depth vendor research and present cost sheets for the proposed range
Week 15-16 Task 8: Compilation and Final printed Submission of portfolio