< BC refers to the key events and processes in

which the fshn buyer is involved in order to buy a

garment range for a retail company.
< Length of BC varies b/w companies, but usually
takes 1 year for complete BC.
< Hence byr is always working on at least 2
ranges/BCs simultaneously.
A typical Buying cycle will be as below :
Review oI current seasons sales

competitive shopping

directional shopping

Iabric sourcing

range planning

garment sourcing

preselection

costing & price negotiation with manuIacturer /BA/EH

Iinal range selection

placing orders with manuIacturers

PO, LC, order bulk Iab trims, order sampling yrdge trims

Iit smpls

PP smpl

size sets, bulk Iab trims testing

sealers

bulk prodn

transportation

delivery oI product to retailer

purchase by target customer

< Buyers have to work with the other members of
the buying team :
%heir ranges need to be sold alongside each other in
same stores.
Discuss volume of orders placed with each vendor
Ask for advise or opinions
Discuss quality problems
Get help of experienced buyers in decision making
%ravel together for directional shopping
Buyer
Buying
colleagues
design
Fab tech
Retail
sales team
Marketing
/PR
finance
merchants
Quality
< Byr needs to hv commercial flair to buy a range, while
merchandiser needs to hv commercial acumen to enable
a range to work successfully.
< %hey r responsible for ensuring that the range selected +
developed by byr is delivered to stores in right sz ratios
& qntys at right time.
< Byrs oversee the PD phase while merchants take over at
prodn stage.
< Place orders with suppliers
< Pricing
< Assess progress of each style in range
< Monitor sales progress
< %ake action based on sales reorders, markdowns
< dentify designs suitable for the target mrkt for that
season based on fashion forecast.
< Prepare mood board, color palettes, grmnt
silhouettes to ensure consistent direction across
whole prdt range.
< %o make a new version of last seasons bestsellers
< ensure the bulk grmnts recvd from EH are as per
predecided qlty standards, by inspecting the goods on
rcpt in the warehouse.
< generate reports for all shipmnts, from each vendor/fctry,
for all their vendors.
< fitting sessions wherein the fit smpls recvd from EH r
fitted on a live model . byrs + design team wl finalise
aesthetic aspects of grmnt fit & shape, while QC wl
comment on the technical aspects of grmnt manufacture
& grmnt balance.
< QC team wl then document the fit session commnts and
forward to EH/BA to proceed with next fit smpl.
< FABRC %ECHNOLOGY DEP%
< Fab technologists r involved in sourcing +
developing fabs with suppliers in conjunction with
buying team.
< Ensure that bulk fabs that go into prodn meet reqd
qlty stndrds.
< MARKE%NG/PR
< Promoting the range.
< Grmnts that appear in mags + internet need to b
delivered to mrktg/PR team by merchants.
< FNANCE DEP%
< %o plan budgets for their product range
< Check exchange rates
< DOCUMEN%A%ON %EAM
< Coordinate with forwarders for all shipmnts
< Receive shipping dox
< Check PO, L/C
WDedication & Enthusiasm
WAwareness
W$tamina
WForesight
WCreativity
WProduct Knowledge
WDecision-making skill
WMathematical ability
WCommunication skills
WNegotiation skills
WManagerial skills
Planning
Buying
$elling
< Fashion buyers are responsible for selecting a range
of products aimed at a specific customer/mrkt and a
prx bracket.
< $ome tasks undertaken by buyers :
dentify relevant fashion trends
Estimate & monitor sales of a prdt
Review and analyse competitors range
Plan the stocks to estimate the amount of stock that is
necessary to meet consumer demand and support planned
sales. %he stock must be brought to a peak just before the
expected time
%o plan purchase - from where to get it
Liase with prdt suppliers
Assortment planning and purchase planning go side by
side . n assortment planning size wise color breakdown
is worked out.
Calculate profit margins
Ensure timely delivery
< %he responsibility of buying merchandise is
subdivided into specific prdt ranges tops, skirts,
casualwear.
< Developing & retailing of a range is a team effort
requiring specialist input, hence buyers hv to liase
with other deptts.
< A BA is a representative of a foreign buyer in
another country. %hey carry out the business of
the buyer in that country on their behalf. %he
advantage of working thru a BA is that the buyer
does not need to invest in setting up an office
abroad.
< %he BA has to establish contacts with the local
manufacturers & suppliers & source out final
products according to the foreign buyers reqmnts.
< A BA works on a commission basis, based on
volume of sales handled.
< %o source out different manufacturers for buyers
< %o liase/coordinate between various parties for
the entire grmnt cycle sampling, costing, prodn
of the grmnts & shipping.
< %o maintain the decided quality level
< %o inspect grmnts at various stages pilot run,
inline, online & final inspn
< %o ensure timely delivery
< %o ensure all docs from supplier to buyer are
correct in all respects
< ts a service orgn that reports mrkt info, acts as a
market representative & renders other related
services to a group of stores who hv their own
buyers. t is a consultancy firm whose primary
responsibility is to understand the trade market . A
resident buyer is a specialist who works in the
capacity of the advisor or assistant to the store
and is responsible for all phases of
merchandising. t serves as a link between stores
and manufacturers.
<
1. ndependent BO
< Not associated with any retail chain/store
< $ervices independent retailers
< Charge for services, based on a % of sales
volume.
< 2. $tore owned BO r controlled & supported by the
stores they serve. %hey provide mrkt expertise &
supporting services to help stores operate
profitably. 2 types :
< i). Assoctiated /cooperative BO is jointly owned,
maintained & operated by a group of stores (diff
brands) that r its members & that it serves
exclusively. %heir expenses r distributed amongst
member stores based on sales volume. All
members r the shareholders.
< ABO does sourcing work for these brands which r
a homogenous mix of stores. eg;. AMC
(associated merchandising corporation)
< ii).Corporate BO/ Chain BO
< Owned & operated by the parent retail orgn. %hey
have a central buyer in the principle market. Eg;
federated departmental store which has more than
400 stores in New york. Other examples are
Walmart, Fabndia.
< Large cooperative and chain BO hv branch offices
in foreign countries to assist in import buying,
termed as liasion offices.
< . Privately owned BO
< Owned and run by 1 store; 1 huge large store
under which multiple brands r sold. eg; Nieman
Marcus, Ebony.
< Act as a link between manufacturer and
retailer/buyer
< BO serve as eyes & ears of retail merchant
< Degree, extent & quality of services vary from 1
BO to another depending on the stores reqmnt.
< Merchandising they help the store in :
< Range development
< preparation for buyers visit, set up meetings,
followthru on orders after buyer has left.
< Vendor selection
< sourcing merchandise
< order placement & follow up
< Market research/info is shared between BO &
member stores reg change in prxs, trends, mrkt
conditions.
< obbing services it provides warehousing &
distribution services or centres.
< !:rchasing services helps the store to obtain
fab & trims according to trend.
< ro:5 b:ing is a method of buying in which no.
of stores participate. An order placed at same time
by grp of stores for the same merchandise. %his
helps get a better price, ensure better quality and
timelines.
< entraI b:ing means centrally buying for all
stores. $imilar product stores join together &
decide the buying strategies. A representative of
these stores wl select the merchandise, & guided
by sales report from that store wl reorder or
discontinue the styles.
< BO DONO% make final decisions as to purchases
& donot place orders unless specifically asked by
buyers/retail store.
< dvantages :
Lower cost
%echniques & skills which r available only in certain countries eg; cotton
embroidered prdts from ndia
Prestige of buying from fashion oriented countries like taly; store image &
uniqueness
Better quality
< isadvantages :
Variation of qlty stds
$z discrepancy
Long distance delivery cost
mport charges, duties and quota
Longer delivery time
More difficult to monitor quality stndrds
%ime & expense incurred by buyer in travelling to overseas mrkt & communicating
Buying in a diff currency
< Other potential probs can be :
Language barriers
%ime difference
Unethical practises like child labor
Political unrest/ war
$trikes transport
Currency fluctuations
Weather conditions
Most of the disadvantages r usually outweighed
by the price advantage.
WDelivery
WProven specification
WAvailability of merchandise in selected quantities
WAvailability of reorder
WVery close control on the merchandise planning
and production
WAccommodation of changes due to any reason is
easy
WPlanning and control of stock relatively easy
WPermit the stock adjustment to new trends