Introduction to Fashion Buying and Merchandising Short Course
Course description
Course overview
This course will introduce you to the roles with fashion buying and merchandising and what to expect if you plan to start your career with an established retailer.
With the emphasis on larger retailers, this course will help you understand what it takes to succeed as a buyer or merchandiser, and the many exciting and challenging aspects of the roles. You'll also start to build a comprehensive reference file on the subject.
Once you've completed this course you might consider moving onto our intermediate level courses.
This course is available both on campus or online.
Who this course is for
This course is suitable for beginners and for those who have recently started in a buying or merchandising role and want to understand best practice.
You should have an interest in the subject area and a desire to learn but no previous experience is required.
The projects you'll be asked to undertake involve mathematical formulae therefore it's essential you have an understanding of maths to GCSE level C or equivalent.
Key information
Topics covered
- Industry structure
- Marketing research
- Customer profiling
- Branding
- Buying and merchandising roles/responsibilities
- Buying calendar
- Critical path
- Competitor shop
- Buying strategy
- Range planning
- Product development
- The quality process
- Purchasing budgets
- Stock management
- Margin and pricing
- Negotiations
Learning outcomes
- Learn about what a buyer and merchandiser does and the everyday challenges that they can face at all levels of the market
- Start to build a comprehensive reference file on the subject
- Digital badge and certificate of attendance
Materials
On campus
- Laptop/ iPad/ tablet
- Notepad and pen
- Calculator
- Please bring 2/3 magazines (fashion/ lifestyle/ home) that you are willing to cut up
Online
- Notepad and pen
If you are taking this course online, please see our Guide to taking online short courses.
Tutor
Stephanie Liberman
Stephanie Liberman has over 20 years experience in the fashion industry. Starting her buying career at Woolworths, she worked in variety of multi-channel retailers and was a senior buyer at department store, Debenhams and stationery retailer, Paperchase. During her buying career she travelled extensively to Europe and the Far East and has built up a wealth of sourcing experience and relationships with offshore suppliers. Whilst at Debenhams she also developed and ran the buying school program and ran training and mentoring for all levels of the buying and merchandising community. She currently teaches at Regent's University London on short courses for Artscom at LCF.Frankie Law
Frankie Law graduated from LCF with a first in Fashion Management and has since gained over 14 years of fashion buying, merchandising and design experience within UK retail, holding positions at high street and department store retailers. She has been instrumental in developing, buying for and managing 14 brands, overseeing a departmental annual sales plan of £54 million. She currently consults internationally for various factories and suppliers within the fashion industry, range building and developing fast moving and extensive collections, as well as forecasting trends and analysing trade information.Helen Joslin
Helen Joslin has over a decade of industry experience in buying and merchandising, working across the high street for large multi brand department stores. Specialising in menswear Helen has extensive experience buying and merchandising across multi-product categories for companies such as Arcadia and Debenhams. Outside of her buying career Helen is currently launching her own e-commerce website.
James Venning
James Venning is the Fashion Retail Landscapes Unit Leader, and a lecturer on the B&M course. After leaving University with a 1st Class (Hons) degree James has spent almost 20 years in Buying across UK and International markets. He has bought and sourced most clothing categories but specialises in Menswear, Childrenswear and Global Sourcing visiting over 15 countries during his career. He’s worked with several of the UK’s leading retailers including Debenhams, River Island, Tesco and Marks & Spencer. He loves developing product from concept to customer and has also worked to create and deliver brand strategies for many concession brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Under Armour & Fred Perry. During his time as a Buying Lead and experienced Buying Manager became passionate about developing people and now relishes the opportunity to develop the next stars of the industry through you the students at UAL.
Book a course
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