Senior Purchasing Manager

Description
A retail buyer is responsible for planning and selecting a range of products to sell in retail outlets. The buyer must consider the following factors when making purchasing decisions:

1. customer demand, including price, quality and availability;
2. market trends;
3. store policy;
4. financial budgets.

Typical Work Activities
Throughout the year, tasks typically involve:

1. analysing consumer buying patterns and predicting future trends;
2. regularly reviewing performance indicators, such as sales and discount levels;
3. managing plans for stock levels;
4. reacting to changes in demand and logistics;
5. meeting suppliers and negotiating terms of contract;
6. maintaining relationships with existing suppliers and sourcing new suppliers for future products;
7. liaising with other departments within the organisation to ensure projects are completed;
8. attending trade fairs, in the UK and overseas, to select and assemble a new collection of products;
9. participating in promotional activities;
10. writing reports and forecasting sales levels;
11. presenting new ranges to senior retail managers;
12. liaising with shop personnel to ensure supply meets demand;
13. getting feedback from customers;
14. training and mentoring junior staff.