Retail and Wholesale Buyers

HOW TO GET THERE

Typical pathway

A typical pathway for a Canadian secondary-school student is to finish high school, then take a college or university program in business, commerce, marketing, retail management, or a related field. Some people start in retail, sales, merchandising, or stock control to learn products, suppliers, and customer demand. Early experience in buying, inventory, pricing, or vendor support can help build practical skills in research, math, and negotiation. Employers may prefer different combinations of education and experience depending on the business, province, or product specialty.

THE WORK

What you may do

Legacy duties

• Purchase merchandise for resale by retail or wholesale establishments
• Review requirements of establishment and determine quantity and type of merchandise to purchase
• Study market reports, trade periodicals and sales promotion materials and visit trade shows, showrooms, factories and product design events
• Select the merchandise which best fits the establishment's requirements
• Interview suppliers and negotiate prices, discounts, credit terms and transportation arrangements
• Oversee distribution of merchandise to outlets and maintain adequate stock levels
• Establish and maintain contact with suppliers
• Supervise the work of other retail buyers.
• Retail and wholesale buyers may specialize in a particular merchandise line.

SKILLS TO BUILD

Skills used in this Career