What is a Wholesale and Retail Buyer?
Career Description Buy merchandise or commodities, other than farm products, for resale to consumers at the wholesale or retail level, including both durable and nondurable goods. Analyze past buying trends, sales records, price, and quality of merchandise to determine value and yield. Select, order, and authorize payment for merchandise according to contractual agreements. May conduct meetings with sales personnel and introduce new products. Includes assistant wholesale and retail buyers of nonfarm products.
What Do Wholesale and Retail Buyers Do On a Daily Basis?
- Recommend mark-up rates, markdown rates, or merchandise selling prices.
- Analyze environmental aspects of competing merchandise when making buying decisions.
- Obtain information about customer needs or preferences by conferring with sales or purchasing personnel.
- Conduct sales meetings to introduce new merchandise.
- Develop strategies to advertise green products or merchandise to consumers.
- Monitor and analyze sales records, trends, or economic conditions to anticipate consumer buying patterns and determine what the company will sell and how much inventory is needed.
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Wholesale & Retail Buyer Skills
Wholesale and Retail Buyers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Negotiation: Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Persuasion: Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Related Job Titles
- Sustainability Purchasing Agent
- Technical Buyer
- Product Manager
- Head of Merchandise Buying
- Commodity Buyer
Job Opportunities for Wholesale and Retail Buyers
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 123,300 jobs in the United States for Wholesale and Retail Buyer. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Wholesale and Retail Buyer. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 13,300 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Wholesale & Retail Buyer are Washington, Colorado, and Utah. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Vermont, or Delaware. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What Tools do Wholesale and Retail Buyers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Wholesale and Retail Buyers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Email software
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Project
- Spreadsheet software
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Oracle PeopleSoft
- Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne
- Scheduling software
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
How to Become a Wholesale & Retail Buyer
What education or degrees do I need to become a Wholesale and Retail Buyer?
What work experience do I need to become a Wholesale & Retail Buyer?
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those thinking about becoming a Wholesale and Retail Buyer might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
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