In the retail industry, a buyer is an individual who selects what items are stocked and their key responsibility is dealing with all the products that come into the store.

Their role is also heavily influenced by the structure of their organization; for example, a Christian Dior buyer in the Paris office may supervise the entire development process of the collection.

However, in the New York office, a buyer may only source completed product that is suitable for the American market.

However, in a smaller retailer a buyer may buy for a larger, less specialized range such as women's casualwear which may include shirts, skirts, pants, and jackets.

Large companies that have a broad range of products often have separate buying departments for menswear, womenswear, and childrenswear.

Assistant buyers may also be in charge of orders and shipments, supervise sales personnel, keep records, and maintain relationships with vendors.

Buying teams are further divided based on the product area (e.g., athletic wear, leather goods, etc.

A buyer can have frequent meetings with the buying manager to discuss the development of the range of garments.

A buyer meets with the finance, marketing, and retail sales personnel on a less frequent basis.

[1] The buyer must remember that the retailer and manufacturer share similar goals and that the two need to form an honest relationship based on respect and integrity.

According to Peter Vogt, buyers predict months and in some cases years in advance what accessories and apparel will sell, and at what prices.

[3] Depending on the item and season, buyers purchase merchandise six months before it sold in stores.

In order for buyers to anticipate future trends, they familiarize themselves with current merchandise in catalogs and line sheets[5] and travel to seasonal fashion weeks[6] and shows to view new styles.

[1] A bachelor's degree in retail, buy, marketing, fashion, business, or related field is preferred for a buyer position.

It is beneficial if one has retail experience such as the executive training program or a previous sales associate position since it is helpful to have an understanding of the selling floor.