What Do Wholesale and Retail Buyers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Wholesale and Retail Buyers 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. They also buy merchandise or commodities for resale to wholesale or retail consumers.

Other tasks include:

• Negotiate prices, discount terms, or transportation arrangements with suppliers.
• Consult with store or merchandise managers about budgets or goods to be purchased.
• Examine, select, order, or purchase merchandise consistent with quality, quantity, specification requirements, or other factors, such as environmental soundness.
• Provide clerks with information to print on price tags, such as price, mark-ups or mark-downs, manufacturer number, season code, or style number.
• Recommend mark-up rates, markdown rates, or merchandise selling prices.
• Obtain information about customer needs or preferences by conferring with sales or purchasing personnel.

We asked Wholesale and Retail Buyers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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66% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 39% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Wholesale and Retail Buyers provide clerks with information to print on price tags, such as price, mark-ups or mark-downs, manufacturer number, season code, or style number. They obtain information about customer needs or preferences by conferring with sales or purchasing personnel.

• Authorize payment of invoices or return of merchandise.
• Buy merchandise or commodities for resale to wholesale or retail consumers.
• Negotiate prices, discount terms, or transportation arrangements with suppliers.
• Collaborate with vendors to obtain or develop desired products.
• Examine, select, order, or purchase merchandise consistent with quality, quantity, specification requirements, or other factors, such as environmental soundness.

We asked some Wholesale and Retail Buyers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	100% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	57% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	82% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	58% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	13% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	76% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Wholesale and Retail Buyers also determine which products should be featured in advertising, the advertising medium to be used, or when the ads should be run. They may also authorize payment of invoices or return of merchandise.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Wholesale and Retail Buyers Recommend mark-up rates, markdown rates, or merchandise selling prices. They might also Monitor competitors’ sales activities by following their advertisements in newspapers or other media.

In addition, they Inspect merchandise or products to determine quality, value, or yield.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Analyze environmental aspects of competing merchandise when making buying decisions.

To some Wholesale and Retail Buyers, it is also their responsibility to Examine, select, order, or purchase merchandise consistent with quality, quantity, specification requirements, or other factors, such as environmental soundness.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Wholesale and Retail Buyer, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/business-and-financial/buyers-and-purchasing-agents.htm

http://www.american-purchasing.com/

https://www.instituteforsupplymanagement.org/

http://www.nigp.org/