Being a fashion buyer isn’t the glamorous job fashionistas think it is. The position calls for way more than just having a skill in shopping. It has a lot to do with knowing how to project and analyze business, understanding trends and consumer behavior.  I know all this because I actually worked as fashion buyer for several retailers before I started my own retail consulting & digital marketing agency for fashion companies. I started with Macy’s, the moved onto BCBG, which led me to work at Metropark, which led me to work at Bebe. The path to getting there is also extremely competitive – lots of ladders to climb without enough buyer positions available. However, if it is something that you truly want, then I say go for it! To help you get there, here’s a list of things that I did, which helped get my foot into the buying offices when I was still a lowly undergrad. And contrary to what most people think, you don’t need to go to fashion school to become a buyer – just a keen understanding of numbers, an eye for style, the ability to work with A LOT of people, and the skill to react to changes quickly.

1. I interned everywhere, at showrooms, magazines, designers’ studios, boutiques, you name it!

All I cared about was that the internship had to be fashion or retail related. Employers want to see real-world experience, more so than just classroom time. Here’s a blog post from my blog on how to find a fashion internship. 

2. I started interning early.

I began interning during summer vacation of my sophomore year, which meant that I had a lot of time to keep building my resume.

3. I worked retail.

Just because you will be working in the buying offices doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have any experience working at an actual stores. The best buyers are actually the ones who have a clear and strong understanding of the sales floor because that’s where the merchandise they are buying will actually be going. It benefits the buyer to have a good relationship with the store managers, with the visual team, and with the sales staff.

4. I started small.

I didn’t expect to get an internship at a big retailer right away. Instead, I began with local designers, and showrooms. Then when I had enough experience, which was during my Junior year, I applied for an internship at Macy’s. I interned with them during the summer of my Junior year. After the internship, they gave me a job offer to come back after school to become an assistant buyer.

5. During every internship, I made sure to do the following:

• Never be late
• Always had a pen and paper when my boss called me over. That way I was prepared to take notes in case I needed to.
• Asked questions. I never said I understood when I didn’t.
• Took initiative. If I finished my tasks early, I found something else to do.
• Always double checked my work. This will lead them to give me more responsibility.
• I volunteered for as many things as I could, as long as I wasn’t over-exerting myself. I learned more and I got more chances to show them what I was really capable of.

6. I wan’t afraid to build relationships with my bosses.

I asked them about their experiences and how they got into the fashion industry. Most of them gave me valuable tips that helped speed up my career path.

7. I always strived to be the best intern and didn’t burn any bridges, even if I hated the internship experience.

Why? Because I knew I needed those companies to give me amazing recommendations. So, always give 110% effort in everything you do.

8. I stayed in contact with all of my bosses. Like I said, you need them for references and maybe even referrals.

Overall, getting into the buying offices to become an actual fashion buyer takes time and experience. Depending on where you are in your career, you may not have to start from the very beginning where I had to begin. There are many instances when people who work at the store level have successfully transferred to the buying side. But even then, they have to start as an assistant buyer first. So, just be patient and continue to learn as much as you can. You’ll get there eventually….and the free samples of clothes and accessories make the experience a whole lot sweeter! 😉

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