“Being a buyer is someone who has a certain level of commerciality and creativity, you’ve got to have a real balance; you can’t be excessive in one or the other. And really it’s about delivering your profit margin and delivering a product that your customers are going to buy.” Whilst the creative side of buying is undoubtedly important, Sahar alludes to the fact that aspiring buyers need to maintain a degree of business sensibility if they wish to make waves in their retail careers.
Although the internet has revolutionised the world of retail in the last decade, it still accounts for only 4% of retail sales. Consumers still like to try clothes on and buy impulsively, and the role of the fashion buyer is vital to maintaining these high street sales. For Kasiri, seeing your work recognised is something she loves about her job; “The really rewarding thing is when you’re walking down the street and you see customers wearing what you’ve bought.”
The job of a fashion buyer has its glamorous elements, and this is proving to be the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for Sahar: “I always knew I wanted a job where I traveled around the world… When I was 16 I was watching some catwalk trends on TV and I was really interested to know who the people were in the front rows... A decade ago it was more about fashion buyers being in the front rows.” Whilst it is celebrities that now dominate the front rows at catwalks, the role of the fashion buyer is still important as it ever was; especially in the current economic climate where competition is high and prices are expected to be low.
Sahar, who at the last minute decided against a law degree to pursue her dream, feels she has now found her calling; “I remember asking a career advisor who that person was and they directed me towards that career and said that this person travels around the world and buys clothes and as a girl it was the most fascinating thing ever… I would say at the moment this is my dream job, this is what I’ve always wanted to do... Leading in to the future, I would probably like to have my own brand, and I aspire to do that.”
You can see Sahar’s video here: http://www.retailchoice.com/careers-advice/profiles/fashion
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