Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Analysing Data or Information Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Developing and Building Teams Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

The Work

Retail buyers buy goods from importers, manufacturers, growers, wholesalers and fashion houses etc, to sell at a profit. They attend trade and/or fashion shows, visit warehouses and see representatives who call with samples and catalogues. In some cases, they make business trips overseas. Buyers also have a crucial role in product development, talking to manufacturers or designers about possible new lines.  
 
The success of the business depends on the buyer getting the right goods, at the right price, to the right place, at the right time. To do this, they must keep to their budget and work out whether the goods will sell once the firm's mark-up is added to the cost price. They take into consideration store policy, public demand and the economic situation. Data from sales outlets must be scrutinised and past sales figures analysed.  
 
Buyers have to anticipate trends, find new sources of supply, and negotiate with suppliers. They discuss contracts, arrange delivery dates so that goods arrive on time and warehouses are not overstocked, and then monitor the profitability of merchandise.  
 
In large stores, there may be a team of retail buyers who specialise in specific areas or departments. A retail buyer can specialise in specific products in smaller outlets in areas such as Fashion, Wines and Spirits etc.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Represent companies in negotiating contracts and formulating policies with suppliers.
• Develop cost reduction strategies and savings plans.
• Develop and implement purchasing and contract management instructions, policies, and procedures.
• Prepare bid awards requiring board approval.
• Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in buying, selling, and distributing materials, equipment, machinery, and supplies.
• Locate vendors of materials, equipment or supplies, and interview them to determine product availability and terms of sales.
• Interview and hire staff, and oversee staff training.
• Prepare and process requisitions and purchase orders for supplies and equipment.
• Review, evaluate, and approve specifications for issuing and awarding bids.
• Control purchasing department budgets.

Further Information

• Purchasing Manager - Retail - from: N.C.S. [UK]

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Retail outlets recruit retail buyers from a variety of sources. Existing junior employees that show potential may undertake long-term management training programmes. These programmes are usually store based with additional courses to improve specific skills or to cover the more theoretical aspects of retailing. It is possible to start as a retail assistant without qualifications and gain promotion to managerial posts.  

A varied job background is also beneficial as many skills are transferrable, and many wholesalers have a background in sales, business management or logistics; but some wholesalers employ people with those skills. It is also important to have an extended network of contacts in the relevant industry.

Training & Development

FET Centre Traineeship: Business Admin, Retail customer service, and Management in centres around Ireland NFQ Level 5-6 Search FET Courses

FET PLC Courses: Business Management, Sales, Marketing, Commerce, Retail and Merchandising, Retail Business and Customer Service, Retail Studies, Business, Logistics & Distribution, Purchasing, Supply Chain & Logistics, Purchasing & Procurement at NFQ Levels 5-6 Search FET PLC Courses

Apprenticeship: Sales, Retail supervision, Logistics & supply, Lean Sigma management Apprenticeships NFQ level 6-8 Search Apprenticeships

Higher Education CAO Entry: Business, Commerce, Retail and Services Management, Retail Management &  marketing, E-Commerce in Retailing, economics, Quantity surveying, Logistics & Supply Chain Management  NFQ Levels 6-8 Search CAO courses

Professional Development & Associations 

Postgraduate Study Options Sales, Business, Retail Management , Marketing & Retail Innovation, Procurement & Supply courses at NFQ level 9

Retail Skillnet 

You may be able to make important contacts and keep up-to-date on relevant regulations and news, events and training opportunities in your sector through professional organisations. Many different industries have their own professional organisations for wholesalers, such as:

• Association of Electrical Wholesalers
• Hardware Association Ireland
• Irish Foodservice Suppliers Alliance
• The Society of the Irish Motor Industry

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €40k - €85k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.

Data Source(s):
Brightwater / Clark/ Excel/ Lincoln/ Osborne

Last Updated: July, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Despite a strong employment growth rate for this occupation, employment levels fell between 2021 and 2022. Employment is spread across a number of roles including marketing associate professionals, buyers & procurement officers, conference/expo managers and estate agents. Employment permits issued in 2022 were primarily for roles in the ICT sector such as digital marketing and accounts managers with language skills required for some.

The Recruitment Agency Survey highlighted issues in sourcing candidates for procurement roles. The number of job adverts for this role grew in 2022, driven by increases for buyers/procurement officers and conference organisers etc. In addition, procurement/tendering documentation skills were not confined to this occupation, but were also in demand outside of sales roles, albeit in small numbers.

• Retail Ireland

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• Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS)

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