7 Personality Traits that Benefit Retail Buyers

Do you have what it takes to be a successful buyer?

Retail buyers spend their days sourcing new products and analyzing the success of existing goods to ensure that the company and its products remain competitive.

Whether specializing in a certain department with a specific type of merchandise, or buying for all departments in the store, here is a list of the 7 personality traits that benefit retail buyers.

1. Self-driven

If you’re the self-motivated type, you have at least one of the necessary traits to be a successful retail buyer. Buyers, even though they often report to Merchandising Managers or other upper management, need to be self-driven and able to work on their own.

2. Intuitive

To be a retail buyer, it’s necessary for you to understand what motivates others to buy certain products. Being intuitive and understanding human nature are key traits that successful buyers share.

3. Analytical

What products are going like hotcakes and which ones are spending their lives on the shelves? If figuring out market trends, customer preferences and analyzing data is challenging to you, being a retail buyer may be the perfect fit. You’ll need strong math and analytical skills and the desire to spend your time crunching numbers and using your critical thinking abilities.

4. Negotiator

After you’ve decided which products to purchase for your company, you’ll need to use your negotiating power to get those products at the best price. Any buyer worth their weight knows how to work with suppliers. You’ll need to establish relationships with vendors and be able to hammer out the best deals.

5. Communicator

Wallflowers need not apply. To be successful, retail buyers must have great communication skills. Because even though you may often work on your own, you’re a critical part of the team. You’ll have frequent interaction with sales people, stock staff, managers and any other members of your team who can offer valuable input into what’s happening with sales, customers and inventory — all key aspects of your job.

6. Forecaster

As a retail buyer you won’t be expected to know what the weather will bring tomorrow, but you will need to be able to anticipate future market trends. In many cases, you’ll be buying merchandise months in advance of it hitting your store, so understanding sales data, staying current with what’s happening in your industry and being able to act on that information properly is crucial to your success.

7. Confident

Are you comfortable with your abilities and making decisions based on your own analysis? If so, you likely have the confidence necessary to succeed as a buyer. You’ll not only have to feel confident in your own abilities, you’ll have to handle the pressure of working in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines.

If the idea of working closely with suppliers and using your analytical skills on a daily basis appeals to you, becoming a retail buyer may be a career path you should pursue. Buyers can use their abilities to work for a variety of retailers including department stores, fashion boutiques, sporting goods or electronics retailers and more. For more information on a career as a retail buyer, contact answerQUEST.

If you need any guidance or resources in the retail space, contact Brandon today.