Fashion Buying

Clare McTurk is Principal Lecturer in Fashion Buying and Sustainability lead at the Manchester Fashion Institute, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. Originating from an apparel buying background in the outdoor industry Clare has over 25 years of teaching and professional fashion industry experience. Research interests include Made in Britain, Fashion Business, Fashion Buying, International Fashion Sourcing, Ethical Trade and Sustainability, and teaching and learning. Dimitri Koumbis is a lecturer at LIM College in New York City. He has over 15 years of retail experience as a practitioner and educator, working in creative marketing and design management for fast fashion brands such as Urban Outfitters and Gap, Inc. Additionally, Dimitri is a retail consultant and strategist for emerging and SME brands.

• IntroductionChapter Summary1. The Fashion Buyer Fashion Retail EnvironmentsThe Buyer’s Relationship with the Retail EnvironmentTypes of Retail StoresNational Brands Vs Private LabelsWhat Is the Fashion Buyer?Buying Teams and Their Working Environment Fashion Buying Approaches and the ConsumerFashion CyclesProduct-Specific Purchasing – Classifications Case Study: The Global Buying DirectorInterview: Andrew Searson, Adidas Chapter 1 Summary Discussion Points/Exercises2. Sources of Buying InspirationBuyers and Market IntelligenceMarket Research Focus On the CustomerTrend Forecasting Buying Markets and International Trade FairsCompetition ShoppingCase Study: Seek Berlin at Berlin Fashion Week Interview: Damien Winpenny Sales Manager - SeekChapter 2 Summary and Extra ReadingDiscussion Points/Exercises3. Suppliers, Sourcing, Communication and Range Planning The Relationship Between, Designer, Buyer and Quality Assurance.What Is A Supply Chain?The Buyers Role in the Supply ChainThe Buyer – Supplier Relationship Sourcing SuppliersManaging the Supply BaseMonitoring Supplier PerformanceSourcing IssuesGlobal SourcingDeveloping Product Categories and Selecting LinesFabric SelectionFashion Lead-Times, Critical Path and the Fashion CycleFashion Buyers and Fabric SourcingSelecting and Buying Garments Case Study: The Designer and Buyer PerspectiveInterview: Stephen Park and Stephanie StumbaughChapter 3 Summary and Extra ReadingDiscussion Points/Exercises4. Range and Merchandise PlanningWhat Is Merchandise Planning?Buyer and Merchandiser RelationshipBuyer Instinct Vs PlanningBuyer Success and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)Merchandise Planning ProcessesMerchandise Pricing and MarkdownsRisk, Range Planning, Width, and DepthGetting the Range Balance RightSelecting and Grading the Store RangesProduct Sampling and Final Range PreparationCase Study: WhichPLMInterview: Mark HarropChapter 4 Summary and Extra ReadingDiscussion Points/Exercises5. Trends in Fashion Buying Consumer Connection and Promotional ActivitiesBranding, Advertising and MarketingSocial Media and the AI InfluencerVisual MerchandisingShowtelling and Pop-UpFashion Technology and the Digital Fashion LandscapeCorporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Vs Environmental Social Governance (ESG)Fashion CircularityIntellectual Property RightsCase Study: CLO Virtual Fashion Inc.Interview: Simon JH Kim - Global CEOChapter 5 Summary and Extra ReadingDiscussion Points/ExercisesConclusionGlossaryIndustry Resources Index Acknowledgments and Picture Credits

Praise for the previous edition:In five to-the-point chapters, Fashion Buying delivers all that is needed to know about becoming a buyer. It is at once detailed and efficient; a masterful little book that inevitably paves the way to a better understanding of the merchandising environment and the job of a fashion buyer.