Retail Buyer Duties & Responsibilities

The role and function of a Retail Buyer includes the following duties and responsibilities:

  • Identify customer preferences and forecast consumer trends
  • Evaluate supplier options according to prices, quality etc. and determine the best choices
  • Discover and purchase new products and check the quality and popularity of those already on our shelves
  • Create reports on sales, budgets and customer satisfaction and adjust your strategies accordingly
  • Forge and maintain trust relationships with suppliers to promote fair dealing
  • Negotiate terms of agreements to achieve the best deal for our company
  • Ensure the timely delivery of products and compliance with the contracts of purchase
  • Monitor stock levels and make plans for buying within budget
  • Attend events, fairs and exhibitions to remain up-to-date with the market’s trends

Note that this is not an exhaustive list of Retail Buyer duties and responsibilities. Job functions for specific Retail Buyer roles may vary, depending on the industry and type of employer.