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Apprenticeship training course

Buying and merchandising assistant (level 4)

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Information about Buying and merchandising assistant (level 4)

Helping bring products to market for retailer buying or merchandising teams.

Knowledge, skills and behaviours
View knowledge, skills and behaviours

Knowledge

  • How to develop an operational or strategic approach to buying and / or merchandising
  • Industry standards, regulations and legislation relating to the ethical and sustainable sourcing, purchasing and sale of goods to ensure compliance
  • Product lifecycle from development to customer and the critical path approach to support the buying and merchandising process
  • Principles of buying and merchandising and the specific role of each
  • The brand position within the market, which includes both UK and global markets, retailer types and trading models
  • Effective methods of negotiation, and how they relate to the organisation’s strategy, goals and ethical stance
  • Key aspects of the sector in respect of global and domestic trading patterns
  • Principles of working within strategic operational buying and merchandising frameworks
  • Effective methods of communication to achieve operational success
  • The different purchasing habits of customers, seasonality and the different customer journey across all purchasing channels
  • The importance of keeping up with current trends within the industry
  • The importance of customer profiles and how they impact buying and merchandising operations
  • The principles of team dynamics and relationships in order to achieve individual and organisational goals
  • The importance of coaching and mentoring to support the development of the buying and merchandising teams
  • The goals and targets of the business, the drivers of performance and the contribution of the team in order to achieve these
  • The key performance indicators of the department, their performance and how to individually contribute to their success
  • The range and impact of external factors such as currency fluctuation and global suppliers have on profit margin and costs
  • Factors affecting and impacting seasonal planning to ensure availability of appropriate products and to drive profit
  • The principles of internal trend analysis and forecasting
  • The principles of undertaking competitor analyses
  • How to develop an operational or strategic approach to buying and / or merchandising
  • Industry standards, regulations and legislation relating to the ethical and sustainable sourcing, purchasing and sale of goods to ensure compliance
  • Product lifecycle from development to customer and the critical path approach to support the buying and merchandising process
  • Principles of buying and merchandising and the specific role of each
  • The brand position within the market, which includes both UK and global markets, retailer types and trading models
  • Effective methods of negotiation, and how they relate to the organisation’s strategy, goals and ethical stance
  • Key aspects of the sector in respect of global and domestic trading patterns
  • Principles of working within strategic operational buying and merchandising frameworks
  • Effective methods of communication to achieve operational success
  • The different purchasing habits of customers, seasonality and the different customer journey across all purchasing channels
  • The importance of keeping up with current trends within the industry
  • The importance of customer profiles and how they impact buying and merchandising operations
  • The principles of team dynamics and relationships in order to achieve individual and organisational goals
  • The importance of coaching and mentoring to support the development of the buying and merchandising teams
  • The goals and targets of the business, the drivers of performance and the contribution of the team in order to achieve these
  • The key performance indicators of the department, their performance and how to individually contribute to their success
  • The range and impact of external factors such as currency fluctuation and global suppliers have on profit margin and costs
  • Factors affecting and impacting seasonal planning to ensure availability of appropriate products and to drive profit
  • The principles of internal trend analysis and forecasting
  • The principles of undertaking competitor analyses
  • The impact of stock planning and densities on profitability and how it aligns to organisational/brand strategy

Skills

  • Uses their market/industry knowledge to contribute to new product development and innovation
  • Contributes to the building of customer focused ranges to meet the brand identity of the business
  • Ensures product quality and legal compliance by working within industry standards, regulations and legislation to source, purchase and sell goods
  • Ensures accurate implementation of the critical path prioritising actions accordingly
  • Negotiates in a manner that balances the need for a sound financial return, with the need to operate ethically, honestly and fairly
  • Monitors agreed performance targets with suppliers to manage ongoing supplier relationships
  • Applies the organisation strategy to buying and/or merchandising to ensure strategic objectives are met
  • Applies an ethical and sustainable approach to the buying and merchandising process in line with policies and procedures to achieve legal compliance
  • Ensures the agreed route to market is delivered and maintained successfully so that objectives are met
  • Works with external and internal departments (for example, marketing, distribution, suppliers) to build relationships to drive sales activity and support the delivery of the business objectives across all channels
  • Uses data to support decisions to influence both the strategic and operational direction of the buying and/or merchandising approach.
  • Demonstrates accurate application of systems in analysing data (for example, customer trends, buying patterns, stock rotation and levels)
  • Evaluates commercial performance to support proposed actions for both good and poor product performers
  • Demonstrates anticipation of customer buying and product patterns to forecast future demand
  • Articulates relevant ideas and opinions towards trends and competitor activity so that opportunities may be identified
  • Applies customer profile/trend data to inform the development of a range, products and services
  • Formulates and communicates customer propositions
  • Develops self and individuals to improve personal and team performance and capability
  • Demonstrates commercial buying and merchandising within a financial framework
  • Operates in a manner that produces the required financial rate of return for the business
  • Coaches and mentors new/less experienced colleagues
  • Analyses and presents business data to support achievement of business strategies, brand and KPIs
  • Uses their market/industry knowledge to contribute to new product development and innovation
  • Contributes to the building of customer focused ranges to meet the brand identity of the business
  • Ensures product quality and legal compliance by working within industry standards, regulations and legislation to source, purchase and sell goods
  • Ensures accurate implementation of the critical path prioritising actions accordingly
  • Negotiates in a manner that balances the need for a sound financial return, with the need to operate ethically, honestly and fairly
  • Monitors agreed performance targets with suppliers to manage ongoing supplier relationships
  • Applies the organisation strategy to buying and/or merchandising to ensure strategic objectives are met
  • Applies an ethical and sustainable approach to the buying and merchandising process in line with policies and procedures to achieve legal compliance
  • Ensures the agreed route to market is delivered and maintained successfully so that objectives are met
  • Works with external and internal departments (for example, marketing, distribution, suppliers) to build relationships to drive sales activity and support the delivery of the business objectives across all channels
  • Uses data to support decisions to influence both the strategic and operational direction of the buying and/or merchandising approach.
  • Demonstrates accurate application of systems in analysing data (for example, customer trends, buying patterns, stock rotation and levels)
  • Evaluates commercial performance to support proposed actions for both good and poor product performers
  • Demonstrates anticipation of customer buying and product patterns to forecast future demand
  • Articulates relevant ideas and opinions towards trends and competitor activity so that opportunities may be identified
  • Applies customer profile/trend data to inform the development of a range, products and services
  • Formulates and communicates customer propositions
  • Develops self and individuals to improve personal and team performance and capability
  • Demonstrates commercial buying and merchandising within a financial framework
  • Operates in a manner that produces the required financial rate of return for the business
  • Coaches and mentors new/less experienced colleagues
  • Analyses and presents business data to support achievement of business strategies, brand and KPIs
  • Ensures effective stock management to support the delivery of the sales and profit forecasts

Behaviours

  • Is creative thinking, and enthusiastic with a positive and professional attitude
  • Is confident accountable and pro-active
  • Shows tenacity and is prepared to take risks
  • Is resilient, organised with an eye for attention to detail
  • Is flexible, agile and adaptable to changing markets
  • Operates within professional code of ethics
  • Is an ambassador for the business
  • Is creative thinking, and enthusiastic with a positive and professional attitude
  • Is confident accountable and pro-active
  • Shows tenacity and is prepared to take risks
  • Is resilient, organised with an eye for attention to detail
  • Is flexible, agile and adaptable to changing markets
  • Operates within professional code of ethics
  • Is an ambassador for the business
Apprenticeship category (sector)
Sales, marketing and procurement
Qualification level
4
Equal to higher national certificate (HNC)
Course duration
18 months
Maximum funding
£6,000
Maximum government funding for
apprenticeship training and assessment costs.
Job titles include
  • Merchandising assistant
  • Buying assistant

View more information about Buying and merchandising assistant (level 4) from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.