BUYING MANAGER SKILLS, EXPERIENCE, AND JOB REQUIREMENTS
Updated: Oct 12, 2024 - The Buying Manager with robust expertise in translating complex financial and business indicators into strategic actions, leverages a strong command of retail math and Excel to enhance decision-making and profitability. This role capitalizes on deep experience in general merchandise buying and sourcing from the Far East, aiming to optimize commercial terms and profit margins continually. With a proven track record as a people manager, the focus remains on fostering team performance and cultivating cross-functional partnerships to drive overall business success.
Essential Hard and Soft Skills for a Standout Buying Manager Resume
- Supplier Relationship Management
- Inventory Management
- Budgeting and Financial Analysis
- Negotiation
- Data Analysis
- Market Research
- Product Lifecycle Management
- Contract Management
- Supply Chain Management
- Forecasting
- Communication
- Leadership
- Decision Making
- Strategic Thinking
- Problem Solving
- Adaptability
- Teamwork
- Attention to Detail
- Persuasiveness
- Time Management


Summary of Buying Manager Knowledge and Qualifications on Resume
1. BA in Supply Chain Management with 3 years of Experience
- Language Proficiency Fluent in English, added proficiency in Cantonese or Mandarin
- Excellent analytics and Excel skills and strong market sense
- Seasonal assortment planning and buying experience
- Knowledge and intuition of the style, design and color characteristics of best and worst sellers
- Retail and product expertise in the key markets
- Strong understanding of customer needs
- Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills
- Excellent presentation, communication, and influencing skills
- Strong teamwork and collaboration with cross-functional teams
- Ability to interact and communicate with all levels of employees – both senior and junior
- Flexibility to adapt to the changing trends of business requires
2. BA in Business Administration with 4 years of Experience
- Working experience at a management level, including people/team management
- Relevant buying/merchandise experience
- Building and maintaining strategic supplier relationships
- Drive a merchandise strategy by demonstrating innovative and creative thinking
- Persuading and influencing internal and external stakeholders
- Delivering to aggressive deadlines, incl. problem-solving
- Analytical ability to effectively evaluate and drive functional KPIs, including sales growth, PIS, CSOH, input- and maintained margins, stock turn, clearance
- Strong written and verbal communication at all levels of the organization
- Leadership and people management abilities
- Be able to commute to Hertfordshire 2/3 days a week
- Be willing to travel to the Far East to visit factories, fairs, etc.
3. BS in Retail Management with 5 years of Experience
- Ability to evaluate financial and business indicators and translate data into actionable information to drive results; proficiency in retail math
- Strong ability to apply logic to solve problems and generate effective solutions
- Able to leverage quantities and qualitative data to make business decisions and take smart risks
- Able to build collaborative cross-functional partnerships and present information in a compelling influential manner in group and one-on-one settings
- Proficient in Excel; demonstrated aptitude for leveraging and learning new technology and tools
- Ability to assess relatively complex situations and analyze data to make judgments and recommend solutions
- Have a great background in general merchandise buying with great experience in sourcing products from the Far East.
- Be an experienced people manager with a track record of improving the performance of the buying team
- Be very commercial, always looking to improve commercial terms and improve profit margin where possible.
- Have a great eye for product, will understand the market and customer base
- Be passionate about role and career and want to continuously improve business performance and own performance.