Purchasing is an important role within the retail sector and one which is attractive to many applicants. Purchasers are used by shops across the board, including supermarkets which must choose which products to stock its shelves with. A person in this role will need to have a wide range of product knowledge and a good grasp of figures in order to ensure maximum profits. Fashion purchasers, on the other hand, will be required to follow and predict new trends for their employers
Purchasers also sometimes work as media buyers, who are responsible for purchasing air time on radio, television and space in newspapers in order to advertise a particular product. One other example of a buyer is industrial purchasers, who are involved in sourcing the required materials for construction projects.
Buyers generally work closely with the finance department of a company and qualifications in a related field are considered to be advantageous. Most employees insist on a degree, usually in business or marketing related fields. Salaries within this line of work vary greatly depending on the size of the company and the scope of work, but generally sit in the field of £20,000 - £25,000.

• Having good negotiation skills.
• Being able to work under pressure.
• Having knowledge about budgets and finances.
• Being organised.
• Having good IT skills.
• Having problem solving abilities.
• Having interpersonal skills.
• Being able to work with a team.
• Having Math skills.
• Having high attention to details.

There are several useful paths and qualifications for employers in Purchasing area. Candidates can start working as assistants or administrators in the purchasing department. Thanks to on-the-job experience, they can obtain professional qualifications from the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply. Other path is having a degree, Higher National Diploma, Higher National Certificate, or BTEC in logistics studies or supply chain management.

Courses mentioned before require applicants with five GCSE´s (A
*-C) and two A levels including English and Math as a minimum. Check specific requirements with every university or institution.