Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products

Typical job duties performed with this occupation include:

TASK DUTIES
Conduct sales meetings to introduce new merchandise.
Inspect merchandise or products to determine quality, value, or yield.
Collaborate with vendors to obtain or develop desired products.
Obtain information about customer needs or preferences by conferring with sales or purchasing personnel.
Recommend mark-up rates, markdown rates, or merchandise selling prices.
Examine, select, order, or purchase merchandise consistent with quality, quantity, specification requirements, or other factors, such as environmental soundness.
Negotiate prices, discount terms, or transportation arrangements with suppliers.
Buy merchandise or commodities for resale to wholesale or retail consumers.
Monitor consumer preferences or environmental trends to determine the best way to introduce new green products.
Identify opportunities to buy green commodities, such as alternative energy, water, or carbon-neutral products for resale to consumers.
Develop strategies to advertise green products or merchandise to consumers.
Compare transportation options to determine the most energy efficient options.
Analyze environmental aspects of competing merchandise when making buying decisions.
Monitor competitors' sales activities by following their advertisements in newspapers or other media.
Determine which products should be featured in advertising, the advertising medium to be used, or when the ads should be run.
Provide clerks with information to print on price tags, such as price, mark-ups or mark-downs, manufacturer number, season code, or style number.
Train or supervise sales or clerical staff.
Consult with store or merchandise managers about budgets or goods to be purchased.
Monitor and analyze sales records, trends, or economic conditions to anticipate consumer buying patterns and determine what the company will sell and how much inventory is needed.
Authorize payment of invoices or return of merchandise.
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*Note: Not all occupations will have a full list of Task Duties or associated programs

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Training for this occupational program or those in a similar family of programs can be located at the following postsecondary institutions in the State of Kansas. Please check with a program advisor at the postsecondary institution for more information on the particular focus of each program listed. Programs nearest the local area appear first. Click on the program to find more information.

INSTITUTION NAME	CITY	INSTITUTION TYPE	PROGRAM TITLE	AWARDS	HOURS
Johnson County Community College	Overland Park	Public	FASHION MERCHANDISING AND MARKETING	Associate Degree - AAS	66
Johnson County Community College	Overland Park	Public	VISUAL MERCHANDISING	Less Than One-year Technical Certificate - CERT	25

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