Saks Fifth Ave

[Liam O]

So despite my academic orientation, I'm interested enough in fashion (note, I did not say I am fashionable) to consider a career in it.

A friend who worked as a buyer has recommended getting an assistant buyer's position at Saks Fifth ave.

With so many sartorialists on here, I have to ask, has anyone else considered applying for the two menswear buying positions they have open? In any case it'll be a few months before I know whether or not I need to apply, so I figured as a PSA I'd let you know the jobs are still available.

 

[tacobender]

How much do you value job security? Buyers tend to get turned and burned fast. The average NBA/NFL player has a longer career than buyers at any given company.

 

[imageWIS]



How much do you value job security? Buyers tend to get turned and burned fast. The average NBA/NFL player has a longer career than buyers at any given company.

Not only that, but Saks in particular is a ****** company. If you want to be a buyer, best bet is to go supplier side, to one of the brands that sells to the dept stores / boutiques.

 

[Kiwi Man]



How much do you value job security? Buyers tend to get turned and burned fast. The average NBA/NFL player has a longer career than buyers at any given company.

Interesting to hear more about this.

Do you know why buyers usually get turnover that quickly?

 

[Texasmade]



Interesting to hear more about this.
Do you know why buyers usually get turnover that quickly?

My guess is that if they have 1 bad season with a bunch of excess inventory that needs to get marked down, they won't get another year to make up for it unless they have a long history of success. To make things harder, there are at least 2 seasons per year, F/W and S/S so you have to be constantly on your game.

I could be wrong since I don't work in retail fashion but that's just my hunch.

 

[dfagdfsh]

unless you have wealthy parents who have set you up with a trust fund and an apartment in NYC I'd say that you should probably look elsewhere

 

[texas_jack]



unless you have wealthy parents who have set you up with a trust fund and an apartment in NYC I'd say that you should probably look elsewhere

lol, that's a shot

 

[iroh]



My guess is that if they have 1 bad season with a bunch of excess inventory that needs to get marked down, they won't get another year to make up for it unless they have a long history of success. To make things harder, there are at least 2 seasons per year, F/W and S/S so you have to be constantly on your game.
I could be wrong since I don't work in retail fashion but that's just my hunch.

with that much pressure to perform surely buyers are making $250,000+ per year right?

 

[oneeightyseven]

don't bother with it. not only do you have to be able to pick up on trends, before they happen, you aren't secure, and what is your motivation for doing it? simply because fashion is a hobby? it isn't a viable option. plus, no offence intended, but you have a lot to learn regarding fashion etc.

 

[tacobender]



My guess is that if they have 1 bad season with a bunch of excess inventory that needs to get marked down, they won't get another year to make up for it unless they have a long history of success. To make things harder, there are at least 2 seasons per year, F/W and S/S so you have to be constantly on your game.
I could be wrong since I don't work in retail fashion but that's just my hunch.

Thats pretty much it.

No one has time in this day and age with tight operating margins to put up with a buyer wasting open to buy dollars on things that are the wrong color, size, style, etc that ends up getting discounting too deeply, or doesn't sell until late into the season thus causing some cash flow delays. A company isn't going to wait for a buyer to get things right over the course of 4-6 seasons (2-3 years) to hone their skill and perfect their craft. One bad season and your updating your resume.

 

[Liam O]

I live close enough to commute.

That being said, after having met a bunch of buyers from various stores in the general Bergdorf/Saks area...

I don't think I'm going to be doing that. I'll probably apply, and keep it open as an option, but all any of them did was ***** about a) pressure, b) being expendable and c) **** sales since '08.

Could be large stores like that are dead.

 

[Kiwi Man]



Thats pretty much it.
No one has time in this day and age with tight operating margins to put up with a buyer wasting open to buy dollars on things that are the wrong color, size, style, etc that ends up getting discounting too deeply, or doesn't sell until late into the season thus causing some cash flow delays. A company isn't going to wait for a buyer to get things right over the course of 4-6 seasons (2-3 years) to hone their skill and perfect their craft. One bad season and your updating your resume.

This is what I don't understand. If things do not get sold, why would it be easier to blame on buyers than those who work at marketing department for not creating attactive campaign or proper advertising. What about those who work at accounting or finance for setting unreasonable price?

 

[Joffrey]

I guess cause it's the buyer's job to buy merchandise that will sell. From what I understand, there's very little style involved in buying. It's all numbers and excel spreadsheets.

 

[tacobender]

Bingo. Sales associates can create a million and one excuses for something not selling. No foot traffic, lack of interest in the color, weight, fabric, price, nearly anything. It is the buyers job to see to it that things move from the shelf. If that isn't happening, and it isn't happening for a lot of companies/stores these days, the buyer is left holding the bag.

 

[Texasmade]



This is what I don't understand. If things do not get sold, why would it be easier to blame on buyers than those who work at marketing department for not creating attactive campaign or proper advertising. What about those who work at accounting or finance for setting unreasonable price?

At most places accounting and finance don't set prices. I usually see marketing set prices and accounting/finance work backwards from there to see if the product/service is profitable.