Buying and Merchandising Development Programme for Retail Fashion Group

To support the dynamic and exciting environment of a large fashion retailer, this clothing retailer recognised the importance of high-quality training for its buying and merchandising teams. Therefore, they engaged First Friday to design and deliver a first-class training programme for Assistant Merchandisers and Assistant Buyers across all the brands within the group.

First Friday deployed a team of training consultants, all of whom had an extensive background in buying & merchandising. They worked with the retailer to map out a training programme which met the learning objectives of a rapidly-changing multi-channel fashion business.

A suite of courses were designed which made up a comprehensive internal buying and merchandising academy. Subjects include: Understanding Retail,  Design to Delivery, Costings, Stock Management, Supplier Management, Branch Merchandising, Negotiation Skills, Range Building & Option Planning and Introduction to Colour.

First Friday deliver the training programme on a regular basis to the Assistant Merchandisers and Assistant Buyers across the whole business. All courses run regularly against a training calendar and are usually over-subscribed.

“This is the first time we have collaborated with First Friday and it was just so easy!  With their wealth of retail experience they just get it.   Courses are innovative and engaging, the slides and other material that First Friday produces are all visually stimulating and they turn around everything very quickly.  First Friday’s contribution is invaluable and we look forward to continuing this collaboration long into the future” L&D Manager