Buying and Beyond – Details, episodes & analysis

So that brings us to the end of our episode, and the end of Season 2! We hope you’ve enjoyed listening to this season as much as we have enjoyed recording it, we’ve tried to keep our episodes to max 30 mins, but with so much to talk about it can be hard to keep to that time frame, we just get carried away, run off on tangents, and the topics are just so big it can be hard to limit ourselves - we’re just bursting with chat! We should have ourselves a strict CP for our recordings in true retail buying fashion! Hahaha. But hopefully you like our assortment of topics, and extra bonus content!

We’d love to hear from you, particularly topics you’d like to hear about, we’ve had a few DMs with some ideas shared which we are already thinking about for our Season 3, so feel free to drop us more! 

We’re so excited about what the September season is going to bring, and can't wait to share what we have been working on with you all - and as buyers we all know, feedback is a gift, so please please do let us know what you think! 

And thats us signing off for summer - follow us on Insta for content that hopefully helps to fill your cup when those sunny sales suffer (or stormy, its the UK, who knows what sort of weather we’ll be having through these school holidays..!!), lets support each other though awful augusts and not battle to beat each other down with promo after promo and racing our prices to the bottom… Looking forward to the start of september, trade shows, catwalks, new season wardrobes and into that golden quarter…

*Kefir is a fermented milk drink similar to a thin yogurt or ayran that is made from kefir grains, a specific type of mesophilic symbiotic culture.

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Find out more about us www.buyingandbeyond.co.uk

If you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you!

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This is a topic we are both incredible passionate about, in this episode we discuss what does sustainability actually mean, how are certain retailers getting behind it. The greenwashing effect and our thoughts on some brands that are making some great changes in how we think about where our products come from. Quality vs cost and the new emerging rental market. 

Here are our most passionate points summarised - 

1. Climate change is real problem
2. and retail has realised we have had a huge part to play. We all need to step up and push to pivot into more sustainable shopping habits and be realistic about the future of retail..
3. Embracing the move into rental and reused, or pre-loved. How can we as big retailers be a part of the change and offer options to encourage circular consumer habits
4. Let's get back to quality as number 1, it should be a foundation brick for all retail, make to last, not to throw away. It may mean re-looking at our price architecture, but with people buying less, investing more, we need to balance our books while also not being to concerned with the cost of living, as customers mindset shifts to quality v quantity!

Support the show

If you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :)
- and if you already have, thank you!

Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram

Send us a DM or email hello@buyingandbeyond.co.uk

Find out more about us www.buyingandbeyond.co.uk

If you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you!

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2300060/support

We’re ending this season by reminding ourselves why we love our jobs in retail buying, more trips down memory lane, the friends we’ve made, the parties we’ve been to and the fun, laughter and creativity that comes with it!

Here are our favourite things about Buying summarised into 3 points - 

1) The excitement of a new idea brewing, working with your team to bring the idea to life, launching with bells & whistles, seeing the success in sales and joy it brings to customers and then analysing how and why it was such a success, and figuring out how to do it all again - same same but different!

2) Being at the forefront of trends, new and exciting creativity, products and projects, and being surrounded all day everyday (mostly) with people who share the same passion and designs that inspire and keep you motivated

3) Discovering new products, sourcing new fabrics and materials and visiting factories to learn all about the manufacturing, new processes and driving a more sustainable agenda.

If you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :) and if you already have, thank you!

Support the show

If you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :)
- and if you already have, thank you!

Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram

Send us a DM or email hello@buyingandbeyond.co.uk

Find out more about us www.buyingandbeyond.co.uk

If you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you!

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2300060/support

In this episode we’re chatting about all things management, so often there is no training and you just have to learn on the job. We discuss our first experiences of managing, our preferred management style and the importance of managing up and down.

Here are three things we would encourage managers to do -

1) Check in, show up be, present for your team - you’ll gain their respect. 

2) Adapt your communication style depending on who you’re talking with to get the best result.

3) Align your goals. You are your team, there’s no ‘I’ in team. If they’re performing, then you’re performing.  

Support the show

If you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :)
- and if you already have, thank you!

Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram

Send us a DM or email hello@buyingandbeyond.co.uk

Find out more about us www.buyingandbeyond.co.uk

If you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you!

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2300060/support

In Episode 8 we chat about a really common task that most buyers carry out called a compshop. It’s really about how we gather our market data and take inspiration from retailers. It’s important to remember that this isnt copying or stealing ideas its gathering information to identify trends and also make sure you are relevant in the market place. It can help you to also identify and define your USP and understand a range structure when looking at a new category. 

*Side note: MK = Marie Kondo!

Our top 3 suggestions for making sure you get the most impactful ideas & inspiration for your product ranges are: 

1) Get out to stores, no matter how busy you are. Online is great for giving you wide reach view on the retail landscape, but there’s nothing quite like seeing and feeling the product to really understand the size, weight, quality, colour, value for money, etc etc etc.

2) Inspiration can be found everywhere - walking through your local town, popping to your local garden centre, going out for dinner with friends

3) Share your finds and ideas - make sure you plan in some time to follow up before you get bogged down with the BAU (Business as usual….!)

If you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :) and if you already have, thank you!

Support the show

If you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :)
- and if you already have, thank you!

Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram

Send us a DM or email hello@buyingandbeyond.co.uk

Find out more about us www.buyingandbeyond.co.uk

If you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you!

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2300060/support

In this Episode we focus on the Sign Off meeting, we set the scene, talk about the general scenarios you might find, the questions you may face, and how to handle it all like an absolute pro..!

Our top tips for a successful sign off…

1) Confidence in presenting, this is your show, and keep calm when questioned, even when you don't know the answers

2) Ask for constructive feedback, don’t be afraid to ask why 

3) Push for the products you believe in, they will respect you for standing up for the range you pulled together  - but don’t fight too hard as the final decision is theirs, and ultimately they are accountable

If you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :) and if you already have, thank you!

Support the show

If you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :)
- and if you already have, thank you!

Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram

Send us a DM or email hello@buyingandbeyond.co.uk

Find out more about us www.buyingandbeyond.co.uk

If you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you!

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2300060/support

Episode 6 is all about the critical path, which is essentially a sequence of tasks you need to finish on time in order to complete your initiative. It’s a flow chart that needs to be followed as tightly as possible as any delays in critical tasks will delay your whole project. It starts from setting your strategy and takes you all the way through to launching your products on time - you hope! It’s more critical and creative thinking too, if you face an obstacle in your critical path, how are you going to find a work around. Time is money! Buyers are always working in the future, planning for at least 6 months, if not 1 year, or even 18 months ahead. It’s can be a long process - and so this is a long episode! 

*note this episode was recorded in December 2023

So our round up of episode 6 is -

1) Plan plan plan but be prepared for it not to go to plan

2) The key to a successful sign off is a clear informative strategy and those product review touch points

3) Everyone has a role to play but essentially you are the conductor. The buyer must keep everyone on track an ensure that they have completed their parts of the plan

If you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :) and if you already have, thank you!

Support the show

If you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :)
- and if you already have, thank you!

Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram

Send us a DM or email hello@buyingandbeyond.co.uk

Find out more about us www.buyingandbeyond.co.uk

If you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you!

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2300060/support

In episode 5 we talk about trade. It's the main meeting that shapes our week, challenges us to think creatively and find solutions. It focuses on sales - how did you perform last week, what is your forecast for the next week, month, etc. Buyers costly analyse numbers as the key objective is to drive sales and see the business is growing - and if it isn't you need to be quick to adapt and come up with the new sales driving ideas. A successful trade meeting can also really be about how your present the facts, how are you trading your stock and being flexible to the needs of the business - a good performance equals good results (whether your sales are up or down!) 

Here are our top 3 tips to survive a trade meeting - 

1) Speak confidently, you know your category inside out… if your thrown by an unexpected question keep calm and say you will find out and get back to them ASAP- but make sure you give an update by EOD!

2) Always have an action plan…no one really cares how sales were last week if you don’t have any idea what your going to do to drive them next week. You need to focus on the future

3) Every company has a different way of saying things, if you don’t understand find out! It could be you want to check the buyers guide, or the line detail, or the sales report..it’s all the same thing, just worded differently! 

Support the show

If you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :)
- and if you already have, thank you!

Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram

Send us a DM or email hello@buyingandbeyond.co.uk

Find out more about us www.buyingandbeyond.co.uk

If you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you!

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2300060/support

In this episode we explore the differences between own brand development and branded buying, discuss how Buyers are responsible for everything and we have a giggle about some sampling mishaps. Both types of Buying have their pros & cons, so if you’re looking to get into Buying it’s good to be aware of your strengths and also the type of buying that the retailer, or department, you’re applying for is focused on, so you can make sure that you’re joining a business that you’ll be happy with and plays to your strengths!

These are the top 3 skills we think you need to be successful in these types of Buying roles -

1) Creative; whether it's product design, range building, price engineering or brand positioning, it's important to think creativily.

2) Collaborative; a open mindset to work with your designer, merchandiser and brands 

3) Numerical; it's good to be a creative who understanding numbers - even if you have a merchandiser to do the crunching, an awareness of what the figures mean is essential and something you can learn!

Support the show

If you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :)
- and if you already have, thank you!

Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram

Send us a DM or email hello@buyingandbeyond.co.uk

Find out more about us www.buyingandbeyond.co.uk

If you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you!

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2300060/support

In this episode we talk about the different roles in Buying , starting from entry level and working our way up the ladder step by step… and depending what company you work for there can be a lot of rungs to that ladder! We will explain some of the differences between companies, how the  number of levels often depends on the structure and size of Buying department, and also the responsibilities that come with those roles.

Our key take aways from this episode are: 

1) Hard work & enthusiasm go a long way…don’t give up! Go above & beyond, work at the next level and you’ll be rewarded

2) Respect experience…knowing it’s taken so long to work up the ladder, the time spent and scenarios experienced, just ask questions and learn - don’t be afraid to ask!

3) Be strong, develop a thick skin - all experiences (good & bad) will help shape you for the future!

Support the show

If you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :)
- and if you already have, thank you!

Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram

Send us a DM or email hello@buyingandbeyond.co.uk

Find out more about us www.buyingandbeyond.co.uk

If you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you!

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2300060/support