ABSTRACT
It was once said that the three most important factors of success in retailing are location, location and location, but I would like to add a fourth - buying. It occupies a central role in a retail company, providing that essential link between the supplier and 'goods inward' function, and the customer and 'goods outward'. It is also one of the most challenging jobs in the industry and potentially one of the most rewarding. One retail buyer has described it as 'the best job in the world' [Waters, 1989].
