ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on providing a brief introduction of the evolution of buying and merchandising and defining key terms. It outlines the challenges that are faced in the industry and how the 21st century provides exciting opportunities for the buyer and merchandiser in terms of utilising ‘channel’ strategies to their advantage. Fashion buying and merchandising roles will vary from company to company depending on the type of retailer that it is (e.g. luxury, fast fashion) and the specific processes and systems that it has in place. Thus, chapter surmises that fashion buying and merchandising is about ‘getting the right product at the right price, at the right time, to the right place’ and additionally that it needs to be delivered in the ‘right quantity’ and to the ‘right customer’. The growth of new technologies and new sales channels has forced the majority of retailers to adopt a multichannel strategy in order to stay competitive in the current retail climate.
