What an Associate Buyer at Elyse Walker Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Fashion Industry
Julia, an Associate Buyer at Elyse Walker, reveals that the reality of the role differs significantly from the glamorous perception: "the fun 10% shiny part of my job," is balanced by extensive work with "numbers and retail math and budgets," requiring strong attention to detail and significant time in Excel. The hard work and dedication necessary were aspects of the position that were not fully apparent before starting.
Data Analysis, Retail Math, Budget Management, Attention to Detail, Hard Work
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Julia Hamilton
Associate Buyer
Elyse Walker
New York University, 2017
Anderson MBA
Business Management & Admin
Apparel, Beauty, Retail & Fashion
Strategic Management and Executive
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. The job requires extensive work with numbers, retail math, budgets, and data analysis, often using Excel. A strong aptitude for numbers is crucial.
2. The role demands significant attention to detail for success.
3. The glamorous aspects of buying (e.g., attending fashion shows) constitute only a small portion of the job; the majority involves data analysis, budgeting, and other behind-the-scenes tasks.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone had told you before you started?
Before I went into buying, I didn't really know what career path I wanted to take in fashion. Especially in Los Angeles, it's difficult, there are not a lot of options.
So when I went into buying, I didn't really know what the job entailed. It's a lot of hard work and long hours, to be honest.
It's a lot of numbers, retail, math, and budgets. That's the majority of my job: looking at selling data, pulling reports, and managing our open-to-buy budget.
If you are not good with numbers and not okay with spending a lot of your time in Excel, then I don't think it would be a very fun role for you. There's also the attention to detail required to be a successful buyer.
When I tell people I'm a buyer, they think I just go to fashion shows and say, "I want that dress." That is the fun 10% shiny part of my job; the other 90% is all those things I listed previously.
There's definitely a lot of hard work and getting down and dirty in order to pay for the fun part of your job. I just didn't realize the amount of time, effort, and dedication it really takes to be a successful buyer in that regard.