Target Audience

Trainee Buyers, Assistant Buyers, Buyers (with less than six months experience in the role) and those with buying responsibility within their business. This workshop will also benefit buying personnel from the Wholesale and Food Service sectors.

Purpose

This programme will provide delegates with an understanding of the key basic buying skills and techniques necessary to be successful in the role.

Programme content

• Essential behavioural characteristics of a successful buyer
• Developing your key technical skills and areas of knowledge
• The use of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Meeting the challenges in today's marketplace
• The role of business planning
• Understanding the decision making process and your role in it
• Category team and project team working
• Selecting the right supplier, developing the relationship and measuring their performance
• The negotiation process and developing the skills to achieve your objectives
• Understanding space profitability and how to improve your profit performance
• Introduction to Category Management and its' role in day to day trading
• Personal Action Plan
• Post course assessment

Methodology

This course is conducted in a participative workshop environment in which delegates will be involved in both individual and group exercises and case studies, together with lecture led discussions.

Outcomes

• To gain a thorough understanding of the personal characteristics, technical skills and negotiation skills needed by a successful buyer
• To understand the importance of business planning, space profitability and Category Management in improving business performance and profitability
• To appreciate the benefit of building good relationships with suppliers and improved teamwork with internal colleagues