Fashion Buying & Merchandising

Fashion buyer e merchandiser hanno un istinto innato nel riconoscere cosa sarà di tendenza domani, sono sempre alla ricerca dei prossimi trend chiave, per poterli coniugare alle linee più classiche; sono loro a decidere cosa sarà venduto nei negozi e quali saranno i prossimi prodotti di largo consumo. Essi pianificano le vendite stagionali, identificano i prodotti migliori ed il brand mix, soddisfacendo al contempo i gusti ed i bisogni del cliente. Il fashion buyer è una delle principali guide nel sistema di distribuzione della moda, un’area centrale per qualunque fashion business di successo. Già in possesso di una laurea, i partecipanti a questo corso studieranno le principali metodologie di buying e merchandising, acquisendo conoscenze e competenze manageriali sugli aspetti relativi allo stock mix, ai metodi di import/export, alle strategie di prezzo ed alla redditività dei prodotti della moda.

Questo corso intensivo in Fashion Buying & Merchandising, della durata di cinque mesi, offre una conoscenza dettagliata del settore vendita dei capi di moda ed è pensato per coloro che desiderano affinare ulteriormente competenze già acquisite, mutare la direzione della propria carriera o intraprendere un’esperienza di formazione professionale all’estero in tempi ridotti. Saranno affrontate le tecniche di buying professionale con attenzione particolare ai metodi utili per soddisfare bisogni e desideri dei clienti a diversi livelli del mercato.

I partecipanti analizzeranno la catena del commercio al dettaglio, l’andamento delle fiere, delle sfilate di couture e di abbigliamento ready-to-wear, il ruolo e le responsabilità del retail fashion buyer ma anche aspetti del buying contemporaneo, metodi di produzione e tecniche di vendita.

Questo corso offre l’equilibrio perfetto tra tecniche di buying professionale e tecniche di fashion merchandising, favorendo la comprensione ed il raggiungimento di obiettivi redditizi esplorando la relazione tra buying, trend forecasting, pianificazione stagionale, marketing e vendite. Nell’arco di un intenso periodo di formazione, i partecipanti apprenderanno nozioni chiave su come sviluppare le proprie strategie di business ed acquisire le competenze necessarie per sviluppare una carriera nel settore come fashion buyer ed esperti di merchandising.

• Il fashion system
• Ruolo e responsabilità del fashion buyer
• Contemporary buying e e-commerce
• Trends and forecasting
• Digital Marketing
• La storia della moda
• Creare piani di buying e merchandising
• Fashion business e strategie di sviluppo

Learning and Teaching Methods:
This Network of courses is mainly based around formal lectures, workshops, seminars and self-directed study and within this structure a range of approaches to learning and teaching is employed as appropriate to the situation. Industry experienced specialists and visiting specialist Lecturers (industry professionals) make valuable contributions and facilitate important links to professional practice.
Self-Directed Study > plays a major role in this programme, where students are expected to spend time researching and analysing subject matter independently to support and substantiate taught material.
Formal Lectures > form an integral part of the programme and with formal delivery of key information to the whole cohort. At this level it is expected that students will use the lectures as a stimulus for further study/reading.
Seminars > are used to build on themes taken from the lecture programme. Students are encouraged to make an active contribution by sharing in the argument and debate.
Visiting Lecturers > are invited to deliver specialist lectures to enhance the delivery of the units.
Individual Tutorials > are used when individual student work is being discussed or the guidance required is specific to one particular student. It is especially important in the dissertation phase and may be face to face, over the telephone, via e-mail or Skype.
Small Group Tutorials > enable students to discuss and plan their work in greater detail than is possible with larger groups. It encourages quieter students to develop their interpersonal and communication skills and helps consolidate leadership skills in others.
Video Presentations > are used to give a more in-depth understanding of a specific issue.
Case Studies > are used for detailed discussion of real-life situations.
Demonstrations > are normally of a technical nature and are necessary in certain subject areas.
Studio / Workshop / Laboratory / Practical Sessions > may be used to enable the creative and practical skill development of the student in an environment which simulates that of industry.
Group and Team Work > requires students to operate as a member of a group or team and they usually have clearly identified roles. The emphasis is on collective responsibility, individual responsibility to the group and joint decision-making.
Study Trips > give students the opportunity to go outside the institute’s environment to enhance their understanding of specific subject material. If assessment is dependent on information collected whilst undertaking the study trip, the trip would be considered mandatory. The cost of study trips can be either the responsibility of the student or on occasion included in the annual study fee. If the visit is within the city students pay for public transport. This will be outlined at the beginning of any unit where such a trip is foreseen.

Assessment:
The assessment strategy for the programme has been designed to incorporate a variety of assessment methods to enable all students to demonstrate their learning in a fair and comprehensive manner.
Assessment Methods:
Formative assessment > is used as an interim review of student work undertaken at key points during particular units. It provides an indicative measure of progress, allows students to consider their work in relation to that of their peers, allowing students to agree with staff any adjustments that are necessary to make in order to satisfy course requirements. It is designed to help improve student performance. It does not contribute to the final unit mark. Formative assessment always makes reference to the learning outcomes and or assessment criteria of that unit.
Summative assessment > Provides an evaluation of student progress and learning during an entire unit, generates a unit mark, constructive feedback and confirms the conditions for referral and retake.
Peer and Self-assessment > requires students to assess their own work and that of fellow students. It encourages:
• a sense of ownership of the process of assessment;
• assists the student to become an autonomous learner;
• helps to develop a range of transferable skills;
• makes assessment part of the learning process rather than an adjunct to it.
Portfolio Assessment > is used to assess a variety of projects that have been developed throughout the unit.
Practical and Class Based Projects > allow the students to demonstrate their understanding of a specific subject area and application of practical areas of the programme.
Written Reports > are required in some study areas, where a clear and structured brief is provided and the students are asked to submit work to be marked independently and anonymously by staff.
Formal Examinations > will be used in some subjects to permit students to demonstrate their understanding of a subject within a constrained timeframe.
Presentations > are used in some subjects to allow the student to develop their professional communication, presentation skills and to argue critical reflection and interpret findings.

Assessment Grade Descriptors for Semester Courses:

Fail 0-44 The student will not have demonstrated proficiency in intellectual thought. The learning
outcomes of the unit will not have been achieved. The content will be descriptive rather than
analytical.
Marginal Fail 45-49 The student will have demonstrated a basic proficiency in intellectual understanding
in most but not all elements. Some of the learning outcomes of the unit will have been
achieved at threshold level. The content will be descriptive rather than analytical.
Pass 50-59 The student will have demonstrated evidence of critical thinking. All the learning outcomes
of the unit will have been competently achieved. There will be some substantive and
developed evidence of understanding.
Merit 60-69 The student will have demonstrated intellectual thought that includes critical thinking,
analysis and the ability to draw conclusions and make recommendations. All the learning
outcomes of the unit will have been achieved at a good level.
Distinction 70 -100 The student will have achieved all the learning outcomes of the unit at an excellent or
outstanding level showing clarity of understanding, analysis and evaluation.

Admission is based on the reasonable expectation that the student will be able to fulfil the objectives of the programme and achieve the standard required for the award.
Admission requirements are listed below.
Candidates must have a sufficient command of the English or the chosen language of the course to be able to meet the requirements of the programme in every respect.
When considering the suitability of an applicant for a place on the programme the Admissions team will usually take the following
factors into account:
• the applicant’s qualifications (High School Diploma or equivalent school certificate);
• the applicant’s personal statement;
• a portfolio of work (if appropriate to the subject).
The Admissions Manager coordinates and supports the subject specific Programme Leader and the Director of Education in dealing with interviews and portfolio assessments (where appropriate).
(Admission requirements are subject to change in order to comply with entry requirement regulations).

• Distribution manager
• Fashion buyer
• Licensing manager
• Merchandising manager
• Retail manager
• Visual merchandiser

Introduction To Buying
Fashion System
Understanding Buying
Contemporary Buying
Advanced Buying
Digital Marketing
Buying & Merchandising Techniques
Fashion Business Development