An excellent introduction to the fine art of effective retail buying.
Retail is BIG business. Worldwide retail sales are estimated to be US$7 trillion and with more than 70 million people working in this business, retail is one of the largest industries behind business services and manufacturing. Staying ahead in today’s challenging economy requires a great deal of re-engineering beyond strategically thoughtful market positioning.
The retail industry is arguably one of the toughest businesses in the world. Behind all that glitz and glamour are men and women dedicated to the job of forecasting customer trends and stocking the right product selections – so that the customer will return to that store over and over again. Buying for retail is a demanding and challenging job that requires a creative flair, a strong awareness of fashion trends, life trends, as well as good interpersonal and team working skills. Buyers and merchandisers have to ensure that the right merchandise is being sent to the right stores, at the right time, in the right quantities at the right price. This takes a blend of forward planning and rapid response to consumer demands. In combination with excellent customer service, success comes from maximizing profit, which is achieved through anticipating customer needs and responding rapidly to immediate issues. It involves complex data analysis, liaison with the stores operation teams and balancing store stock levels.
In the new book published by John Wiley & Sons (Asia) Pte Ltd, The Art of Retail Buying: An Insider’s Guide to the Best Practices from the Industry (ISBN: 978-0-470-82322-4) enables readers to examine the role of buyers and merchandisers, the qualifications, qualities and abilities required for the job and how their decisions impact the business. Author of the book, Marie-Louise Jacobsen draws on her extensive international retail experience and offers fascinating observations on the fine art of effective retail buying, while providing useful advice and insider tips in the book.
This easy-to-read and visually captivating guide is written in a concise & pictorial style with colorful images that enables readers to follow step-by-step each function of a buyer. The Art of Retail Buying will inspire, motivate and encourage retail professionals towards merchandising excellence! Those who have had a sneak preview of the book hail it to be the “New Retail Industry Manual”. This is an absolute must-read for anyone contemplating a career in retail buying, and an invigorating read for those who are.
Additional information on the book is available at http://as.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470823224.html.
The Art of Retail Buying:
An Insider’s Guide to the Best Practices from the Industry
Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Publication Date: 27 November, 2008
US$55.00; Hardcover; 424 pages; ISBN: 978-0-470-82322-4
About the Author:
Marie-Louise Jacobsen has more than 28 years of international marketing experience in retailing and merchandising. Part of her career in the retail industry was spent in Asia where she was the General Manager of Merchandising for Robinsons & Co. Singapore for 15 years. Prior to that Marie-Louise worked in Denmark as an International Marketing Manager for Royal Copenhagen Retail, and as Vice-Director with AC Illums A/S in Copenhagen. She is currently Managing Director of RMS - Retail Management Solutions where she offers consulting services to help retailers resolve a variety of challenges. She also runs a popular two-day course on 'The Art of Retail Buying'.
For a review copy of the book or to schedule an interview with the author, please contact:
Camy Boey
Public Relations Executive
John Wiley & Sons (Asia) Pte Ltd
DID: +65 6460 4257
E: cboey@wiley.com
About Wiley:
Founded in 1807, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. has been a valued source of information and understanding for over 200 years, helping people around the world meet their needs and fulfill their aspirations. Since 1901, Wiley and its acquired companies have published the works of more than 350 Nobel laureates in all categories: Literature, Economics, Physiology/Medicine, Chemistry, Physics and Peace.
Our core businesses include scientific, technical, medical and scholarly journals, encyclopedias, books, and online products and services; professional/trade publishes books, subscription products, training materials, and online applications and websites; and educational materials for undergraduate and graduate students and lifelong learners. Wiley's global headquarters are located in Hoboken, New Jersey, with operations in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Canada and Australia. The Company's website can be accessed at http://www.wiley.com. The Company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols JWa and JWb.
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