Kickstart your career in fashion with a specialist diploma, accelerated two-year undergraduate degree or online course in fashion buying and merchandising at the Fashion Retail Academy.
Buying and merchandising roles are some of the most popular and in-demand jobs in the industry; exciting, faced-paced and rewarding, they are at the centre of fashion brand. Our fashion buying and merchandising courses are developed in collaboration with our brand partners to ensure you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in industry.
Our courses
Our buying and merchandising courses are one of the quickest ways to get into the fashion industry. All courses at the FRA have unparalleled industry enrichment included, ranging from masterclasses to mentoring and work placements, so you'll have the opportunity to build industry contacts ahead of employment and put what you've learned into practice.
Level 3 Fashion Retail
Gain a comprehensive understanding of how fashion businesses are structured with our Level 3 Fashion Retail diploma. You'll learn about the roles different departments play within a brand, and develop skills in fashion buying and merchandising, as well as in areas including marketing and visual merchandising.
Level 4 Fashion Buying
Learn the essential skills you need to start work as an entry-level BAA in just one year. You'll learn how to source garments from across the world, and how to design range plans that maximise sales. Explore how brands target new and emerging regions, and how to manage cultural and language differences within the supply chain.
Level 4 Fast Track Buying & Merchandising
Fast Track Buying & Merchandising is a condensed, 22-week course that will prepare you for entry-level roles as either a merchandising or buying admin assistant. This is the perfect choice for those looking to upskill or retrain whilst working part-time!
BA (Hons) Buying & Merchandising
Discover how to plan and trade a fashion season from concept to customer, and how trends, consumer profiling and consumer behaviour inform your business decisions. Learn about the garment manufacturing process, fabric sourcing and the ethical considerations and principles of supply chain management.
BA (Hons) Sustainability In Fashion
Learn about political, social and environmental elements that make up a truly sustainable supply chain and look at the social responsibility of the fashion industry on a global scale. Explore the technical and practical aspects of creating products from design to store and look at the benefits and negatives of onshore and offshore production and the cost of logistics.
Online Buying & Merchandising
Studying Buying & Merchandising [Online], you'll learn the essential skills you need for a career as a fashion buyer or merchandiser. Discover how to plan and trade a fashion season from concept to customer; and how trends and consumer behaviour inform your business decisions.
What is the difference between buying and merchandising?
Buyers and merchandisers work closely together to buy and sell products for a business. Buyers decide what products the brand will sell and are experts in trend forecasting and customer behaviour analysis, while Merchandisers manage the finance and stock inventory to maximise profitability. They set the budgets and guide buyers on stock levels.
What will I learn on a fashion buying and merchandising course at the FRA?
You'll learn all about the world of fashion buying and merchandising. All of our courses are designed to equip you with skills such as creating range plans, industry software knowledge and understanding the ethical and sustainable implications of clothing production.
What are my progression options?
We have a range of courses in buying and merchandising. Our Level 3 Fashion Retail course is a great starting point if you are aged 16-18, and can lead you to Level 4 courses or BA (Hons) Buying & Merchandising, or a more specialised route with BA (Hons) Sustainability in Fashion. We also run an Online Fashion Buying & Merchandising course.
What kind of career could a fashion buying and merchandising course at the FRA lead to?
When you graduate from one of our marketing courses, you'll be ready to start a career as a:
- Buying admin assistant
- Merchandising admin assistant
- Allocator
- Buying clerk
Read our resources for more information about careers in fashion buying and fashion merchandising.
The Fashion Retail Academy's extensive links with the fashion industry are one of the best parts of the Buying & Merchandising course. They've given me the confidence that when I graduate I'll be completely ready for a job!
Atinuke
BA (Hons) Buying & Merchandising
The Fashion Retail Academy gave me a great opportunity to explore both buying and merchandising. The support from all the tutors in each class was incredible, and the course was very easy to manage around a part-time work schedule.
Joseph
Level 4 Fast Track Buying & Merchandising alumni and BAA at River Island
I chose the Fashion Retail Academy because of the amazing work placements, industry projects and direct links straight into the industry.
Ryan
Level 4 Fashion Buying
I made some really wonderful friends at the Fashion Retail Academy and got the chance to meet many people from industry. After completing my work placement at Dorothy Perkins, I was offered a job there part-time until I finished my course. I've now gone full-time!
Lucy
Level 4 Merchandising for Fashion alumni and MAA at Dorothy Perkins
