What: A closer look at how the buying position is evolving.

Why it is important: During the first Merchandising Meeting on 21st September 2020, all IADS directors mentioned that distance buying had been easier and was becoming more efficient than long buying trips. Looking at how the position of buyer is evolving is key, as its role within the department store remains central.

BOF explains how the buying position has evolved, from a role which was centred around creativity (the ability to curate and properly choose), with rudimentary tools (Excel spreadsheets) to a new role, enhanced by technology, where the game relies more on managing on a day to day basis the stock level and anticipate the demands. This, in a context where brands are challenging their relationship to wholesale account, if not their dependence to this network at all.

The future of buying