FOUNDATIONS OF BUYING & MERCHANDISE PLANNING: Online CURRICULUM OUTLINE

The Program

The Numensa Online Foundations of Buying and Merchandise Planning program is an interactive, self-paced training course. The program combines online learning with downloadable checklists and discussion questions giving the learner the opportunity to hold discussions with a line manager or mentor. The program uses a fictitious retailer Navicorp, to illustrate the merchandise management function. Through the Navicorp supermarket and the Naviman menswear fashion brand, the learner is taken through a number of realistic scenarios allowing them to understand the context in which the theory is applied. The program is broken into modules and each module into bite-sized units. At the end of each unit there is a short quiz and at the end of each module there is a more detailed assessment.

Module One: The World of Buying & Planning

In module one, we explore the world of a typical merchandise department looking at the cyclical buying process, the role that buyers and planners play and, the increasing complexity of the challenging retail environment.

• Unit 1 – The Merchandise Management Process • Unit 2 – The Role of the Buyer & Planner • Unit 3 – Challenges Facing Retailers Today

Module Two: Pre-Season Planning

In module two, we look at the kinds of activities that need to be completed in the pre-season planning stage of the buying cycle and how different assortment strategies impact on the assortment mix.

• Unit 1 – Assortment Strategies & Pre-Season Planning

• Unit 2 – Merchandising Mix & Product Lifecycle • Unit 3 – The Merchandise Financial Plan • Unit 4 – Developing the Assortment Plan

Module Three: Maximising Sales & Profits

In module three, we explore the financial metrics used in retail, from gross margin to return on investment. We look at how markdown and inventory control impacts on profitability.

• Unit 1 – Financial Terms & Principles • Unit 2 – Analysing Sales • Unit 3 – Markdown & Promotional Analysis • Unit 4 – Pricing Strategies & Inventory Control

Module Four: Managing Suppliers

In our final module we examine the critical role of supplier selection and management within the merchandise department. With the sourcing of products being a global business, we investigate how our cultural differences impact on supplier/retailer relations.

• Unit 1 – Supplier relationships & trust • Unit 2 – Sourcing ethically & sustainably • Unit 3 – Cultural issues in supplier management

The online program allows participants

the ability to choose where and when they

undertake their training and minimises

time out of the office...

Enquiries

Contact Beverley on: T: +61 3 9694 4455 M: 0438 089 632 E: beverley@numensa.com.au W: www.numensa.com.au

Who is this program for?

This program is best suited for junior members of the buying or merchandise department, e.g. assistant buyers or assistant merchandise planners, trainees and allocators. It would also benefit those working in a marketing, product development, retail operations or supply chain role who wish to enhance their skills and knowledge of the buying and merchandise planning function.

Pricing

This online program is available as a single user licence. Users have access to the program for a 6-month period. For companies wishing to purchase multiple user licences, please contact us.

AUD $495

(plus, GST for Australian residents only, $544.50)