Sleepwear Buyer Job Description for the Clothing Industry

Sleepwear Buyer

Find a job in the fashion industry as a Sleepwear Buyer

Does a career as a sleepwear buyer, sometimes referred to as a nightwear buyer, sound like the job of your dreams?  If you have you ever wondered what it takes to be successful as a purchaser in the sleepwear category, then Apparel Search has some answers for you here. 

First, what sleepwear is not.  Sleepwear is not the same thing as lingerie.  Although some of your clients, by virtue of their size and customers needs, may include lingerie in the nightwear category, sleepwear most generally refers to things that (How can we word this gracefully?) people actually wear for sleep.

Although it seems like a Catch-22, you really must have experience in sleepwear to be a successful sleepwear buyer.  Ideally, you already have worked as a senior buyer in another area, or you are an ambitious and knowledgeable junior buyer who already has experience in sleepwear.  Enthusiasm for sleepwear fashion and design make all the difference in your success in this industry.

A background that includes well-developed sourcing skills, as well as negotiating skills (price and delivery terms) is imperative for anyone seeking success as a sleepwear buyer.  This especially includes past experience with finding new products and ideas by communicating with suppliers, and a willingness to continue traveling, often on short notice and within a tight time schedule, to the Far East, India, Europe, and other central textile and/or fashion hubs in the world.  Travel will be a necessary part of your role as a senior sleepwear buyer.

You will source and develop quality merchandise in order to have the appropriate product and category ranges available to your clients, as well as to reach sales and profit margin goals for your team and your company as a whole. 

The ability to interpret numerical and demographic data will serve you well in sleepwear, as it will in any purchasing position.  Your analyzing skills will be put to the test, as you will be responsible for financial planning for the range in cooperation with the merchandising and accounting teams.

You will be responsible for managing the projects and accounts of your team members, from the buyers administrator(s) to your junior buyers.  The ability to not just deal with, but nurture, several people with different skill levels, knowledge bases, and goals, within the sleepwear purchasing team, is golden. You help them develop their careers.

ApparelSearch.com would like to share a few additional thoughts on sleepwear that could be useful to the sleepwear buyer.  The sleepwear category is one that serves the entire family. While experience specific to sleepwear is perfect for this position, background in apparel for the entire family will add value to your contribution to your company.  Although quality is important in any product, it seems that it is especially important in nightwear.  These are items that are worn time and again.  Nightwear items are probably worn more often than any other item in any other category besides briefs or hosiery, and they must be made to last.  They must also be comfortable, so attention must be paid closely to multiple elements in the products you choose to provide for your clients, including the fabric, construction, and embellishments.  While many end consumers want somewhat fashionable items (certain designers, licensed products), they still expect all items in this product range to be conducive to sleeping.

If you want to wake up and think about pleasant dreams all day, and have the experience in the industry, then a job as a sleepwear buyer might be as close as opening your eyes.

Learn more about sleepwear in our fashion influence section.

Find a job in the fashion industry as a Sleepwear Buyer

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