Overview
Course summary
This course provides a practical and comprehensive exploration of the fashion merchandiser’s role within both retail and brand environments. Learners will gain a deep understanding of how merchandisers drive commercial success by balancing creativity with data-driven decision-making.
The course covers key responsibilities such as forecasting sales and planning product ranges in alignment with customer demand and market trends. It also addresses how merchandisers work within the structure of a company, collaborate with design teams, and play a pivotal role in ensuring collections are delivered on time and within budget.
Through real-world exercises and tools, learners will gain experience of industry practices such as Open-to-Buy (OTB) calculations, sales and performance analysis using KPIs, and range planning. The course includes practical sessions using Excel or Google Sheets to simulate merchandising tasks such as building WSSI reports, managing allocation and distribution, and planning for multichannel retail environments. Learners will also explore how to manage inventory throughout the selling season, evaluate trading performance, and react in-season to optimise stock and sales.
Who is this course for?
The curriculum bridges theoretical understanding with commercial application, making it ideal for:
- Aspiring merchandisers aiming to build core knowledge and skills.
- Early-career professionals seeking to strengthen their expertise and advance in merchandising roles.
- Fashion designers and small to mid-sized fashion businesses who want to align creative vision with commercial performance.
- Fashion students eager to gain real-world insights and enhance their career readiness.
Discounts and offers
Groups
If you are booking as a group or institution, please contact us before you book as you may be able to benefit from our 15% group or corporate discounts.
Returning short course delegates
We offer a 10% discount to returning short course delegates. If you’re not booking your first short course or professional qualification with us and this discount is not applied to your course at checkout, please contact us.
UoW undergraduate/postgraduate students, alumni and colleagues
We also offer a 20% discount to our undergraduate and postgraduate students, alumni, and colleagues. To receive your discount code, please contact us before booking your course.
Course structure
Foundations of merchandising and financial planning
- The role of the merchandiser in the fashion industry
- Introduction to the buying cycle and key responsibilities
- Research in merchandising: consumer, market, and sales analysis
- Working with KPIs: interpreting performance metrics
- The budgeting Process: rationale, components, and open-to-buy (OTB) calculation
Application, allocation and trading
- Allocating the OTB: applying budgets to range planning
- Allocation and distribution: product and size allocation challenges
- Trading the collection: stock management with WSSI report
Teaching and assessment
This highly interactive course blends theory with practice, bringing concepts to life through real industry examples. There is no formal assessment.
Entry requirements
- No formal qualifications are required.
- Prior experience in the fashion industry would be beneficial, but not essential.
- Access to laptop or tablet and basic knowledge of Microsoft Excel.
Tutor information
Myrto Angelidou, is a Senior Lecturer in Fashion Business, bringing over 20 years of professional experience in fashion buying, merchandising, and strategic brand development working with companies such as Harvey Nichols, Zadig & Voltaire and Diesel. Her industry career includes senior buying roles, where she managed large-scale budgets, range planning, and KPI analysis for a wide portfolio of luxury and contemporary brands.
In addition to her academic role, Myrto is the owner and director of a consultancy and supporting independent fashion brands with commercial growth, pricing strategy, and sales campaigns across global fashion weeks. Her dual expertise in both industry and education allows her to deliver a uniquely applied teaching approach.
In the classroom, Myrto specialises in areas such as Open-to-Buy planning, WSSI reporting, product and size allocation, pricing strategy, and the evolving role of the buyer and merchandiser. She is approachable and passionate about equipping students with the practical tools, critical thinking, and commercial insight required to succeed in today's dynamic fashion landscape.
Accreditation
You'll receive a digital certificate from the University once you have successfully completed the course.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Understand the role and responsibilities of a merchandiser in the fashion industry and their contribution to the buying cycle.
- Apply research techniques, including consumer research, market research, and sales analysis, to inform merchandising decisions.
- Interpret key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess business and product performance.
- Perform the budgeting process, including the calculation of Open-to-Buy (OTB).
- Allocate OTB to range planning and demonstrate how this supports brand strategy.
- Evaluate allocation and distribution decisions, including product and size allocation, using real-world challenges.
- Analyse a Weekly Stock, Sales and Intake (WSSI) report to inform trading decisions and stock management strategies.
Benefits for your organisation include:
- Enable data-driven decisions around product performance, budgeting, and stock management
- Maximise profitability
- Optimised product lifecycle management
- Stronger range planning and allocation
- Alignment with market and consumer needs
Booking information
Thank you for your interest in this new course. Bookings will open soon - fill in our enquiry form to be the first to know when bookings open. If you have questions about the course in the meantime, please contact us via the details at the bottom of this page.
