module specification

Tracing, from ideation to purchase, the journeys made by fashion products along globalised apparel supply chains, this module provides students on the BA Fashion Marketing & Business Management programme with a thorough introduction to the commercial realities of the fashion business. Specifically, it aims to raise awareness and understandings regarding (i) the various components that together constitute the retail environment, (ii) the differentiated roles of merchandisers and buyers, (iii) the balance between maximising profitability and meeting consumer expectations and (iv) the range of metrics and Key Performance Indicators applied in the commercial context. As learners on this module, you will develop abilities in academic reading and writing, analytical thinking, problem-solving, visual/textual communication and self-directed research, mobilising these key, transferable skills in assignments predicated on demonstrating the achievement of constructively aligned learning outcomes. The assessment process features both individual and group-work tasks and involves a basic level of numeracy. Overall, the module provides a motivational context for the co-creation of knowledge through your communication and collaboration with both peers and members of the teaching team. The learning experience on offer is aimed at complementing that provided in the other subject-specific modules and is designed to engage learners across the Level 5 cohort together with international Study Abroad students.

None
Available for Study Abroad? YES

The syllabus is divided into two inter-related elements. Fashion Buying features the topics of buying cycles, product knowledge, trend prediction, design development, range planning, budgets, costing & contracts (LO1, LO2). Apparel Supply Chains covers the topics of supply chain typologies; garment fabrication; off-shoring vs. out-sourcing, transportation & logistics, the composition of retail environments (LO3; LO4).

The scheduled teaching activity is delivered over a 12-week block, using a combination of workshops, lecture/seminars or other activities, totalling three hours of face-to-face contact time per week. Presentations are generally followed by seminar sessions that feature debates on topics negotiated with the cohort, or in-depth analysis of selected texts made available in advance. The method of delivery method may include the pedagogical tactic of ‘flip-learning’ in order to stimulate debate and provide variety. The majority of the learning journey involves independent learning, with students encouraged to engage with external resources relevant to their course/career ambitions, and to take advantage of learning opportunities that may arise through inter-action peers, or through participation in events organised by other members of the teaching team. An ‘enhancement week’ in the schedule provides opportunities to invite guest speakers to give master classes, or to discuss various job opportunities available in the industry. Employability is embedded throughout the module, with consideration given as to how the skills/knowledge acquired meet the sector’s expectations of graduate jobseekers.

A blended learning strategy is underpinned by the virtual environment created on WebLearn, which enables students to access lecture recordings, articles featuring added comprehension questions and other recommended texts. In addition, advance sight of upcoming presentations allows those students who require extra support to prepare for particular sessions. The site features coursework briefs, assessment guidelines, examples of good practice in assignments and links to internal sources of academic support. ‘Feed-forward’ commentary regarding the extent to which the module’s learning outcomes have been achieved in assessment tasks is available, with positive suggestions that would enable improvement in future performance. A reflective approach to learning is encouraged, with students advised to keep a record of their experiences in the form of a journal or personal development plan that may be particularly helpful when choosing optional modules or deciding on dissertation topics as they progress through the programme.

On completion of the module, students displaying full engagement will be able to:

LO1. Recognise specific KPIs and other metrics used by the fashion buyer/merchandiser 

LO2. Conduct a range of commercial calculations pertaining to productivity; minimum/cost-plus pricing; margin, mark-up and mark-down; sell-through, stock turn/cover; forward ordering

LO3. Demonstrate awareness of the operations conducted in the retail environment: space allocation, product presentation, stock management, visual merchandising, atmospherics

LO4. Compare and contrast the commercial tactics employed by selected fashion labels in the retail environments that form the final link in the apparel supply chain
 

Reading List link: https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/A6C53A2C-030D-15D8-AE1F-2983C50FDB66.html?lang=en-GB&login=1

Core Text:
Boardman, R. et al. (2020), Fashion Buying & Merchandising: The Fashion Buyer in a Digital Society, London: Routledge

Additional Readings:
Clodfelter, R. (2018), Retail Buying: From Basics to Fashion, London: Fairchild Publications
Dillon, S. (2017), The Fundamentals of Fashion Management, NY: Bloomsbury Visual Arts
Grose, V. (2021), A Practical Guide to the Fashion Industry: Concept to Customer, London: Bloomsbury Publishing
Hoffman, A. (2013), Fundamentals of Retail Buying with Merchandising Math, Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson
Raymond, M. (2020), The Trend Forecasters Handbook, London: Laurence King Publishing, London: Fairchild Books
Shaw, D. & Koumbis, D. (2017), Fashion Buying: From Trend Forecasting to Shop Floor, London & NY: Fairchild Books
Varley, R. (2014), Retail Product Management: Buying and Merchandising, NY: Routledge

Journals:
International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research
Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management
Drapers

Websites:
www.wgsn.com
www.mintel.com

Reading List link: https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/A6C53A2C-030D-15D8-AE1F-2983C50FDB66.html?lang=en-GB&login=1