Buyer Budget Challenge Worksheet
Fashion Merchandising Merchandising & Retail Foundations • Week 3, Day 3
Student Worksheet
THE $600 BUYER CHALLENGE
Plan opening inventory quantities, calculate wholesale expenditures, and balance store capital.
Max Capital $600.00
Buyer Name:
Partner:
Date / Period:
Your Mission
You are the buying team for a new casual clothing store. Choose quantities for your opening order. You must buy at least one of each product, stay strictly within your $600 budget, and be prepared to defend your choices.
1
Build Your Purchase Order
Formula: Quantity × Wholesale Cost = Total Cost
*Wholesale cost is what the store pays to buy merchandise from suppliers.
| Merchandise Item | Cost per Item (Wholesale) | Quantity Ordered | Total Cost |
|---|
| Basic T-shirts | $10.00 | | |
| | | |
$
|
| Graphic Hoodies | $24.00 |
|
$
|
| Trend Accessories | $8.00 |
|
$
|
| Jeans | $28.00 |
|
$
|
| TOTAL SPENT: |
$
|
| BUDGET LEFT ($600 − total spent): |
$
|
Show the calculation for one merchandise category: Formula: Quantity × Wholesale Cost = Total
Selected Item:
Calculation Setup:
Math Scratchpad & Verification Work:
Buyer Compliance Check:
Ordered ≥ 1 of every product Total Spent is ≤ $600.00 Multiplication verified
MERCHANDISING & RETAIL FOUNDATIONS • WEEK 3 Page 1 of 4
Part 2: Decisions & Sales Velocity Merchandising & Retail Foundations • Week 3
Buyer Name:
BUYER DECISIONS & SURPRISE SALES REPORT
Defend your initial inventory investments and respond to two-week store performance data.
2
Defend Your Buying Decisions
A. Which product did you order the MOST of? Explain using customer demand or core merchandise.
B. Which product did you order the LEAST of? Explain your reasoning.
C. Which product seems RISKIEST to purchase in large quantities? Why?
D. Did you spend all $600? Why or why not?
3
Surprise Sales Report
Two Weeks Later: Store Performance Flash Update
⚡ Basic T-shirts are selling faster than expected. 📉 Graphic hoodies are selling slowly. 👖 Customers are actively asking for more jeans.
A. Which product would you reorder FIRST? Why?
B. Which product would you AVOID REORDERING right now? Why?
C. What other information or sales metrics would help you decide exactly how MANY items to reorder?
MERCHANDISING & RETAIL FOUNDATIONS • WEEK 3 Page 2 of 4
Part 3: Store Application Merchandising & Retail Foundations • Week 3
Buyer Name:
APPLY IT TO YOUR RETAIL BUSINESS
Design your boutique merchandise mix, categorize assortment risk, and justify order volumes.
4
Merchandise Assortment Plan
Store Name:
Core Goods Everyday staples with steady, predictable demand.
Trend Goods Seasonal fashion fads; higher inventory risk.
Test Goods Small-batch items to gauge customer interest.
Select three products from your own merchandise assortment. Classify each as core, trend, or test merchandise, then choose an initial order size.
| Product from My Store | Core / Trend / Test | Small / Medium / Large Order |
|---|
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Which product deserves your LARGEST initial order? Why?
Which product would you purchase CAUTIOUSLY? Why?
MERCHANDISING & RETAIL FOUNDATIONS • WEEK 3 Page 3 of 4
Part 4: Final Assessment Merchandising & Retail Foundations • Week 3
Exit Ticket • Turn In for Grading
BUYER DEBRIEF & EXIT TICKET
Analyze a real-world merchandising mistake and propose strategic inventory solutions.
Buyer Name:
Class Period:
5
Retail Case Study: The Trendy Jacket Dilemma
Scenario Overview
A store buys 50 trendy jackets, but only 10 sell. Meanwhile, its basic T-shirts sell out completely in just three days.
1. Identify one buying mistake made by this retailer (Consider core vs. trend demand, inventory capital risk, and stockout costs):
2. Explain what the buyer should do differently next time (Explain order sizing, testing strategies, and reordering plans):
MERCHANDISING & RETAIL FOUNDATIONS • WEEK 3 Page 4 of 4
