04 Retail/Marketing/Business Applications

04.2 Retailing

04.2.1 Buying

Clodfelter, R. (1993). Retail Buying: From staples to fashion to fads.
Delmar Publishers, Inc. ISBN 0-8273-5058-9, 372 pages, $34.95.

Reviewed by Karen J. Nemeth, Jacksonville State University

Retail buying: From staples to fashion to fads by Richard Clodfelter is a well-organized text for the merchandising student. The text would be appropriate for students prior to an internship experience.
Clodfelter does an excellent job of presenting very practical information in a simple easy to understand format. Unlike many other retailing texts the chapters are not cluttered with excess information. Topics are introduced, presented concisely, and then briefly summarized.
This text moves from the knowledge level to application and analysis. The questions at the end of each chapter provide students with avenues for applying the concepts covered by the chapter. Thus, it is not just a knowledge text; it forces the student to think!
In general, Retail buying: From staples to fashion to fads would be an excellent text for fashion merchandising students. It could be used in courses at several levels within the curriculum. It would be appropriate early in the curriculum after a basic course in fashion definition and movement, or it could be used in a course late in the curriculum emphasizing the buying activities. Clodfelter has given us a well written, easy to understand text without leaving us bored.