4B004B - Add to Cart: Fashion, Forecasts & Profit 01 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2032 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: 4B004B
Module Title: Add to Cart: Fashion, Forecasts & Profit
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Fashion, Marketing and Photography
Faculty Sub Group: Fashion
Module Leader: Sally Phillips
Module Team: Jennifer Whitney, Susan James, Emma Jones, Steven Wright, Jayne Barne, Philip Harfield
First Intended Intake: JAN 2026 Final Year of Intake: 2031
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 30 Credit Level: 4
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 30
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100075 - marketing
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2026
Valid To 31 Aug 2032

Module Aims

The main aims of the module are to: 

  • Introduce students to the practices of buying and merchandising, including range planning and retail strategy. 

  • Build expertise in trend forecasting, consumer profiling, and evaluating the retail mix (product, price, place, promotion). 

  • Enable students to design professional buying and merchandising strategies that balance commercial viability, supply chain ethics, and brand identity. 

Content Summary

Building on from skills gained in module one and two this module serves as students’ introduction to fashion buying and merchandising, exploring the roles these functions play within the fashion industry while considering emerging technologies shaping its future. Students will gain insight into how fashion products are selected, sourced, priced, and presented to meet consumer demand and maximise profitability. In addition to traditional practices, the module examines the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and predictive analytics on trend forecasting, inventory optimisation, and personalised consumer experiences. Through real-world case studies and practical tasks, students are challenged to develop and apply commercial awareness, leverage data-driven tools, and understand supply chain dynamics in an increasingly digital and automated marketplace. 

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Practical classes & Workshops 54
Formative Assessment 2
Guided Study 184
Summative Assessment 60
Total Hours Selected 300

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Apply buying and merchandising principles.
LO2 Demonstrate an understanding of pricing, sourcing, and sustainable supply chains.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment  Project Output  Allow students to demonstrate their understanding of the marketing mix through submission of a comparative shop, trend report, range plan and assortment plan. This assessment enables students to visually and critically document the buying and merchandising process. 0 6000 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Project Output 

Reading List

Week 1 

  • Essential: 

  • Jackson, T. & Shaw, D. (2001) Mastering Fashion Buying & Merchandising Management. Bloomsbury. 

  • Supplementary: 

  • Boardman, R., Parker-Strak, R. & Henninger, C.E. (2020) Fashion Buying & Merchandising: The Fashion Buyer in a Digital Society. Routledge. 

  • Business of Fashion (BoF) articles on retail cycles and merchandising trends. 

  •  

Week 2  

  • Essential: 

  • WGSN reports (student access) – Global Trend Forecasts. 

  • Supplementary: 

  • Brannon, E. (2010) Fashion Forecasting. Fairchild Books. 

  • Mintel Reports – Consumer Trends in Fashion Retail. 

  • Vogue Business articles on forecasting and consumer shifts. 

  •  

Week 3  

  • Essential: 

  • Posner, H. (2015) Marketing Fashion. Laurence King. 

  • Supplementary: 

  • Fletcher, K. (2008) Sustainable Fashion & Textiles: Design Journeys. Earthscan. 

  • McKinsey & Company State of Fashion report (annual). 

  • Case studies from Statista on product assortment strategies. 

Week 4  

  • Essential: 

  • Bruce, M. & Daly, L. (2011) Fashion Marketing. Routledge (chapters on sourcing and supply chain). 

  • Supplementary: 

  • Henninger, C.E., Alevizou, P.J. & Oates, C.J. (2017) Sustainable Fashion. Palgrave. 

  • Reports: The State of Sourcing (Business of Fashion). 

  • Articles from Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management on ethical sourcing. 

Week 5  

  • Essential: 

  • Easey, M. (2009) Fashion Marketing. Wiley (chapters on merchandising analytics). 

  • Supplementary: 

  • Chaffey, D. (2022) Digital Marketing: Strategy, Implementation and Practice. Pearson. 

  • Case studies on e-commerce merchandising from Statista and Mintel. 

  • Articles from Vogue Business on digital merchandising platforms. 

Week 6  

  • Essential: 

  • Boardman, R., Parker-Strak, R. & Henninger, C.E. (2020) Fashion Buying & Merchandising: The Fashion Buyer in a Digital Society. Routledge (presentation and professional practice chapters). 

  • Supplementary: 

  • British Fashion Council resources on industry standards and professional communication. 

  • USW Careers Connect materials on employability and reflective practice. 

  • Case studies from Business of Fashion on successful buying/merchandising strategies.