Creative Retail Manager / Buyer Job at HAPPIER PEOPLE MANAGEMENT LLC in New York

Location: Manhattan, NY and Grand Cayman

Employment Type: Full-Time

Reports To: Creative Director

Role Overview

Seeking a dynamic, imaginative, and experienced creative who can merge aesthetics with atmosphere and retail— tell a story across space, service, and product. A seasoned fashion buyer with a sharp eye for style and a deep understanding of the luxury market. Based in New York, you will be responsible for sourcing and selecting high-end apparel and accessories that resonate with our brand tastes and seasonal needs. This role blends fashion, design and brand storytelling through forecasting, vendor relations, and strategic buying to ensure our collections remain fresh, relevant, and impeccably curated. Please note role requires 50% travel.

Key Responsibilities

Attend international fashion weeks, trade shows, and showroom appointments to scout trends

and new collections

Source and select luxury clothing and accessories from global designers and fashion houses

Concept compiling, on-brand creative for retail spaces, seasonal campaigns, trunk shows, design weekends, photoshoots and pop-ups.

Design seamless in-store experiences that draw from luxury and lifestyle brands principles — from entry to checkout to post-visit engagement. Collaborate with store teams to ensure consistency.

Lead and build creative decks, market trends and comp sets.

Manage social media and website needs along with creative programming.

Oversee visual merchandising standards that reflect luxury and sophistication

Stay ahead of retail, design, and hospitality trends to continually innovate our approach.

Build and maintain strong relationships with vendors, negotiating favorable terms and exclusives

Analyze sales data, comp sets, customer preferences, and market trends to inform buying decisions

Monitor inventory levels, sell-through rates, and reordering strategies to optimize stock

Ensure all merchandise aligns with brand identity and meets the expectations of high-net-worth clientele

Oversee operations including inventory control, scheduling, and client relations

Cultivate a culture of excellence, discretion, and personalized service

Select and purchase seasonal collections aligned with brand identity and customer preferences

Collaborate with marketing and e-commerce teams to highlight key pieces and exclusives

Monitor sell-through rates and adjust buying strategies accordingly

Manage social media and website needs along with creative programming.

Qualifications

3-5+ years of experience in luxury retail, with at least 2 years in a buying or merchandising role.

Deep understanding of luxury fashion brands, trends, and clientele expectations

Proven leadership skills with a track record of team development and sales growth

Strong analytical and negotiation abilities

Excellent communication, organization, and multitasking skills

Proficiency in retail management systems and Microsoft Office Suite

Proficiency in design tools (SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar).

Excellent project management, presentation, and communication skills.

Proficiency in design tools (SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar).

Excellent project management, presentation, and communication skills.