Buyer, Watches & Luxury Goods

Griffin Resources is recruiting on behalf of Heinemann Americas, Inc. located in Coral Gables, FL.  

Established in 2014 as a subsidiary of Germany-based Gebr. Heinemann, Heinemann Americas has grown into a key player in cruise ship retail and distribution. Backed by over 140 years of global travel retail expertise, the Coral Gables–based team specializes in delivering luxury retail experiences for the cruise industry. They manage and operate state-of-the-art retail concessions aboard major cruise lines, curating an exceptional selection of premium perfumes, cosmetics, fashion, and accessories to provide passengers with a world-class shopping experience at sea. Through strong partnerships with leading cruise operators, Heinemann Americas has established itself as the premier provider of maritime travel retail solutions in the region. 

Position Summary:  

The Watches/Luxury Merchant curates exceptional product assortments and drives strategic growth across Fine Watches, Jewelry, and Pre-Owned Luxury Leather Goods within our premier retail boutiques at sea. Acting as an articulate strategist and key category expert, this role leverages cruise luxury retail intelligence, guest analytics, and demographic trends to deliver an exceptional onboard shopping experience. Building on strong market, supplier, and customer data, the candidate develops and fosters long-term vendor relationships to ensure profitable, sustainable growth across the category. 

 

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:  

• Line Planning & Assortment Architecture: Own the category line plan, product selection, and cluster-based assortment architecture via product clusters, balancing core heritage lines with novelties and pre-owned luxury inventory.    


• Competitive Intelligence & Pricing Strategy: Analyze global domestic, international, and Travel Retail pricing to ensure competitive positioning, margin targets, and optimal channel pricing across the entire assortment.    


• Product Lifecycle & Exit Strategies: Lead full lifecycle management for product launches, novelty releases, and exit strategies in collaboration with cross-functional partners (marketing, visual merchandising, activity management) to protect brand equity and minimize margin impact.    


• Forecasting & Supply Chain Alignment: Partner with Demand Planning and Retail Planning to review, submit, and manage accurate supplier forecasts, ensuring product availability and optimum fill rates.    


• Pre-Owned & Secondary Market Dynamics: Demonstrate deep comprehension of the secondary luxury watch and pre-owned leather ecosystem - including authentication standards, provenance verification, valuation/pricing dynamics, and sourcing verified inventory to maximize margins while mitigating risk.    

Strategic Negotiations & Partner Management 

• Vendor Relationship Management: Build and maintain long-term, high-trust partnerships with luxury Maisons and supply partners to drive profitable, sustainable growth, covering categories including fine, moderate, and fashion watches, fine jewelry, and trunk show brands.    


• Commercial Terms & Margin Maintenance: Drive ongoing negotiations to secure optimal terms, margin support for promotional activations, channel price improvements, co-op investments, payment terms, and Incoterms to achieve category KPIs.    


• Brand Commitments & Approvals: Secure brand partner commitments for new cruise ship retail projects, shop-in-shop concept spaces, and distribution requests.    


• Global Alignment: Collaborate with global counterparts and supply partners within assigned product categories for alignment around global supply partners and operational policies.    


• Market & Trade Show Representation: Attend key global luxury trade shows, watch fairs, and market weeks to spot emerging trends, evaluate new luxury brand partners, and secure exclusive product allocations.    

Onboard Implementation & Retail Experience 

• Promotional Strategy: Partner with Operations, Marketing, and Activity Management to create immersive onboard events (e.g., VIP trunk shows, high-watchmaking seminars) that elevate exposure and drive high-ticket sales.    


• Visual Merchandising & Floorplans: Collaborate with category management and visual teams for space allocation, planograms, and visual standards to optimize square-foot productivity and ensure brand compliance.    


• Destination & Event Sourcing: Source qualified vendors for custom-tailored cruise retail programs, pop-up events, and port-of-call activations aligned with specific itineraries.    

Category Analysis & Operations 

• Business Analytics & OTB Execution: Conduct weekly and monthly sales analysis against brand targets, utilizing strong business acumen to optimize plans, maintain stock balance, and execute timely markdowns.    


• ​​​​​​​Operational Resolution: Proactively resolve damages, over-shipments, delivery shortages, price discrepancies, and lead-time changes with suppliers while reporting updates to interested parties.    


• Cross-Functional Communication: Serve as the central category expert, gathering insights and sharing performance trends across Planning, Marketing, Sales, and Onboard Operations. 

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.   

Financial Responsibilities:  

•  Brand & Category Budget Execution: Partner with Planning and Category Management to review and execute purchasing budgets and revenue targets, providing crucial market and product-level insights.    


• Margin Modeling & Commercial Negotiation: Conduct gross margin models for product assortments and negotiate channel pricing for overall category improvement.    


• New Brand Financial Projections: Forecast sales and build initial financial business cases for new brand introductions or custom retail programs to present for leadership approval.    


• Aging Inventory & RTV Management: Partner with Planning to identify underperforming or aging inventory, actively securing inventory markdown, liquidation, return-to-vendor (RTV), or destruction support from vendors. 

Qualifications:  

• 3-5 years as a buyer  


• Category Expertise in Fine Watches and Pre-Owned Luxury Goods, including secondary market pricing trends, vintage/rare piece appraisal, and certified pre-owned (CPO) sourcing networks 


• Travel retail experience preferred  

Knowledge and Skills:  

• Expertise in Excel, PowerPoint, Word 


• Sourcing and negotiation skills 


• Clear communication and presentation skills 


• Exceptional attention to detail 


• SAP/ BI kn owledge preferred 

Physical Demands:  

The physical demands described here are representative of those requirements employees must meet to perform the essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodation. While performing job functions the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, write, review and type reports, compile data, operate a pc, communicate, listen, and assess information. The employee may move about the office complex, may travel to other office locations and may lift, push, pull or move 10 – 15 pounds. Visual requirements include distant, close and color vision, and ability to adjust focus; ability to travel, as well as to balance and walk far distances, and to climb stairs as necessary.     

​​​​​​​Work Environment:  

The role may operate in office, remote, port, and shipboard environments as business needs require. Travel to vessels, embarkation ports, and other business locations may be required.