Director of Visual Merchandising

SUMMARY

The Director of Visual Merchandising will define brand/product presentation and storytelling within the retail environment, ensuring a consistent, elevated, and dynamic brand/product experience across the stores. The Director of Visual Merchandising will be responsible for owning how Happier tells brand stories in a retail store setting with the goal of capturing attention, driving customer engagement, increasing sales, and impacting vertical mix.

The Director of Visual Merchandising will work cross-functionally with the Leadership, Retail Management, Marketing, Creative, and Procurement teams to ensure consistent execution of brand identity and visual merchandising standards in all customer-facing environments.

This role is on site 5 days a week in our NYC office and reports to the President.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Define and lead the visual merchandising vision for Happier across all retail stores
• Establish the creative standards that guide how product, storytelling, and brand come to life in physical environments
• Continuously evolve visual merchandising standards to reflect Happier's brand evolution, product innovation, and category growth
• Drive innovation in floor sets, merchandising strategy, fixtures, and storytelling that differentiate Happier's in‑store experience from the industry
• Translate brand and product narratives into compelling, commercial in‑store storytelling
• Collaborate with Creative, Marketing, and Procurement teams to ensure alignment of asset investments with storytelling focus.
• Design and oversee production of customized merchandising and visual merchandising elements when necessary.
• Anticipate merchandising opportunities and proactively bring forward ideas that elevate the customer engagement experience
• Monitor category performance, sales volumes, gross margin, and inventory ROI. Adjust merchandising strategies and pricing to maximize profitability.
• Consistently in store to review, assess and monitor issues, progress and opportunities.
• Create a store audit program to evaluate execution of visual merchandising, marketing initiatives, signage, and customer shopping experience.
• Build collaborative relationships with retail partners, display vendors, engineers, and multiple internal and external, and cross functional teams.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• 7-10 years of experience in visual merchandising, brand experience, retail design, creative or experiential leadership.
• 5 years of experience in brand strategy, consumer experience/CX, design thinking, retail analytics or merchandising strategy.
• Ability to balance creative vision with operational execution.
• Track measurable retail outcomes such as increased sales, improved customer engagement, and stronger brand consistency across all channels.
• Effective consultative and influencing approach, with proven ability to work effectively with all organizational levels
• Highly skilled in problem solving, decision making and critical thinking
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, and work under tight deadlines and pressure
• Must possess a strong work ethic, and be an enthusiastic team player
• Highly self-motivated and eager to learn
• Ability to manage budgets, and effectively track, monitor and manage expenditures against budget
• Proficient negotiating skills
• Flexibility in high-stress situations
• Excellent collaboration skills
• Must be willing to work nights/weekends as needed
• Computer proficiency, including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel