Marti
Moore really wanted to be a painter, but as she graduated college,
her mother told her she needed a job. She landed a position in the
management program at Macy's and moved up from department manager
to the buying department, and her connection with beauty took
off.
Jan 21, 2021
Marti's fondly remembers her early days, where she
bought legacy lines that included Flori Roberts, Lancōme, and
Fashion Fair. She quickly realized her next position as a buyer for
a chain drug retailer was not for her and worked her network to
land another major retailer position. She's held major beauty
buying and marketing positions at Filene's, Macy's, and Lord &
Taylor and shares what it is like to go back to a company at which
she had worked previously and offers advice to anyone considering a
counteroffer or revisiting a previous employer. (She had three
different stints at Macy's).
Marti
provides insight into the diversity of product offerings both as
someone in the room where decisions were being made and a customer.
She explains why the path to becoming a buyer is still challenging
for those with BIPOC backgrounds. And also shares how these
experiences led her to beauty entrepreneurship and the launch of
her own company, Melanin
Grace.
Marti shares the challenges of launching a new retail concept
focused on Black and Brown women during a pandemic. It forced her
to shift from starting with a physical location to a direct to
consumer model. She also shares how she sources the brands she
showcases and how she hasn't given up creating a unique retail
experience when it makes sense for her business.
Finally, she offers insights for anyone interested in
following her career path.