kenji sunaga
@kenjisunaga
Originally from Japan, moved to the US at age 16, moving to LA after 3 years at a boarding school in Connecticut. Love to stay active in days off.
What I'm looking for
Entering the fashion industry at 20. After a stint at iconic tastemaking Los Angeles-based retailer Maxfield, I moved into the wholesale business working with brands between Japan, the EU and the U.S. In 2013, opening MRKT Silverlake, taking over responsibility for the wholesale business. Afterwards, he shifted focus into brand wholesale and development, building up and developing collaborative projects with numerous iconic brands including: The NBA, Paris Saint-Germain, Sanrio, AKIRA, BAPE, FR2, PORTER, BODEGA ,The Broad Museum, Kosuke Kawamura, NSS, Novembre Magazine, Cali Thornhill Dewitt, SoMe, FAFI, Kindness, Visvim, Phillip Lim, Needles, and more.
Experience
Work history, roles, and key accomplishments
Sales/Brand Manager
JINYA Holdings Inc.
Jan 2025 - Present (9 months)
Serve as franchise support for 70+ North America locations, managing franchisee inquiries, coordinating menu updates, procurement, and logistics to ensure timely grand openings and operational consistency.
Sales/Brand Manager
Oceana USA Inc.
Jan 2023 - Jan 2025 (2 years)
Managed and grew West Coast wholesale accounts, led merchandising for retailer launches and POPUPs, and exceeded $1.5M sales for Guam Don Quijote and Matsumotokiyoshi projects while increasing account wholesale volume 15â30%.
Project Development Lead
Rike International Inc.
Jan 2018 - Jan 2025 (7 years)
Led wholesale account management and event planning across Milan and Paris, generating seasonal orders from 70+ accounts and increasing wholesale volume 35% via exhibitions; secured partnerships including NBA x nana-nana.
Buyer
MRKT LLC
Jan 2013 - Jan 2019 (6 years)
Curated brand lineups and launched new brands into the U.S. market, driving consistent 10â15% sales growth over four years and producing exclusive events to elevate store identity.
Wholesale/International Relations
Interwave Inc.
Jan 2009 - Jan 2019 (10 years)
Managed wholesale and international relations between Tokyo and Los Angeles, organizing trunk shows and pop-ups with major retailers like Isetan and GR8 and securing exclusive distribution agreements.
Sales Associate
Guild LLC
Jan 2012 - Jan 2013 (1 year)
Delivered high-touch customer service and achieved company sales targets ($100kâ$150k), driving premium product sales and introducing new brands to attract clientele.
Store Manager
Canvas Malibu
Jan 2009 - Jan 2011 (2 years)
Managed store operations and staff, assisted buying from showrooms, and maintained sales targets while onboarding local consignment brands to expand inventory and customer reach.
Sales Associate
Maxfield
Jan 2007 - Jan 2009 (2 years)
Drove global customer relationships and introduced exclusive West Coast foreign brands, surpassing sales targets by up to 30% within months and implementing a scalable logistics system for out-of-state customers.
Education
Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework
St. Thomas More School
High School Diploma, General Secondary Education
Completed High School Diploma at St. Thomas More School.
Availability
Location
Authorized to work in
Social media
Job categories
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