I leverage my retail expertise to offer a range of consulting services for clients of all sizes. My focus is on delivering practical solutions and tangible results, tailored to meet each client’s unique situation and needs. My expertise encompasses a number of essential retail disciplines:
Sales Forecasting
I help clients develop the detailed, reliable sales plans that are essential to establishing and maintaining appropriate assortments and stock levels. Out of stocks can hammer the top line, and heavy inventories and excessive markdowns, can cripple the bottom line. In many cases, the problem begins long before the season even begins, with inadequate or inaccurate sales planning. I know how to develop consistently reliable sales forecasts, month after month, season after season.
Inventory Management
I help my clients closely align their sales and inventory, and flow merchandise smoothly throughout the season by developing and maintaining detailed Open-To-Buy plans. I also help clients keep their shelves stocked in core items by regularly evaluating and determining the correct replenishment parameters for the automatic replenishment package in their POS systems.
Merchandise Management
I help my clients be sure their assortments and presentations are clean, crisp and easy to shop. I know the natural instinct of any retailer is to be able to satisfy all the needs of their customers, but it's easy to get away from what you do best. When that happens, presentations lose their crispness, make it too hard on the customer, and sacrifice their effectiveness. Merchandising is most effective when presentations and assortments are clean, focused and compelling.
Cash Flow Management
I help my clients develop detailed Cash Flow Plans to establish key benchmarks, guide their decision making and spot potential downstream cash pinch points as early as possible. In today’s retail environment, financial health requires a commitment to business fundamentals, financial discipline, and a heightened attention to detail. I believe cash flow management is a business fundamental that must be mastered by every retailer, regardless of size.
Customer Experience
I help my clients find that sweet spot where a powerful synergy is created between imaginative store design and layout, intriguing merchandise assortments and presentations, engaging salespeople, and exceptional execution. When that happens, a buzz is created that captivates customers and leads to an unforgettable customer experience.
Retail Start-Ups
I help my clients with the details that are absolutely essential to getting a retail start-up off on the right foot. I help clients define their niche with clarity and focus, get through the opening process with detailed checklists, develop effective operating policies and procedures, establish critical budgets and benchmarks, and coach them through the unavoidable learning curve.
Retail Turnarounds
I help my clients turn around ailing retail businesses without sacrificing the equity and goodwill they’ve built up with their customers over the years. The key to a successful turnaround is early intervention, when the underlying business fundamentals remain strong. My approach is to identify the underlying causes, restore organizational focus and effectiveness, and point the business toward a bright and sustainable future.
Schedule a Discovery Session to explore working together and how I can help you increase sales, profitability and cash flow. Leverage the Power of Retail Know-How. Schedule your Discovery Session now.