Review one category or an agreed small assortment using supplied sales and stock information. Kickoff, written priorities, a 60-minute readout and one clarification round. Data cleanup and ongoing buying quoted separately.
A boutique has overlapping sneaker styles and limited cash for next season. Review what earns its space, identify gaps and set buying priorities.
Illustrative situation, not a client case study or a claim of results.
Footwear, apparel & lifestyle brands
Find the product’s place in the market.
For founders who need a clearer customer, assortment or route to retail.
Brand & assortment assessment
From $2,500
Review one product family, customer, positioning and pricing. Kickoff, supplied-material review, up to five competitor references, written priorities and one readout.
One positioning or assortment question. A competitive view, customer hypotheses, a strategy brief and a practical test recommendation. Includes a presentation and one revision. Original consumer research quoted separately.
A footwear founder has a strong shoe but an unfocused collection. Clarify the customer, define each style’s role and shape a tighter retail story.
Illustrative situation, not a client case study or a claim of results.
Outdoor, snow & technical products
Connect performance with the buying decision.
For equipment, outerwear and hardgoods where function, use and identity meet.
Category & product assessment
From $3,000
Review one product family, use case, assortment and retail positioning. Supplied-material review, category references, written recommendations and a readout. Technical testing and certification are outside scope.
Positioning, assortment priorities, channel criteria and a focused test for one product family. Strategy brief, presentation and one revision. Product development, field testing and execution quoted separately.
A technical outerwear brand has clear performance features but an unclear shop-floor story. Connect features to customer occasions, assortment roles and a useful selling narrative.
Illustrative situation, not a client case study or a claim of results.
Specialty & larger retail accounts
Be ready for the right buyer.
For brands considering selective specialty stores, department stores or larger chains.
Retail readiness & account strategy
From $5,000
Review one product family’s offer, pricing assumptions and operating readiness. Account criteria, up to ten target accounts, a buyer-presentation outline and one readout. Client supplies costs, capacity and fulfillment information.
Outreach preparation, appropriate introductions and follow-up after readiness work. Targets, responsibilities and duration agreed in writing. Ongoing sales representation is a separate assignment.
An accessories brand wants department-store distribution. Assess margins, assortment fit and delivery readiness before shaping the offer and choosing which buyers to approach.
Illustrative situation, not a client case study or a claim of results.
Established brands, retailers & agencies
Bring an experienced merchant into the room.
For teams needing an independent view on a specific commercial decision.
Senior strategy assignment
From $7,500
One category or market-development decision. Information review, findings, written recommendations, an executive working session and one revision. Research breadth and stakeholder count agreed before starting.
Reserved time for agreed merchandising, product or retail priorities. Up to eight hours monthly, including two calls, preparation and document review. Additional work agreed separately; no unlimited availability.
A retail team is reconsidering a footwear category. Examine its role, customer relevance and assortment priorities, then decide what to test next.
Illustrative situation, not a client case study or a claim of results.
Expert interviews & focused advice
A useful conversation, grounded in experience.
For research teams, founders and operators with a defined question.
Expert interview
$600 / hour
A 60-minute conversation drawing on existing category and operating knowledge. Brief topic review included. No original research, report or disclosure of confidential information.
Up to 90 minutes on one business question, light preparation and a short written recap. Up to three supplied documents. Additional research scoped separately. Additional advisory work: $350 / hour by agreement.
A research team needs a specialty-retail perspective on how customers choose footbeds. Begin with an expert conversation; a later market study gets its own scope.
Illustrative situation, not a client case study or a claim of results.
How we agree the work
Know what you’re paying for.
Start with a conversation
A complimentary 20-minute introduction establishes fit. Advice, analysis and deliverables begin with a paid assignment.
A defined finish line
Every proposal identifies the question, deliverables, meetings, timing and fee. Smaller budgets get a narrower assignment. Additional work needs agreement.
Fees and project costs
All prices are USD. Starting fees apply to the described base scope. Travel, samples, venues, creators, paid research and other third-party costs are separate and require approval. Applicable taxes are additional.
Payment and relationships
Sessions are paid in advance. Projects ordinarily begin with 50% upfront and 50% on delivery; advisory is billed monthly in advance. Final terms are agreed in the proposal. Introductions depend on fit and mutual interest; retail placement and sales are not guaranteed.
The next useful step
Tell me what’s on the table.
Your business, the decision, timing and a realistic budget range are enough to begin.