Successes

YOUR BRAND. YOUR TEAM. PROFITABLY ALIGNED.

(re)ALIGN for Results

Situation (prior to start-up) – Identified need for innovative 'business building service' for retailers and suppliers, delivering significant market share and profitability gains while strengthening their core business
Actions – Started business. Secured, executed client engagements for select group of mid-sized and PE-owned companies. Improved clients' processes; developed new revenue streams; articulated their UVPs; strengthened brand positioning; launched division with new product assortment, new China sourcing base for largest client
(re)ALIGN for Results – Renewed all engagements. Conducted market/factory research, launched product distribution model, and scaled new business for major category supplier to largest US retailers in half the allotted time: built new business distribution in 10 major retail chains with 2nd year run rate exceeding 600 containers per year

Situation (prior to engagement as CEO) - Sales Declines over 25% - Recovery Plan # 4 had Failed - 45% of Inventory Obsolete - Real Estate Lease at 4x Market Rate - Owners Desired to Sell Company and Unable to Take Company to Market
Actions - Installed new sales team in 'open' channels, developed e-commerce and telemarketing capability, liquidated obsolete inventory, simplified brand touch points, deep cost cuts, hired national sales force to replace 'agency', and took company to market
(re)ALIGN for Results - Stabilized sales (+12% vs. LY in 'open' channels, +$4.3.M telemarketing and web sales, +33% vs. LY order increase once 'agency' was replaced), increased EBITDA $2.8M. Marketed company and 5 buyers submitted offers, retired lease encumbrance, achieved premium due to improved brand equity and halo effect of sales turn-around

Situation (prior to engagement as Interim VP) - E-commerce Business Model had Failed - Needed New Revenue Streams to Supplement EBITDA of Mature Main Business (in preparation for Company Sale)
Actions - Fixed e-commerce, created two new business models: (1) window treatment kiosk program in big box retailers, and (2) cross-selling program with co-licensee's national sales force
(re)ALIGN for Results - Tripled e-commerce to $5M/year within 120 days by using virtual team in 4 states to get best team at lowest cost (added $1M to EBITDA), prepared (1) business model ready for start-up, and (2) business model ready for sales execution within 180 days

Situation (prior to engagement as Interim Head Merchant) - Undifferentiated, Stale Catalog Presentation - Overassorted - Unexpected Staffing Shortage
Actions - Established 4 distinct businesses, executed catalog brief and SKU-level pagination for 420 pages in 45 days (remotely), developed style groups based on sales analysis and industry trends, developed team structure to ensure future execution
(re)ALIGN for Results - New catalogs contributed double-digit sales increases, paved way for implementation of new team structure to execute innovative and distinct assortment, some in collaboration with (re)ALIGN team members

Situation (prior to engagement as Head Merchant) - Two Years of Sales Declines - Poor Execution of Once-Formidable Brand - Young Team in Need of Vision and Confidence
Actions - Challenged and supported team to revitalize vision, filled two-year product pipeline in 12 months, executed store fixture improvements and surgical clearance sale to support introduction of new merchandising strategy
(re)ALIGN for Results - Significant Comp Store Sales Turn-around, $60M (15%) sales increase over next two years, gross margin increases despite clearance activity and total inventory reduction of 14%

Situation (prior to engagement as Furniture Buyer) - Pre-Launch Phase of New Store Concept - Pottery Barn Lacked Furniture Segment Know-How to Differentiate New Brand - Store Volume was $70M/year (and not profitable)
Actions - Developed merchandising and furniture brand strategy, executed in collaboration with factories in Europe, Asia, Mexico; worked Paris and London trend shops to ensure innovative assortment for US consumer
(re)ALIGN for Results - Delivered a new brand experience with right mixture of steak and sizzle (quality/price/function and look/materials/designs) to lead trajectory to billion dollar household name; furniture/lighting sales tripled (vs. company 2 1/2-fold sales increase); margins increased 170 basis points (vs. company plus 120 basis points); inventory turns increased 52% (vs. company plus 36%)