What We Do
Services
- Brand Strategy
Foundational guidance to articulate and evolve your brand’s purpose, architecture, and long-term equity. - Consumer Positioning
Defining the emotional and behavioral space your brand occupies—across audience segments, cultural moments, and market tiers. - Long-Range Planning
Vision-setting for the next 3–5 years, including brand goals, operational alignment, and cross-functional integration. - Investor Services
Strategic storytelling, brand equity analysis, and materials development in support of funding, M&A, or market entry. - Board Reporting
High-level insight and reporting that aligns brand performance and consumer insight with financial and operational objectives.
- Design
Direction and refinement of product categories, seasonal assortments, and overall brand expression—grounded in cultural relevance and consumer behavior. - Merchandising
Line architecture, pricing strategy, and channel planning that align creative ambition with commercial reality. - Creative Services
Concept development, campaign ideation, and visual storytelling that translate brand ethos into compelling creative execution. - Product Development
Partnering across design, sourcing, and production to ensure aesthetic integrity, cost efficiency, and speed-to-market alignment. - Global Sourcing
Strategic vendor relationships, material development, and supply chain mapping that enable scale, quality, and ethical alignment.
- E-Commerce / Shopify
UX, merchandising, and performance strategy for modern luxury storefronts—optimized for conversion and storytelling. - Retail Stores
Guidance on store strategy, assortment planning, and brand presentation for owned retail environments. - Wholesale
Line planning, pricing strategy, and relationship management to align with premium distribution partners. - International
Market entry, localization strategy, and global expansion planning. - Licensing
Advisory on brand-right partnerships, licensing structures, and revenue alignment.
- Budgeting
Forecasting tools, cost structures, and scenario planning to align investment with vision. - Merchandise Planning
Category strategy and unit planning rooted in consumer behavior, margin, and lifecycle needs. - Inventory Allocation
Demand-based distribution planning for DTC, retail, and wholesale channels. - Open-To-Buy
Calendar-based buying frameworks that keep inventory agile and margins protected.
- Calendar Development
Seasonal workflows and GTM calendars that bring visibility and accountability across teams. - Omni-Channel Integration
Aligning inventory, messaging, and experience across digital, retail, and wholesale channels. - Tools Creation
Custom templates, trackers, and dashboards that simplify complex workflows and empower better decision-making. - Systems Implementation
Advising and supporting the integration of tools and platforms that support product, planning, and operational efficiency.
- Organizational Design
Mapping and structuring teams for scale, efficiency, and creative alignment. - Talent Benchmarking
Role calibration and comp-leveling based on industry, category, and brand ambition. - Recruitment
Advisory and hands-on support in hiring leadership across creative, commercial, and operational functions. - Coaching
1:1 and team-based guidance for founders, creatives, and executives navigating transitions or leadership growth. - Talent Introductions
Curated access to a trusted global network of creative, strategic, and operational talent.
Christopher Harlan
BIOGRAPHY
Chris Harlan is a Product, Merchandising, and Commercial Executive with a proven track record of shaping iconic global brands across Fashion, Home Furnishings, and Furniture. A results-driven creative leader with deep expertise in Retail, Digital, and Wholesale, known for driving growth and transformation in both large-scale publicly traded companies and founder-led businesses looking to scale.
A strategic operator with a distinct ability to balance creativity and entrepreneurship with commerce and operational rigor—developing innovative product strategies, immersive customer experiences, and driving brand expansion both domestically and internationally. Adept at navigating complex business cycles, from rapid growth and market expansion to brand reinvention and strategic evolution.
Forged in the golden era of modern retail, apprenticing under several of the industry’s most pioneering Founders and CEOs—immersed in environments that redefined the customer experience, product storytelling, and operational excellence. A trusted Board Member and Advisor, bringing governance, brand expertise, and market insight to companies navigating critical inflection points in growth and brand evolution.
Committed to fostering the next generation of industry talent, Harlan is deeply engaged in mentorship and education. He has served as the Merchandising Executive Sponsor of Gap Inc.’s Retail Management Program (RMP), a Guest Instructor at Kent State University’s School of Fashion, and a Panel Judge for the Joe’s Blackbook Annual Design Scholarship.
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