What Clients Say

Cayenne gave us the financial and presentation tools that opened the doors to venture capital. Without Cayenne, we would not have been able to raise investment capital.

Mark Trotter, President
Yo! Naturals
San Diego, CA

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Consumer Products & Services Business Plan Development

Our experience in consumer products and services spans the following areas:

    
  • Apparel
  • Jewelry & Accessories
  • Consumer Electronics
  • Food & Beverage
  • Fitness Equipment
  • Games & Toys
  • Furniture
  • Building Products

Consumer Products & Services Consultants

Our consultants with prior experience in consumer products and services include:

  Devin Berger, MBA - Principal Consultant

Devin has over 18 years of experience in marketing and senior management of emerging growth companies, startups, and global consumer products companies, and has advised companies in numerous industries including high tech, biotech, internet/social networking, telecommunications, footwear/apparel, media & entertainment, and consumer products and services.

Earlier, she was the President of Apollo Eye Gear (performance sunglasses endorsed by Ken Griffey Jr.), CEO of Le Coq Sportif in Paris, France (athletic footwear and apparel), and President of a startup apparel company. She was also the VP of Marketing and Sales for a telecommunications company that provided wireless phone services for low income families in Tanzania, Africa. Previously, she was the Director of International Marketing for Converse, where she managed the $200 million basketball category and doubled the sales and profits of the worldwide business. Earlier, Devin was the Director of Marketing and Communications for a billion-dollar commercial real estate development project and a Senior Tax Policy Consultant for Price Waterhouse.

Devin earned her MBA from Harvard University and her BA in Economics from George Washington University.

  Bill Davenport, MBA - Principal Consultant

Bill is an entrepreneurial executive with over 10 years of experience building businesses. He possesses a strong financial background geared specifically towards meeting the capital requirements of growing companies.

Bill is an expert in financial modeling, corporate finance, and has created countless business plans and funding proposals that have raised millions in capital. He has served as CFO/COO of Sabertec, LLC. a leading manufacturer of non-catalytic diesel filtration equipment, and as the CFO of RVCA Corporation, a fast growing action sports apparel company. During the ".com" era, Bill was a securities broker at Roth Capital Partners where he co-managed $130MM in equity and cash. Bill has extensive international business experience and has managed manufacturing relationships, fundings, and IP portfolios throughout the world. He has also served on the boards of both private and public companies.

Bill holds an MBA with a specialization in finance from Thunderbird, The American Graduate School of International Management, and a Bachelors of Arts in Economics and Latin American Studies from The American University in Washington, D.C.

  Tom Dykstra, MBA, CFPIM - Principal Consultant

Tom has over thirty years of business experience in strategy development, software design, engineering management, sales, marketing, channel creation, consulting, business modeling, decision analysis, capital acquisition, and new venture start-ups.

He is the co-founder of two ERP software companies: Effective Management Systems (ERP for discrete manufacturers) and EMS Solutions (ERP for automatic merchandising companies). Effective Management Systems appeared on the Inc 500 twice (28 and 37), acquired venture funding, and was taken public.

Before founding Effective Management Systems, he was with the Data Systems Division of AO Smith Corporation, a Fortune 500 diversified manufacturer. He was responsible for all financial and HR systems used by the corporation and the service bureau customers. He also founded the firm's small business computer line of business and the IT consulting practice.

He currently serves on the board of directors of Synergex International, a software firm.

As an adjunct faculty member at Grand Canyon University and Arizona State University, he has taught graduate and undergraduate courses in strategy, supply chain / operations management, project management, information systems, statistics, business modeling, and decision analysis.

Tom has an MBA from the University of Chicago and a BA in Mathematics from Hope College. He is also a Certified Fellow of the American Production and Inventory Control Society.

  Julie Fletcher, MBA - Principal Consultant

Julie offers over 20 years of experience in business management and training. Her specialties include new business formation, business planning, business development, small business management, organizational development, operations planning, human resources, and insurance.

Prior to joining Cayenne, Julie founded Lanick Corporation, a small business consulting and coaching company. Previously, she co-founded and operated a successful small business development firm for eight years. This company expanded into the Arizona market quickly and within the first five years in business opened six offices statewide. During these years, Julie was recognized as a market leader in the construction licensing and surety bond industry, taught business law seminars, trained and led her team to reach their objectives year after year, consulted and coached hundreds of small business owners one-on-one, and assisted in setting up over 4,000 new Arizona businesses.

As an entrepreneur, Julie understands your reason for doing what you do. Her philosophy to success is simple: "you must be willing to learn and commit to follow-through! So many people dream, so few act." Through training and assistance, she guides you through a transformational process that opens doors to new opportunities and allows you to not only see your success, but actually experience it.

Julie earned her MBA with a concentration in Human Resources from the Keller Graduate School of Management, and holds a BS in business operations from DeVry University.

  Jenifer Grant, MBA - Principal Consultant

Jenifer has been involved with finance, strategy, and marketing in a wide variety of roles and industries for over 15 years. In addition to third-party clients, she developed plans and implemented strategies for internal new businesses within IT and investment banking during the corporate phase of her career. Jenifer's clients range from start-up through high middle market companies in fields including IT, software, green tech / renewable energy, telecom services, wireless, financial services, Internet/e-commerce, media/entertainment, healthcare products and wellness, consumer and industrial products, retail, mining and commodities, energy and tourism.

Prior to working as an independent consultant, Jenifer structured and managed transactions in global merchant banking and derivatives, and held strategic planning and management positions within investment banking and IT functions at Bankers Trust Company. Earlier, she worked in credit corporate finance at Manufacturers Hanover and portfolio strategy, equity and fixed income research at Kidder Peabody.

Jenifer has an MBA in Finance from Wharton and a BA in Economics from Columbia.

  Jimmy Lewin - Principal Consultant

Jimmy's background includes over 40 years in international, commercial and investment banking, and nearly a decade as the principal shareholder and CEO of a rapidly growing manufacturing and distribution business in California. Today, Jimmy spends his time advising and consulting with entrepreneurs on matters related to business planning, as well as capital markets and funding strategies. In addition, he serves in an advisory role to the National Science Foundation where he provides recommendations on the funding of SBIR/STTR grant proposals.

Jimmy serves on a number of Advisory Boards for emerging companies that have recently raised capital or are about to raise capital. In all of his work, he expresses a strong belief in the importance of customer acquisition, customer retention, and understanding the financial consequences of each and every business activity.

During his 20 years at Security Pacific Bank, Jimmy served in a number of senior management positions in the U.S. and internationally. Applicable assignments included responsibility for the funding of all of the institution's subsidiaries and affiliates domiciled outside of the U.S., general management of two overseas affiliates and general management of the bank's California staff departments.

For two years, he served as President, Director and CEO of Guardian Bancorporation, Los Angeles, California. Jimmy has extensive senior management and Board of Director experience. He is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati where he earned a B.A. in Political Science.

  Tim O'Connor, MBA - Principal Consultant

Tim O'Connor is a tremendous asset to our Consumer Products practice area and brings the innovation and passion of a proven entrepreneur plus the enormous volume of results from his classic brand marketing experiences on some of the world’s best known brands including Betty Crocker®, Tropicana® Juice, Coors®, Star Wars® and many more.

With more than twenty years of experience in traditional consumer marketing, Tim is a hands-on leader in product development, strategic planning, sales management and operations issues. As an executive leader, Tim has built a reputation as a marketing & sales driven executive in corporate turnarounds and brings a level of analysis and urgency to strategic decisions facing large and small organizations. Tim has developed countless strategic plans and presentations in such areas as marketing strategy, business model innovation, consumer research, channel management, new product development, brand renewal and product launches to name a few.

Tim is also the Founder of Brightspot Brands, the company he created to focus on the emerging functional candy segment. His company created the world's first healthy candy brand known as gimme®. The brand featured great tasting, premium chocolate candy packed with nutrition like real dairy calcium, Omega3 from flaxseed and probiotics. The business was sold to a strategic investor in 2010.

Tim earned his undergraduate degree in Economics at the University of Minnesota and earned his MBA from the JL Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University with emphasis in Finance and Marketing.

  Rick O'Hara, MBA - Principal Consultant

With over twenty years of experience in management, management consulting, strategic and business planning, financial modeling and analysis, and launching new ventures, Rick has the broad-based experience to quickly comprehend the nuances of your business and create winning solutions that get results.

Rick served as CFO for several startups in multiple industries, including Paramount Digital Entertainment (a division of Paramount Television), Carter Aviation Technologies, and Trinity Thermal Systems. While Director of Business Planning at The Becker Group of Companies, he oversaw development of business plans and financial models for four technology startups, and participated in the merger and IPO of a software firm and hardware manufacturer. As Marketing Manager at Teledyne Analytical Instruments, he managed the launch of four new product lines.

As a management consultant, he has developed business plans, financial models, engineering models, proposals, and white papers used to successfully raise millions of dollars. While still a student at the University of Southern California's MBA program, where he majored in Entrepreneurial Studies, he founded a software firm that developed and published the first business graphics software for microcomputers. Rick received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University.

  George Papaioannou, MBA - Principal Consultant

George Papaioannou has two decades of experience in developing, analyzing, evaluating and executing upon business models, from an investment as well as an operational perspective. He is one of Cayenne's resident experts on business valuation.

George spent the bulk of his career on Wall Street, valuing equity securities and positioning investment opportunities with institutional investors. As a research analyst for Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, he covered the media & entertainment sector. George also played a central role in media & entertainment public offerings and M&A transactions while at DLJ. As product manager for Thomas Weisel Partners, George oversaw all aspects of the equity research department's daily output. He collaborated with the firm's research analysts to develop thematic investment ideas and position them with appropriate investors. George was a member of TWP's Research Review Committee, which reviewed and approved stock rating changes. As a management consultant for IBM Global Services, George specialized in the development and execution of Internet strategies for Global 2000 media & entertainment companies. At online music retailer CDNOW, he formulated a strategy and business model for selling digital downloads.

George serves as a Mentor for the Eugene M. Lang Center for Entrepreneurship at Columbia University. He holds a BA in History from Cornell University and an MBA in Finance and Media Management from Columbia Business School.

  Scott Pollov - Principal Consultant

Scott brings nearly two decades of experience in planning, developing, financing, marketing, and managing entrepreneurial and real estate based ventures, both as a principal and as a consultant. He has managed several hundred strategic consulting engagements for companies in nearly every industry and stage of development. Before joining Cayenne, Scott was the co-founder and managing partner of BizPlanIt, a management consulting and capital advisory firm that assisted clients through the process of creating, financing, growing, and sustaining their business. Scott focused on pre-financing transaction preparation and positioning services, including market and competitive research, business planning services, strategic and growth planning, financial analysis and projections, investor presentation materials, recommendations on value enhancement, presentation coaching, advisory board membership, and the identification and development of strategic, marketing, and technology partners.

Scott has focused extensively on serving companies in the real estate development and finance industries, including master planned community, residential, and commercial developers; multifamily and commercial property investment companies; real estate private equity funds; and commercial and residential mortgage brokers/lenders. Scott has been active as a principal in a real estate investment firm, as well as in the funding of private money and commercial mortgage transactions.

Earlier, Scott worked at at McGladrey & Pullen, a national public accounting firm, where he specialized in financial statement audits for middle market manufacturing, distribution, and medical services companies. Scott holds a B.S. in Accounting and Entrepreneurship from the University of Arizona, and is an inductee in the University's Berger Entrepreneurship Program Hall of Fame for his role in developing BizPlanIt.

Consumer Products & Services Experience

Our experience in various areas of consumer products and services, either as consultants, entrepreneurs, or employees, includes the following:

  • Skin Care/Personal Care: Developed business plan for high growth startup in functional cosmetics. Developed business model alternatives designed to convert trial to long term brand usage. Consulted with client in the areas of concept development, product positioning, brand strategy, advertising, e-commerce, and sales management. Developed full business plan and investor pitch book. Company has received $2 million in early stage funding.
  • Energy Efficient Lighting: Prepared a business plan and financial forecast for Journee Lighting, a developer and manufacturer of energy efficient specialty lighting for demanding applications such as display lighting and museum artifact illumination. The light source is a spectrum selectable LED with an onboard semiconductor-based control system. Journee's products emit no infrared or ultraviolet energy, bringing a new level of energy efficiency both in energy consumed and heat dissipated. "I was extremely pleased with the service and expertise that Tom provided! I have already started to recommend him to my friends/associates. My SBA Loan was just approved today! You are very fortunate to have someone of Tom's caliber on your team," said Clayton Alexander, founder of Journee Lighting.
  • Fitness Equipment: Prepared a business plan, financial forecast, and investor presentation for Skorcher. Skorcher develops training and conditioning machines and programs to help people strengthen and condition their glutes. Backed by independent medical analysis, the Skorcher line of products offers a better glute training program than any other machine currently in the market. The machines can be performed unilaterally and bilaterally, an unprecedented feature of glute training. "Cayenne thoroughly understands the issues surrounding start-ups and provided invaluable insight," said Bret Contreras, Founder & CEO. The plan was "delivered to the highest standards. Excellent."
  • Educational Products & Content: Served as interim CEO of science-based educational products startup that was formed to deliver next-generation science tools and toys to retail, educational, and e-commerce channels. Developed complete business plan and operating model for the company and successfully raised $500k in seed stage capital round. Business model included US R&D with Chinese contracted product development in electronics, optics, and software. Operated both domestic and direct import sales.
  • Healthy Vending: Prepared a business plan and financial forecast for YoNaturals. YoNaturals is leading the fight against junk food in vending machines with the most comprehensive, healthy vending program in the nation. "Cayenne gave us the financial and presentation tools that opened the doors to venture capital," said Mark Trotter, President. "Without Cayenne, we would not have been able to raise investment capital."
  • Restaurant Chain: Created a business plan and financial projections for Raw Fusion, a chain of health food restaurants and an online provider (RawFusionStore.com) of health food products. Raw Fusion has developed a proprietary food preparation technology and exclusive cuisine serving enzyme-rich foods that are both delicious and nutritious. Russell Halderman, CEO, remarked that "[consultant] was an invaluable part of the startup process. I felt like he was more a member of the executive management team than a consultant. He really helped us clarify and define our business model."
  • Consumer Electronics and Toys: Developed many business plans and launched a variety of CE and toy brands globally as a senior sales and marketing executive with Hasbro® and as CEO of BRIO® wooden toys. Developed critical success factors to benchmark concepts, operating costs and margins, go-to-market plans and launch planning. Products launched have delivered in excess of $2 billion including such products as FurReal Friends®, Poochi®, BRIO® Polar Express® railway set, and many more.
  • Leather Goods Manufacturer and Distributor: Developed a business plan and a new marketing strategy for 17 year old designer and distributor of leather goods. The client believed that it could not grow without a new marketing strategy and new capital. The company is now selling branded products through big box stores and specialty distributors. The client said "Thanks for the fantastic work you have compiled in our document."
  • Specialty Foods: Developed a business plan, financial forecast, and investor presentation for importer of premium Greek olive oils, cheeses, and other food products. Played a central role in negotiations that resulted in the infusion of more than $1 million in equity capital and purchase order (PO) financing. The company has secured long-term distribution agreements with several major U.S. mass-market grocery chains.
  • Sports Apparel: Served as CFO/COO of California-based, venture-stage action sports apparel company now doing over $50MM in revenue. Grew company $800K to $6MM in 2.5 years, continuously graduating the company to less expensive working capital financing. Growth was achieved despite six-month cash cycles, capitally intensive production requirements, nine prior quarters of negative earnings, no collateralizable assets, and a non-existent operating history -- all without selling a single share of equity.
  • Specialty Beverages: Serve as a long-term strategic and financial advisor to a leading provider of premium specialty beverages packaged in "green" containers. The company's mission is to provide the highest quality beverages to the broadest possible market while addressing three fundamental societal needs: (1) environmental protection; (2) natural resource conservation; and (3) good health. The company currently obtains drinking waters from pristine sources in Scandinavia and the U.S., and distributes them in the most environmentally-friendly packaging available, including fully biodegradable cardboard containers and bottles made from plant resin-derived plastics. The products have been distributed through leading U.S. specialty and gourmet food chains since early 1997, and the company has recently entered the mass-market channel.
  • Novelty Products: Prepared a business plan, financial forecast, and investor presentation for NITELITE Sports. NITELITE develops and markets innovative golf and sports related products to a wide group of customers, ranging from Fortune 500 businesses to individual consumers. The inventor, founder, and President Corky Newcomb said "Cayenne produced a top-grade business plan and investor-oriented materials for us. Without their help, I wouldn't have been able to reach and attract the attention of all of the investors currently exploring investment opportunities with NITELITE Sports. It's been a very rewarding process."
  • Confections & Nutraceuticals: As a 20 year expert in functional foods and snacks, developed and launched world's first nutritionally enhanced candy company that delivered real nutrition such as calcium, Omega3 and Probiotics in premium candy forms. Raised seed capital funding and launched business in natural, organic, and specialty retail channel, and achieved early interest and in-market tests with Costco, Walgreens, Safeway, and others. Sold business to strategic buyer in a structured deal.
  • Cosmeceutical Hair Products: Prepared a business plan and financial model for a company focusing on addressing the hair-loss treatment segment of the haircare industry.
  • Med-Spa, Salon-Spa: Created several business plans and financial models for salons, spas, and hybrid or niche med-spas.
  • Footwear: Developed an executive summary for a leading fashion footwear company.
  • Automotive Dealerships: Developed business plans, financial forecasts, investor presentations, and related materials for several automotive dealerships across the United States.
  • Clothing Retail: Developed business plans, financial forecasts, investor presentations, and related materials for several clothing retail outlets across the United States, including locations such as New York and Beverly Hills.
  • Food Service: Developed business plans, financial forecasts, investor presentations, and related materials for several stand-alone and chain/franchise food service concepts across the United States.
  • Home Networking Products: Developed a business plan for a company that develops secure multi-room networking products and technologies for home electronic devices such as computers, video and audio players, and MP3 players (iPod).
  • Cancer Prosthetics: Developed an extended executive summary for a company that provides prosthetics and clothing, as well as grooming, styling, and therapeutic treatment products for male and female cancer survivors.
  • Premium Linens: Advised a family-owned manufacturer/distributor/marketer of premium French linens on the sale of a majority equity stake to financial investors. Developed value maximization strategies revolving around further penetration of high-end U.S. boutiques and launching of U.S. direct-to-consumer e-commerce operation. Developed business plan, financial projections, and investor presentation, and calculated valuation based on value enhancement initiatives.
  • Skincare Product Manufacturer: Researched market and competitors, spoke with potential customers. Developed a customized financial model, including detailed startup costs, valuation, and investment offering. Determined that current cost of product was too high for the business to break even and recommended that business rethink formula for product.
  • Water Filter Company: Created business overview for a social entrepreneur developing an under-sink water filter sales business. Researched market need, examined current materials and wrote nine-page overview for presentations to potential partners and web developers.
  • Athletic Club: Developed financial projections for the Los Altos Athletic Club, which was struggling to meet a major new competitive challenge.

Note: Some of the activities noted on these pages may reflect experience gained by a consultant prior to his or her association with Cayenne Consulting LLC. Cayenne Consulting does not offer any services that require licensing or registration with the NASD or other federal or state authorities.


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