Consumer Products & Services Business Plan Development
Our experience in consumer products and services spans the following areas:
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Consumer Products & Services Consultants
Our consultants with prior experience in consumer products and services include:
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.
Ryan offers over twelve years of experience in management consulting, entrepreneurship, creating executable growth strategies, and financial analysis. He has hands-on experience in running start-up companies and in managing new strategic initiatives within established organizations.
Before joining Cayenne Consulting, he spent five years advising start-ups and early stage companies. He prepared dozens of business and financial plans, created and implemented new internal business channels, facilitated international negotiations, migrated operations offshore, and formed strategic partnerships. He began his career at Synaptix Impulse, a telecommunications/broadband industry consulting firm later acquired by Paladyne Corp., where he developed and grew xDSL channels for their largest client, U.S. West Communications.
Ryan has worked with clients across a range of industries including Internet and e-commerce, media and entertainment (music, film, and publishing), consumer products and services, industrial software, healthcare, medi-spas, fitness equipment, internet retail, web services (SaaS), modeling/promotion, IT management, manufacturing, medical devices, marketing services, real estate foreclosure assistance, travel and hospitality, rental property management software, and health food vending.
Ryan earned his BS in Business Marketing at University of Phoenix.
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.
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's background includes over 35 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 splits his time between working with early stage technology entrepreneurs including National Science Foundation grantees and advising and consulting entrepreneurs on matters related to business planning, as well as capital markets and funding strategies.
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.
George Papaioannou has 15 years of experience in developing, analyzing, evaluating and executing business models, from an investment as well as an operational perspective.
George worked on Wall Street for a total of eight years, analyzing investment opportunities and positioning them with institutional investors. As a research analyst for Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, he covered the media & entertainment sector. While at DLJ, George played a central role in more than two dozen public offerings and M&A transactions worth a total of over $3 billion. As product manager for Thomas Weisel Partners, George oversaw all aspects of the equity research department's daily product 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 companies. At online music retailer CDNOW, he formulated a strategy and business model for selling digital downloads. Most recently, George was director of business development for Clique Communications, a provider of Web-based video communication technologies. At Clique, he was responsible for developing commercial applications for the technologies, finding new business opportunities and forging strategic partnerships.
George serves as a Mentor for the Eugene M. Lang Center for Entrepreneurship at Columbia University. He earned his BA from Cornell University and his MBA from Columbia Business School.
Since 2004, Harry Phillips has worked closely with companies spanning the start-up through middle market stages in sectors including healthcare and medical devices, consumer products and services, high tech, financial services, energy, industrial products, telecommunications, retail, and automotive. With his assistance, his early stage clients have raised over $65 million in start-up and growth capital.
Before that, he developed business plans, financial models and investor presentations as a member of a team of leveraged buyout specialists at a $1.2 billion private equity firm. He played a key role in 20 transactions through which $9.5 billion in financing was raised to create a portfolio of companies whose aggregate annual sales exceeded $10 billion. He has worked closely with CEOs and CFOs of Fortune 500 companies, and played a significant role in managing a $4 billion a year, publicly traded auto parts manufacturer.
Previously, Harry was involved with investor relations, business development, marketing, finance and operations in a broad range of industries. His corporate management experience includes financial analysis, strategic planning, budgeting, marketing, and corporate communications.
Harry earned a B.A. from Harvard University and a J.D. from Pace University School of Law.
Scott brings over 15 years 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.
Eric is a small business and business plan consultant who has worked with a variety of clients, while specializing in service sectors. He endeavors to make sure clients ask the right questions first and then help them to dig deeper into their strategy. Eric’s clients include a skin care product, a water filtration provider, a cellular phone retailer, web software services, a language training center, social service organizations, consulting firms, and a theater company. Projects have included business plans, executive summaries, mission statements, strategy and operations consulting, and technology implementation. Eric developed over forty sample business plan templates for business plan consulting firm clients to help small businesses launch more easily.
He has written numerous articles on business planning, private placement memoranda, and entrepreneurship. Eric has served pro bono non-profit clients through the Net Impact Service Corps and volunteers for the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) as a mentor.
Prior to working as a consultant, Eric was Associate Director in charge of operations at Helen Mills Event Space in New York where he sold event rentals to corporate, non-profit and private clients and helped to grow a startup business. He was a founding editor of offoffonline.com and ran development and office management as Administrative Director for Target Margin Theater.
Eric holds an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management from Baruch College and a BA from Williams College.
Consumer Products & Services Experience
Our experience in various areas of consumer products and services, either as consultants, entrepreneurs, or employees, includes the following:
- Energy Efficient Lighting: Prepared a business plan and financial forecast for Journée 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. Journée'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 Journée 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."
- 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."
- 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."
- 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.
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.