Project Description

Start-up Strategy Focuses on Priorities

Business Portfolio & Strategies

The Challenge

As a start-up business in the home décor segment, LK products combine simple clean design with sustainable and organic materials, manufactured with refugee labor bringing compassion and purpose to every piece. Sales were growing, but remained very small. And hundreds of small accounts were keeping the average order value very low, with few customers re-ordering. Despite consumer passion for the products, too much effort was needed to manage all those customers. The challenge: How do we scale the business more efficiently and grow to a level of profit and sustainability?

The Strategy

Identify and prioritize strategic growth targets to provide the scale and volume needed for the business to succeed. Starting with a vision and goals, we developed a clear definition of the LK targeted consumer which provided direction to clarify a channel strategy to reach them, product extensions to maintain interest and definition of the operational requirements necessary to achieve success. A multi-year roadmap quantified the prioritized channels and product categories required to reach the goals.

The Results

Execution of the strategy is a work in progress. The LK team is working to achieve the targeted priorities and are right on track.

Endorsements

Mary Ann’s leadership and vision not only provided stability and collaboration for a diverse set of business units and brands, but also set a direction that allowed growth and innovation to take place.

Rich Lyons, Capgemini

Mary Ann brings teams of diverse experience and discipline together to effectively create disruptive ideas, align on priorities and deliver results through collaboration, empowerment and resourcefulness.

Mark Johnson, Innosight

Mary Ann provided the leadership critical to building a new business, from the ground up, within the existing corporate infrastructure- not an easy accomplishment in a Fortune500 company!

Bryan Janeczko, Loeb.nyc

Perhaps Mary Ann’s strongest attribute is her ability to work with large teams and find a way to inspire change and results.

Mike Fagan, President, Domtar Personal Care

Mary Ann has a unique ability to provide real strategic vision to any business challenge; in particular, she understands how to lead organizations in creating and implementing innovative new business models and transformative growth initiatives.

Mike Docherty, NextBig

Mary Ann is a “thinker” and a “doer”, which is a rare and valuable combination in my experience.

Glen Waisner, Catalyst Consulting Partners, LLC

Mary Ann has become an extension of our leadership team providing ongoing mentorship to our global marketing leadership

Mike Fagan, President, Domtar Personal Care

In all cases, Mary Ann provided leadership, insight and unwavering focus on consumers and their needs.

Glen Waisner, Catalyst Consulting Partners, LLC

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