Smooth and Profitable Retail Systems

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a typical operational assessment take?

Every engagement starts with a 30-minute discovery call to talk through your business goals, current bottlenecks, and immediate priorities. From there, I conduct an operational audit (reviewing your workflows, P&L/margins, tech stack, and floor layout) and deliver a clear, prioritized action plan. Depending on what you need, we can tackle a focused one-time project—like a pre-opening launch or POS overhaul—or set up ongoing weekly/monthly check-ins to roll out systems, train your team, and track profitability.

What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?

I bring 26 years of real-world, hands-on leadership in multi-unit retail, coffee, and hospitality operations. Over the past two and a half decades, I have managed regional store portfolios, led new store openings and drive-thru buildouts, integrated POS and scheduling technology, developed profitable menus and merchandising layouts, and built repeatable staff training programs from the ground up.

Do you work with new concepts as well as established brands?

Yes! We work with both brand-new independent shops looking to start strong and multi-unit brands wanting to optimize their profitability.

How did you get started doing this type of work?

After spending 26 years leading multi-unit retail and hospitality teams—and seeing firsthand how many great independent shops struggle not from a lack of passion, but from messy backend systems—I launched Perk & Pillar Consulting. I wanted to give independent cafe and retail owners access to the same enterprise-level operational playbooks, P&L guardrails, and tech efficiencies that big chains use, without the corporate fluff.

What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?

I offer flexible pricing based on the scope of your project—including flat-rate packages for pre-opening setups and operational audits, weekly hands-on launch support, and monthly fractional retainers for ongoing P&L oversight and growth strategy. After our initial discovery call, you’ll receive a transparent proposal with clear deliverables and zero surprise fees.

What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their project?

Before our first call, it helps to think about three things:

• Your #1 Bottleneck: Are you struggling most with profitability (labor/COGS), daily chaos (staffing/SOPs), technology/POS setup, or getting a new location open?
• Your Timeline: Are you aiming for a specific launch date, or looking to stabilize operations over the next 30 to 90 days?
• Your Involvement Level: Do you want a strategic roadmap for your managers to execute, or do you want hands-on support training your team and building the systems alongside you?