CASE STUDIES

🧾 CASE STUDY: Healthy Roots Dolls

Role: Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Channels: Target, Walmart, Amazon, DTC

Category: Toys, Retail CPG

⚙️ THE PROBLEM

When I stepped in as COO, the company was operating at a loss despite strong retail sales. A detailed operational audit revealed that our 3PL, ShipBob, had been misreporting inventory—marking POs to Target as fully shipped when, in reality, over half the units were missing.

Because the brand was using a factoring company to advance payments against fulfilled POs, we had already received 100% of the invoice amount. Target, however, only paid for what they actually received—50%—leaving us with over $500K in hidden losses and mounting operational debt.

Every new sale was effectively going toward paying off that gap, creating a long-term cash choke that wasn’t visible on the surface.

🧠 THE STRATEGY

• Conducted a full inventory and fulfillment reconciliation across DTC and retail channels
• Pulled and analyzed ShipBob pick/pack logs against retail portal confirmations and factoring records
• Negotiated directly with Target’s retail operations team and secured forgiveness and payment for the full PO amount—even for units they never received
• Initiated legal action against ShipBob, won the case, and recovered damages related to fulfillment misrepresentation

✅ THE RESULT

• Recovered over $500K in damages and unpaid revenue
• Cleared underlying debt that had been buried under false inventory data
• Rebuilt retail fulfillment SOPs and inventory control systems to prevent recurrence
• Restored cash flow and margin viability for all future retail orders

🧠 WHY IT MATTERS

This wasn’t a marketing problem. This was an operational hemorrhage that would’ve quietly killed the business if left unchecked. Founders often focus on growth while backend issues eat margin in silence.

I step in to stop those leaks, fix the infrastructure, and defend the company’s bottom line with the same care I’d give my own.

🧾 CASE STUDY: Jeng (Brae Wellness)

Role: Ops & Production Systems Consultant

Category: Functional Beverage, DTC & Wholesale

Stage: Scaling production, managing cash flow

⚙️ THE PROBLEM

The founder of Jeng (Brae Wellness) was managing production planning manually—calculating ingredient quantities, overlapping SKUs, and order volumes by hand for every batch run. There was no system to account for shared ingredients across formulas, vendor consolidation, or on-hand inventory. This made scaling painful, ordering inefficient, and cash flow unpredictable.

🧠 THE STRATEGY

• Built a live, dynamic recipe costing calculator that let the founder input batch sizes across SKUs
• Automatically calculated total ingredient quantities by SKU and aggregated by vendor, accounting for overlap
• Integrated real-time inventory logic to reduce overordering and utilize ingredients already in stock
• Included cost per unit outputs, allowing for accurate COGS visibility by SKU and batch
• Created a reusable system that could scale with new products, flavor variants, or supplier shifts

✅ THE RESULT

• Removed hours of manual labor per production run
• Enabled accurate, vendor-specific ordering in a single step
• Reduced overordering and waste, improving short-term cash position
• Delivered true COGS clarity by SKU, allowing for smarter pricing, promotions, and distribution planning
• Freed up the founder to focus on growth rather than spreadsheets

🧠 WHY IT MATTERS

Early-stage founders often over-function, filling every gap in the business manually. That works for a few SKUs—but it breaks when scaling. I built a backend tool that didn’t just save time—it gave the founder decision-making clarity, eliminated guesswork, and turned production planning into a strategic asset.

🧾 CASE STUDY: QueenTape

Role: Retail Expansion & Backend Strategy Consultant

Category: Beauty / Skincare Tool

Stage: Viral DTC growth, pre-retail infrastructure

⚙️ THE PROBLEM

QueenTape had gone viral through affiliate marketing and was growing fast—but the backend wasn’t ready. The product was being shipped from a garage, with no retail pricing model, no fulfillment plan, and no formal retail materials. Then Target reached out.

The founder had no idea how to navigate the process, price for retail, or fulfill at scale without destroying margin or customer trust.

🧠 THE STRATEGY

• Took over retail pitching and communications, starting with Target
• Built a full retail readiness strategy, including channel-specific pricing, packaging prep, and catalog materials
• Modeled margin structure to determine what was viable across wholesale, DTC, and promo scenarios
• Started active outreach and negotiations with multiple major retailers beyond Target
• Initiated backend improvements: fulfillment planning, 3PL guidance, inventory controls, and foundational ops systems to support scale

✅ THE RESULT

• QueenTape is now in active retail expansion discussions with multiple national retailers
• Brand went from garage-level fulfillment to scalable infrastructure with margin-aware planning
• Built the foundation to go from “viral product” to retail-ready brand
• Gave the founder a roadmap, pricing logic, and channel plan to move forward confidently

🧠 WHY IT MATTERS

Going viral can break a business if the backend isn’t there. I stepped in when Target called—before the brand even had formal operations—and built the structure and strategy required to move from hype to shelf. When retailers show interest, you need someone who speaks their language and protects your margins. That’s what I do.

🧾 CASE STUDY: Zomes

Role: Operations & Logistics Consultant

Category: Modular Wellness Structures (luxury outdoor)

Stage: U.S. market expansion, backend setup

⚙️ THE PROBLEM

Zomes builds luxury modular structures and was preparing to expand in the U.S. market. But the logistics, import, and fulfillment setup was not optimized. The business needed support navigating 3PL selection, tariff implications, and import structuring. Orders were bulky, complex, and required custom handling—not a fit for generic fulfillment setups.

🧠 THE STRATEGY

• Led 3PL discovery and selection based on Zomes’ unique product requirements: large, high-value, custom shipments
• Reviewed and structured import classifications and tariff strategies to reduce landed costs
• Consulted on freight and logistics planning for international shipments, including risk and cost scenarios
• Built foundational fulfillment logic and mapped out inventory movement processes to prepare the brand for more consistent U.S. operations

✅ THE RESULT

• Secured a specialized 3PL partner aligned with Zomes’ product dimensions, volume, and handling needs
• Reduced import and customs risk by correcting tariff classifications and improving documentation
• Developed backend fulfillment structure to support ongoing U.S. expansion without operational bottlenecks
• Enabled the brand to grow into new markets with logistical clarity and cost control

🧠 WHY IT MATTERS

Selling high-touch physical products at scale requires more than just freight—it demands precision across import strategy, fulfillment, and inventory flow. I helped Zomes prepare the backend so they could expand into the U.S. market with confidence and structure, not guesswork.

🧾 CASE STUDY: Zileej

Role: Director of Global Operations

Category: Toys, Games, & Educational Products

Stage: Pre-relaunch, backend rebuild and go-to-market planning

⚙️ THE PROBLEM

Zileej had strong product IP but lacked a cohesive backend strategy for relaunch. The company needed full operational infrastructure—from digital systems to international fulfillment—to support an omnichannel go-to-market plan across multiple regions. At the time, there were no active sales—this was a rebuild from the ground up to prepare for a global relaunch.

🧠 THE STRATEGY

• Leading the global go-to-market relaunch strategy, including international pricing, fulfillment readiness, and retail positioning
• Overseeing the development of a new Shopify Plus site to support DTC and wholesale sales
• Building a digital funnel and exploring revenue opportunities through digital products (Zileej Kids)
• Coordinating with developers, designers, and internal teams to create a centralized operations infrastructure
• Evaluating 3PLs, building launch timelines, and preparing internal systems for multi-region inventory and order flow

✅ THE RESULT (IN PROGRESS)

• Structured operational roadmap for the relaunch across US, UK, and MENA
• Defined digital and physical infrastructure needs to support scale
• Built out pricing and margin models across channels and geographies
• Enabled the organization to move from brand vision to execution-ready backend systems

🧠 WHY IT MATTERS

Relaunching isn’t about “starting over”—it’s about building the backend that can actually support growth. I’m working with Zileej not just to prepare products for market, but to ensure the systems behind them are solid enough to scale across retail, wholesale, and digital. No duct tape. No shortcuts. Just operational clarity from day one.

🧾 CASE STUDY: Patron of the New

Role: Backend Operations Consultant

Category: Luxury Fashion Retailer (Ecommerce + Flagship)

Stage: High-volume brand managing frequent product drops and curated collections

⚙️ THE PROBLEM

Patron of the New was running a high-velocity ecommerce business on Shopify, layered over curated in-store retail. They were doing frequent product drops, brand collabs, and limited SKU runs across designers like Chrome Hearts, Rick Owens, and ERD.

But the backend was inconsistent. Inventory wasn’t syncing cleanly between the physical store and Shopify. Orders were being oversold, fulfillment was delayed, and high-value items were slipping through the cracks—causing chargebacks and damaging customer trust.

There was no reliable system for receiving, tracking, or fulfilling high-end SKUs across both sales channels.

🧠 THE STRATEGY

• Audited current Shopify setup, warehouse behavior, and POS-to-ecomm workflows
• Created drop-specific inventory workflows that mapped exactly how SKUs should be received, batched, and sold across Shopify and in-store
• Built a logic-based pick/pack process for high-value items, with scanning and QC checkpoints to reduce error rates
• Developed a system for daily syncing and visibility between store inventory and Shopify to prevent oversells
• Introduced a standardized returns intake process for boutique-level items, including photography and condition logging before resale
• Worked with warehouse staff to implement SKU-level controls, barcode organization, and physical layout tweaks for faster batch prep

✅ THE RESULT

• Fulfillment error rate dropped significantly during high-pressure drops
• Prevented oversells by ensuring Shopify inventory synced with in-store sales in real time
• Reduced chargebacks and returns-related revenue loss
• Built an internal structure that allowed for high-SKU throughput without increasing headcount
• Gave the founder and retail team visibility and control over backend movement, improving cash flow and accountability

🧠 WHY IT MATTERS

In luxury, mistakes aren’t just expensive—they damage brand credibility. I helped Patron of the New bring structure to a fast-moving, high-value retail backend—without slowing the business down or compromising the boutique experience.

🧾 CASE STUDY: Kpop Exchange

Role: Fractional COO / Operations Strategy Lead

Category: K-pop Merchandise Reseller (Shopify + Physical Retail)

Stage: Multi-million dollar business scaling without backend infrastructure

⚙️ THE PROBLEM

Kpop Exchange was generating strong sales through preorders and flash drops, but operations were fragmented. Inventory was manually tracked, fulfillment was reactive, and there were no systems in place to manage labor, marketing, or profit visibility.

Overseas staff were underutilized, the warehouse team was overwhelmed, and there was no structure supporting scale, compliance, or cross-border opportunity.

🧠 THE STRATEGY

Fulfillment & Inventory

• Built out a scalable fulfillment structure including pick/pack systems, team standups, shift-based staffing, and Shopify-integrated inventory tracking
• Introduced warehouse labor planning using shift coverage + margin-aware scheduling

Financial Visibility

• Implemented Digits to sync financials with Shopify and banking
• Developed a custom margin tracker by product type using Parcel Panel data
• Audited operational expenses and flagged hidden costs around shipping, platform fees, and inventory movement

International Compliance

• Identified eligibility for duty drawback and created a centralized folder system for claims
• Set up documentation and workflow to recover tariff-related costs across international orders

Team Leadership & Upskilling

• Took over management of the overseas team, establishing clear roles, workflows, and meeting structure
• Created upskilling plans for design and marketing staff, including assignments focused on meme creation, creative ad angles, and CapCut editing
• Set expectations around creative ownership and execution tied to business impact

Marketing & Expansion Readiness

• Laid the foundation for AI-assisted content workflows and influencer collaboration strategy
• Mapped out product expansion opportunities with cross-collaboration in K-beauty and Korean food
• Created internal tracking systems for warehouse performance, marketing ideas, influencer outreach, and product development

✅ THE RESULT (IN PROGRESS)

• Fulfillment speed and accuracy has improved through structured staffing and real-time inventory syncing
• Financial visibility has increased with live margin data, enabling more confident pricing and restock decisions
• Overseas team is now integrated, upskilled, and executing higher-value creative and marketing work
• Duty drawback compliance structure is in place, unlocking future tariff refunds
• Leadership has operational clarity and bandwidth to explore international partnerships, content strategy, and product expansion

🧠 WHY IT MATTERS

Kpop Exchange didn’t need motivation—it needed structure. I came in to professionalize the backend without killing momentum. Now the business has the systems, staff development, and cross-border setup to keep scaling—without draining cash or team energy.

🧾 CASE STUDY: Dayguard

Role: Supply Chain Consultant

Category: Functional Wellness (Hangover Remedy)

Stage: Pre-launch | Brown University Accelerator

⚙️ THE CONTEXT

Dayguard, a Korean hangover remedy brand brought to the U.S. through Brown University’s accelerator, needed operational support to bring their product to market. Imported from South Korea, the supplement required FDA clearance and careful handling through U.S. customs.

Their first international shipment was blocked under FDA inspection, and the founder—new to global logistics—was facing escalating storage fees, communication gaps with their broker, and no clear resolution timeline. I was brought in during this bottleneck to help them break through.

🧠 THE STRATEGY

Freight Coordination & Import Strategy

• Supported freight booking and vendor coordination from Korea
• Compared air vs. ocean freight options for cost, speed, and compliance
• Built a basic SOP for ongoing import cycles

FDA Clearance & Compliance Breakthrough

• Identified the customs documentation gaps causing the hold
• Reviewed communications with the broker and flagged errors
• Advised on how to engage FDA and broker directly
• As soon as I stepped in, the FDA hold was lifted and freight released

Storage Fee Prevention & Broker Accountability

• Coached founder on negotiation tactics with the broker
• Helped them dispute unnecessary storage fees due to delayed clearance

Regulatory Navigation & Risk Reduction

• Walked the team through bond requirements, HS codes, and FDA conditional release protocols
• Created clear SOPs for communication with forwarders, brokers, and customs

✅ THE RESULT

• Shipment was fully cleared by FDA and delivered without further delay
• Thousands in potential storage fees were avoided or reduced
• Founder gained confidence and tools to manage future imports
• Infrastructure now in place for consistent, compliant shipments going forward

🧠 WHY IT MATTERS

Dayguard had product-market fit and momentum, but no internal ops muscle to manage international trade. I jumped in when the stakes were high, cleared regulatory friction, and helped the brand build a repeatable import process—so they could launch in the U.S. and scale with less risk and more control.

🚀 Case Study Summary: 2-Week Turnaround at Kpop Exchange

• Within 2 weeks of stepping in as fractional COO, audited and restructured a misaligned $8.5K/month Google Ads spend using GA4, monetization data, and campaign analysis
• Uncovered that 90% of traffic came from low-intent placements (Display, Smart, YouTube) with minimal conversions
• Isolated true Paid Search ROAS at just ~0.35, revealing that the reported ROAS was inflated by blended attribution and returning customers
• Identified over 7,800 paid clicks landing on 404 error pages, causing major waste
• Slashed inefficient spend, implemented a $1.5K Paid Search test cap, and shifted growth focus to Meta Ads for retargeting and fandom engagement
• Enabled founder to start paying herself a salary, cover business expenses like her home office, and move forward with purchasing a vehicle to haul inventory
• Delivered a clear, data-backed internal audit, rewrote agency communication, and created a long-term marketing realignment plan
• Proved that profitability doesn’t always require more revenue — just better decisions