Retail Strategy & Business Development Consulting
Craftworks LLC partners with small and mid-market businesses to build the strategy, materials, and operational infrastructure they need to win in major retail channels.
About Craftworks LLC
We don't just advise — we build. Websites, pitch materials, financial models, and go-to-market plans. Everything an emerging brand needs to get retail-ready and scale.
Most small brands have a great product. What they're missing is the infrastructure that major retailers demand — the pitch deck that speaks a buyer's language, the unit economics that make a partnership viable, the operational setup that turns a great conversation into a signed PO.
That's exactly what Craftworks delivers. We bring the analytical depth of a top-tier firm and the hands-on partnership of someone who has been on both sides of the table — as the buyer and as the brand.
Every engagement ends with decisions you can make and actions you can take — the day you leave our call.
What We Do
Every Craftworks engagement is customized, but our work falls into six core practice areas — each one designed to close a specific gap between where you are and where a major retailer needs you to be.
A gap analysis against actual retailer requirements. We score your brand across nine dimensions — packaging, pricing, operations, compliance, and more — and show you exactly what needs to happen before a buyer conversation.
Category sizing, competitive landscape, and retailer channel analysis. We give you the numbers that prove your product belongs on shelf — and help you choose the right retail partners to approach first.
A 90-day action plan with sequenced milestones, clear ownership, and cost estimates. No vague "next steps" — a real plan you can execute, with the priority work front-loaded so you see momentum fast.
Sell sheets, line sheets, and buyer presentations built to retail-industry standards. We know what buyers look for because we've been in those meetings — and understand both sides of the table.
Unit economics, margin analysis, funding options, and financial projections. We build the model that answers the buyer's most important question: can we actually make this partnership work?
Website structure, DTC copy, and Shopify setup. Retailers Google you before they meet you — your web presence is part of your pitch. We make sure it tells the right story.
Our Engagement Process
We've designed every stage so you always know what's happening, what's next, and what it will cost. No surprises — just steady, visible progress toward your retail goals.
We start with a conversation — no pitch, no obligation. Don learns about your business, your product, and where you want to go. We assess fit honestly and tell you straight whether Craftworks is the right partner for your goals.
No charge · 45–60 minutesA rigorous gap analysis measuring your brand against the requirements of your target retail channels. We score you across nine dimensions and produce a clear written report with specific, prioritized recommendations — not generic advice.
Deliverable: Readiness Assessment ReportA 90-day action plan built around your assessment findings. Sequenced milestones, cost estimates for each workstream, and a clear picture of the path from current state to retail-ready. You'll know exactly what to do, in what order, and what it takes.
Deliverable: 90-Day Strategic RoadmapWe execute the roadmap together. Website, pitch materials, financial model, operational setup — whatever your assessment identified as the priority gaps. This is where most consultants hand you a deck and leave. We stay and build with you.
Deliverables: All materials identified in RoadmapYou receive every deliverable, fully documented, plus training on the tools we've set up on your behalf. The goal is your independence — you should be able to update, refine, and operate everything we've built without needing to call us.
Deliverables: Full package + training sessionFor brands that want continued support as they approach retailers — buyer meeting prep, negotiation guidance, response to retailer requests. Even attending buyer meetings with you and taking the lead. Available monthly or on a project basis. You choose what level of partnership makes sense.
Optional · Flexible termsOur Principal
A National Account Director since 2011, Don has spent the last 20 years managing large consumer retail accounts across apparel, packaged goods, and consumer durables for both large and small North American brands. He has negotiated, managed, and grown accounts at the highest level — and he has watched hundreds of emerging brands try to break into those same channels, most of them unprepared for what the process actually requires.
That experience is what Craftworks is built on. Don knows exactly what a Walmart buyer needs to see in a pitch deck, what unit economics look like to a major retail category manager, and what operational questions will end a conversation before it gets started. He brings that knowledge to every engagement — not as abstract advice, but as concrete, actionable guidance.
Craftworks was founded to give small and mid-market brands access to the same quality of strategic thinking that large CPG companies take for granted — without the agency overhead, the junior team doing the work, or the 90-page report that sits on a shelf. You get Don's experience, directly, on your business.
Who We Serve
We work with founders and business owners who have a proven product and a clear ambition — and need the infrastructure to match.
You're at farmers markets, on Etsy, or in local retail. You know you can scale — you need a path and a plan.
You make a great product and you're ready for bigger distribution. You need to know what retailers will actually require.
You're running the whole operation yourself. You need a strategic partner who brings expertise you don't have time to build.
You're already in some retail doors and ready to go national. The next step requires a different level of preparation.
Get In Touch
The Discovery Call is free, no-obligation, and focused entirely on your business. By the end of it, you'll have a clearer picture of where you stand, what you need, and whether Craftworks is the right partner to help you get there.
No pitch. No hard sell. Just a straight conversation with someone who has spent 25+ years in the room you're trying to get into.