Providing practical business benefits which are right sized, easy to implement and totally achievable, our consultancy projects address strategy development, solution creation, implementation, training and support for any retail or customer-facing business need.

Buying - A retailer can only meet it’s customer’s needs by buying the right product. Therefore the processes that underpin the buying function are fundamental to the retailer’s success. First Friday’s areas of expertise include: trend forecasting, product development, range building, sourcing, supplier management and critical path management.

Merchandising - Understanding your customer is the key to success. Planning to ensure your range meets your customers’ needs, coupled with robust processes for stock and sales management, will ensure that sales and profit opportunities are maximised. First Friday’s areas of expertise include planning, forecasting, WSSI, stock management, price management and analysis.

Stock distribution - The largest investment a retailer makes is in the stock it buys so it is important to review the processes by which that stock is placed. Getting the allocation and replenishment of stock right can have a big impact upon sales and markdown levels. First Friday’s areas of expertise include stock allocation, replenishment, store potentialisation and the effective use of available systems.

Visual merchandising - From our understanding of shopping habits and best practice visual merchandising and display, First Friday can increase customer traffic into and around your sales outlets - converting customers to sales, increasing transaction values and encouraging multiple sales. Our experience includes developing and testing new visual merchandising strategies and solutions for new seasons, stock or events. We also monitor competitor activity and recommend responses.
read more

Retail management - The execution of a company’s strategy at store level is critical to a retailer’s success. First Friday can help retailers review store processes, make recommendations on management information requirements and review and recommend improvements in service levels.

Organisational development - It is essential that all job roles are correctly aligned to the needs of the business and that everyone is monitored and assessed accordingly. It is particularly important that job roles and organisational structures are reviewed and changed appropriately as part of change programmes. First Friday’s expertise includes developing competencies, role definitions and performance review and improvement mechanisms.