LEARN THE MATH THAT LEADS TO RETAIL PROFIT |
MERCHANT MATH IS A RETAIL TUTORING PROGRAM FOR WORKING PROFESSIONALS
You're ready to grow your business. Your plan couldn’t be clearer. Now all you need is more money. |
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Raise your hand if you’ve been trying to solve this mystery: When will I start making more money?!?
I’ve learned a thing or two about this problem and I’m ready to share what no one else has told you before. The answer isn’t in setting the right price or selling the right product. You won’t get there by refining your niche or through more social media engagement. Don’t get me wrong. All of these things are important, but there’s one single thing that’s even more critical to your success. SUCCESS IN THE RETAIL INDUSTRY IS — AND ALWAYS WILL BE — ABOUT CASH FLOW. |
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The significance of cash flow is what many of my students and consulting clients didn’t understand when they asked for my help. Retail cash flow for inventory-based businesses is something no one is teaching to enterprising small to medium sized businesses.
When our money is invested in inventory we must sell it profitably. Because, ultimately, the only way to stay in business is to not close. This needs cash. |
When you master cash flow, you master the art and science of retailing. All of the other things you struggle with — pricing, assortment planning, marketing, and customer care — begin to untangle making them easier to refine. |
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The single biggest opportunity in my students’ businesses is growth of sales and profits.
It’s tempting to think that this is basically an accounting problem or something that can be solved with a report, but those approaches won’t help you achieve your goal. Rather than simply relying on cash flow analysis or a point of sale dashboard, merchandising math is a dynamic set of tools to help you:
If you’re reading to find how to solve your money mystery, you belong here. I’m confident I know who you are and the merchandising math you need to grow retail profit with ease.
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MERCHANT MATH IS A TUTORING PROGRAM THAT TEACHES RETAILERS, MANUFACTURERS, AND MAKERS HOW TO THINK CRITICALLY ABOUT PROFITABILITY.
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Through a progressive set of small-group programs, Merchant Math students are taught to develop the analytical skills and the merchant mindset to work through financial challenges independently and profitably.
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FOUNDATION PROGRAMS
Foundation programs are required for specialized programs.
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SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS
Students may enroll in either one or both programs.
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The instructional design of all Merchant Math programs is the culmination of hundreds of hours of teaching merchandising math to a broad range of students coupled with my 18+ years of invaluable industry experience. Throw in lifelong passions for entrepreneurship and shopping, and it might feel as if we were destined to work together.
Begin the journey of building your retail profit with ease with Pricing for Profit: The Art and Science of Merchandising Math.Pricing for Profit is a foundation accelerator program that teaches applied merchandising math to retailers, manufacturers, and makers.
With an emphasis on optimizing sales and profitability, this hands-on and rigorous class uses case studies in combination with a learning lab approach to teach students how to think critically and independently about their own pricing and profit.
This program also comes with bonus materials to strengthen your learning and promote integration of these principles into your business. |
Click on a each link to explore what's inside the Pricing for Profit program.
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In week one we'll examine the relationship between pricing elements: cost of goods sold, selling price, and markup. Often disregarded as a simple relationship or overlooked as a no-brainer math formula, we'll dive into the hidden costs of doing business — the origins of cash flow pain.
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In week two we'll continue our work to better understand pricing elements and resolve the disconnect between using the simple markup approach to determining selling price and establishing a margin approach that increases profit and contributes to a healthy cash flow.
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Discover new ways to influence your profit inside the Merchant Math learning lab. Use your new understanding of profitability to plan and re-plan your pricing strategy using spreadsheets designed to support your strategic business practices.
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As a student you receive tools to help you prepare for class.
Secrets to a Merchant Mindset: A quick-start primer Embracing new information often requires a fresh perspective or a different point of view. This primer helps to clarify the difference between accounting and merchandising math. |
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Merchant Math formula cheat sheet
Because I emphasize practice and application over rote memorization, I created a formula cheat sheet as a valuable reference that you can turn to again and again.
Because I emphasize practice and application over rote memorization, I created a formula cheat sheet as a valuable reference that you can turn to again and again.
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Learning new skills requires ongoing support.
Scheduled office hours through the program It's frustrating to feel confident while learning something and then find yourself confused when you apply the lessons on your own. That's why I scheduled office hours. I'm here for you! |
Teacher and peer support inside an exclusive Facebook group
We all deserve gold stars for trying, for accomplishing, and for supporting fellow students. What better way to stay connected between classes than to share our trials and triumphs, and to support each other through tribulations!
We all deserve gold stars for trying, for accomplishing, and for supporting fellow students. What better way to stay connected between classes than to share our trials and triumphs, and to support each other through tribulations!
Pricing for Profit: The Art and Science of Merchandising Math
This 3-week program meets weekly on Monday mornings.
May 7, May 14, and May 21 from 10:00AM to 11:30AM
Class will be held in Seattle, WA. Location to be finalized.
Concurrent online learning is also available.
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Pricing for Profit is limited to 8 students and this program is a rare opportunity to work with me in a small-group format as we co-build your future profit. This class will be taught in person with direct access to teacher support in class, during office hours, and inside our Facebook group.
This will be a handpicked group of merchants and it is my goal to create a cohort that helps accelerate and compound individual success. This program won’t be perfect for everyone and I want to set you up for success, so I might suggest different training for some applicants.
No matter what, every applicant will receive my valuable new video tutorial: A Non-techie Guide to Spreadsheets. |
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STUDENTS AND THEIR SUCCESS STORIES
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What made Pricing for Profit really valuable was being able to apply what I learned to my business immediately. It allowed me to make immediate improvements to my gross profit margins and made me more confident in the process.
My margins are no longer a vague average of numbers that I came to based on guessing. After this workshop I began making better decisions in all areas of my retail business. I highly recommend Merchant Math programs! Chris is an engaging instructor and gives really clear explanations.
I had reviewed my overall cash flow for my business to a very granular degree, but Merchant Math provides a zoom-in on retail financial management.
It compliments the cash flow analysis well, which created a balanced view of the health and growth of my retail shop. Not to mention, it was fun!
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Chris packs a serious punch of retail know-how.
I was in the process of shifting my small retail business from selling on Etsy to wholesaling to boutique shops. Chris offered the perfect class, Pricing for Profit, in which I was able to get my head around the real price of the goods I was creating and meet the most wonderful small business owners in the process. Her classes helped me create my retail community and bring my product to market sooner than I could have alone. Retail has a language and process unto itself. Through her extensive knowledge, enthusiasm, and undying love of small retail business, Chris helps you to strategically create a roadmap and vision of your retail business that is bigger than you could imagine and knocks apart any pricing and marketing blocks you may have. Save yourself time and money and work with her!
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Chris has many things to offer someone looking to improve their business. She offers amazing classes, case studies and has a wealth of knowledge and experience.
We have brought Chris in to teach at several of our events for Urban Craft Uprising and our students leave excited and inspired. I really believe she is helping to improve their small businesses. She is a great listener, kind and generous. I have always looked forward to our meet ups and am so impressed by her work ethic and drive. She's funny to boot! You will not regret one second of time spent with this woman. Hire her today!
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I want to serve all merchants through Merchant Math programs but I know that you might benefit from something different. Please read this before you apply to triple check that this program will be right for you.
Retailing is not an exact science. Instead of chasing a guaranteed financial outcome that doesn’t exist you will learn the math formulas used by retailers and manufacturers of all sizes and stages of growth. Are you ready to invest in your skill set for the long term?
Like every valuable business process, the quality of the outcome is directly related to the quality of the input. Reaping the benefits of retail financial planning is an iterative process that takes time. Are you prepared to take a hard look at your plans, and make a habit out of reviewing them?
You have big goals for your business and your calendar is filled with competing priorities. 99.9% of business projects have one end goal — to drive profit. When you have a functional understanding of merchandising math, all of your projects can be prioritized and coordinated, and their benefits compounded. Can you take the time to drive your big picture down into the details of your business?
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I’M THE DESIGNER OF MERCHANT MATH, AND CEO AND FOUNDER OF MERCHANT METHOD.
I teach retailers and manufacturers how to think critically and independently about factors that impact cash flow. Though I love taking entrepreneurial risks and making bold business moves, I don’t leap on blind faith. I gather as much information as possible, check in with my creative intuition, and then make the best decision I can with the information I have. I want to teach you how to do this too! I was named “The New Face of Retail” by bestselling author and entrepreneur Erika Lyremark. I’ve also been featured by Vend, Compliantia, Shopify, and Storefront for my experience in expertly guiding merchants like you. |
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You can click on each link to read more about my approach to retailing.
When you learn the math that leads to retail profit, you’ll finally learn how to build retail profit with ease.
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WHAT TYPE OF INVENTORY-BASED BUSINESSES ARE A GOOD FIT THIS?
🗹 Brick-and-Mortar chains |
🗹 Manufacturers |
🗹 Businesses 20+ years old |
🗹 Boutiques |
🗹 Small-batch manufacturers |
🗹 Businesses < 20 years old |
🗹 Online retailers |
🗹 Made to order |
🗹 Businesses re-branding |
🗹 Pop-up retailers |
🗹 Handmade goods |
🗹 Brand new businesses |
🗹 Consignment |
🗹 Artists |
🗹 Those who are changing careers |
Still have questions about the program?
how is this different than what's offered in entrepreneurship books or through general mentorship programs?
All Merchant Math courses build on the foundational concepts described in many introductory business texts and general mentorship programs.
Merchant Math goes further, digging into assortment planning, sales forecasting, strategic inventory management, and product development for inventory-based businesses — skills seldom taught to entrepreneurs and small to medium sized businesses.
Merchant Math goes further, digging into assortment planning, sales forecasting, strategic inventory management, and product development for inventory-based businesses — skills seldom taught to entrepreneurs and small to medium sized businesses.
do i need to like math or be good at it?
No, you do not need to like or feel good at math in order to benefit from my programs but you must be willing to learn the concepts I teach. This is just as much of a mindset shift as it is a math shift — whining, complaining, playing victim, or laying blame rarely help.
what business information do i need to have in order to take the class?
Our programs use case studies to teach math concepts holistically, which accelerates learning and critical thinking skills. We’ve found that this motivates our students to quickly apply their new found acumen to their businesses.
Will other students in the program have access to my private business information?
No, but you can voluntarily share your own business’ information with the group if you would like support in developing your profit plan during the learning lab.
HOW CAN I ACCESS AND PARTICIPATE IN ONLINE LEARNING?
Registered telestudents will have access to a private classroom portal through which you can participate in real time. A recording of each class will be available for all students.