Begin by finding a company that provides due diligence services to potential investors in the multichannel retail arena to investigate the feasibility of, or provide support for, mergers, acquisitions, and/or investment opportunities. My firm, F. Curtis Barry & Company, has been working in this market for many years. Our perspective is one of operational consultants for multichannel retail businesses –companies that operate some combination of direct-to-customer sales (catalog and e-commerce), retail (brick-and-mortar), and/or wholesale channels.
Investment decisions should be based on the best information available. A mistake in the initial evaluation process can be costly in the long run, even fatal, to successful investment. Most investment activity is based on the belief that improvements can be made to a business that will warrant the expenses incurred. An operational assessment evaluates a business’s potential, pinpoints ways to reduce current operating costs, identifies inherent risks, and estimates the costs that would be required to make improvements.
The financial aspects of a potential investment rightly receive the most emphasis. However, many other areas, if not addressed, can have a negative effect on the overall financial picture. F. Curtis Barry & Company applies its multichannel business expertise to focus on that part of the due diligence process relating to the operations of the target enterprise. In the context of the multichannel retail industry, the term “operations” refers all activities related to fulfilling customers’ orders and meeting their expectations. This includes merchandising, marketing, information technology, warehouse operations, and call (contact) center functions.
We conduct an operational assessment as part of due diligence to evaluate investment potential, determine the necessary costs to make improvements, and identify any inherent risks. As required, F. Curtis Barry & Company also provides operational evaluation of completed investments to support the improvement process. » Read more: Consulting Services for Private Equity or Venture Capital Acquisitions and Investments
