Berliet Consulting helps fashion and luxury brands build more profitable collections through Product Merchandising Strategy, Collection Architecture, Assortment Planning, Pricing and Buying.
We help fashion brands build more profitable businesses, and better merchandising processes, so fashion designers can focus on what they do best— create.
Create to sell, sell to create
Our Services
We accompany brands throughout the product value chain, and bring the operational processes and best practices from established brands, drawing on over 20 years of international experience across luxury and contemporary brands — including Louis Vuitton, Barneys New York, Bally, and Sandro.
Collection Merchandising
We work alongside creative directors and the design studio to build the commercially optimal collection structures — from product mix to pricing architecture
-
We provide the design studio with a product merchandising strategy for the upcoming collection, built to drive sales, profitability and brand desirability.
Drawing on sales performance, market trends and the competitive landscape, we brief the studio on the collection’s growth levers: product mix, price points, delivery windows, target customer segments, and brand signatures.
-
A thorough sales performance review of key indicators across categories - sell-through rates, sales and stock contribution, margin performance and growth trends. We then identify future sales and profitability growth opportunities.
-
We define the optimal collection structure and product mix to maximise sell-through, readability and productivity.
-
We create the optimal pricing architecture, insuring the right balance between entry, core and premium price points.
We identify price segment opportunities through competitive benchmarks and maximise both wholesale and retail markups for greater profitability.
Business Planning
We help brands forecast demand, define inventory targets, build buying budgets, and optimize Open-to-Buy plans. The result is healthier stock levels, stronger sell-through, improved cash flow, and higher gross margins.
-
We build seasonal sales forecasts by point of sale and distribution channel, before any buying decision is made.
-
Methodically buying budgets by product category and point of sale. Applying a target sell-through rate, we make informed estimations of the exact open-to-buy budget.
Retail Buying
We bring the methodology to build tailored store assortments and determine the right quantities to buy for each product and point of sale. Through assortment planning, demand forecasting, and inventory analysis, we ensure the right product is in the right place, in the right quantity, at the right time.
-
We build tailored product assortments by store cluster, ensuring each point of sale carries the right breadth and depth of offer. From flagship to small boutique, every store gets the tailored selection that matches its role within the brand network.
-
Methodical calculation of seasonal buying quantities by style and by store. Based on sales potential, delivery windows and target sell-through rates — every buying decision is grounded in data. Not intuition.
-
We monitor and forecast the carryover sales and stock, and create a reorder program to ensure the timeless best sellers are never out of stock.
Supply Chain
Inventory is one of a brand's largest investments. We implement the processes and tools that optimize stock levels, inventory allocation, and replenishment decisions across channels. The result is higher product availability, lower excess inventory, and improved cash flow.
-
We set up automated replenishment systems between warehouse and stores, using data to strategically balance inventory levels across the network and ensure stock is always where it needs to be.
-
We structure the ordering calendar for seasonal and carryover styles, determining the right timing and frequency of orders throughout the season to optimise cash flow and product availability.
Trainings & Lectures
We regularly lecture at institutions including IFM (Institut Français de la Mode) and industry programs worldwide. Topics include Product Merchandising Strategy, Collection Development, Retail Buying, Business Planning, and Fashion Performance Management.
-
For brands looking to build stronger foundations from within, we offer tailored training and coaching, providing practical tools and frameworks designed to elevate your team's expertise and sharpen internal processes.
-
We deliver lectures within continuing education programs for industry professionals, sharing practical tools and insights from real-world experience that bridge the gap with theoretical education.
Our Clients
About David Berliet
Berliet Consulting helps fashion brands build stronger collections, more profitable businesses, and better merchandising processes, so fashion designers can focus on what they do best— create.
A dual French and American citizen, David built his career between New York and Paris. He spent nine years in New York leading Buying & Retail Merchandising initiatives for brands including Louis Vuitton, Bally and Barneys New York before relocating to Paris to join Sandro in a Global Collection & Central Merchandising role.
Today, he advises founders, CEOs, creative directors, and leadership teams on how to align product strategy, collection architecture, pricing, buying, inventory, and profitability.
Founder, David Berliet
Featured Articles
1 GRANARY
