Fractional Chief Merchandising Officer
I partner with retail and consumer brands to drive profitable growth through product clarity, disciplined assortment strategy, and executive-level merchandising leadership.
Point of View
"Great brands win when the product is right, the assortment is clear, and the brand DNA is protected."
Most retail teams are reactive — chasing last week's numbers, adding SKUs to solve problems that need subtraction. I've spent 20+ years doing the opposite: building the discipline, the clarity, and the strategy that lets brands grow on their own terms. I'm an operator, not a theorist.
Work With Me
Whether you need a focused outside perspective or full fractional leadership, there's a right starting point for where your business is today.
Entry Point
A focused 2–3 hour working session to identify your biggest merchandising and growth opportunities — with clear, practical recommendations on where to focus next.
Signature Engagement
A two-day working session that cuts through the noise — assessing where your business stands, identifying highest-leverage opportunities, and leaving leadership with a clear, prioritized path forward.
Ongoing Partnership
Senior merchandising leadership without the full-time hire. I embed with your team to drive strategy, build discipline, and lead transformation across your product and assortment.
Why Brian Ruskin
I've led merchandising through real scale, real pressure, and real transformation — not from a whiteboard, but from inside the business.
EVP at Venus Fashion, CMO at Zumba, and merchandising leadership across Gap, Victoria's Secret, and One Jeanswear Group.
Fashion, lifestyle, DTC, wholesale, and ecommerce — I've seen how clarity problems manifest across every type of retail business.
I take on a limited number of clients at a time so each engagement gets my full attention and actual results.
How It Works
Every engagement starts with understanding the business — then moves fast toward what matters.
A short note about your business, the challenge you're facing, and what you're hoping to accomplish. No forms, no funnels.
A focused call to understand the business, assess fit, and determine the right starting point — diagnostic session or full engagement.
We move quickly. No lengthy onboarding. You get an outside operator's perspective on the highest-leverage opportunities — and a clear path forward.
Engagements are selective. The right starting point is a conversation.
Get in Touch
Tell me a bit about the business and what you're working through. I'll respond personally.
Brian Ruskin
Fort Lauderdale, FL
brian@ruskinadvisory.com
917-543-2829
Available remotely or in person in the Miami–Fort Lauderdale area.