BRIANA SWORDS
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SERVICES


I am a product
and retail specialist.


I work with fashion brands at every stage to sharpen their product, strengthen their margins, and grow with intention. With 20+ years across global corporations, independent retail, and high-growth startups, I bring a 360 degree perspective to product and retail strategy.


 Let’s Work Together




• Fractional or interim Chief Merchandising Officer
• Fractional or interim COO for creative-led businesses
• Embedded leadership with existing teams

• Forecasting, assortment and OTB planning
• Sales analysis, inventory planning and markdown strategy
• Pricing and margin architecture  
• Retail roadmaps, marketplace positioning, and competitive analysis
Costing optimization and margin improvement

• Strategic advisory and hands-on support
• Business plans, sales channel strategy and profitability paths
• From launch to growth across DTC, wholesale and brick-and-mortar
• Operational leadership for creative-led businesses

• Connected in-store and online customer experience design
• Customer journey mapping
• CRM strategy, customer retention and lifecycle marketing
• Loyalty and service programs design
• Retail team and product knowledge training and development

• Design leadership and creative team management
• Consumer insights, trend forecasting and cultural positioning
• Creative repositioning and new category launches
• E-commerce and photo studio production
• In-store and e-commerce visual merchandising

• Market week buying and representation across categories
Seasonal buying strategy and vendor negotiation
Trend analysis and competitive buying intelligence
Trade show and showroom navigation






ABOUT


I am a fashion strategist and retail specialist with 20+ years of experience, both at large global brands and innovative start-ups. I specialize in product development, merchandising and buying strategy, and retail business optimization for fashion brands.

I am best known for co-founding SWORDS-SMITH, an NYC retailer that redefined fashion retail through an elevated customer experience and strategic curation of designers like Issey Miyake, Collina Strada, Maison Margiela, Willy Chavarria and more. The unique product strategy was featured in The New York Times, WWD, Vogue, Elle and T Magazine, among others. Previously I was at Levi Strauss & Co. and Hanesbrands, where I specialized in design and new revenue strategy.

Working independently and through THE BOARD's network of top consultants, I provide end-to-end support for fashion companies at any stage. Whether it's serving as a fractional Chief Merchandising Officer, representing you at market weeks, designing better customer experiences, or planning your business growth, I create fashion strategies that work in the real world.



  Let’s Talk!



CASE STUDIES










Briana Swords
New York City



Contact

Email
SWORDS-SMITH
LinkedIn



© Briana Swords 
Photo Credits: Daniel Cochran and Jordan Lewis  
Video Credit: Studio Oiseau 
Expertise

Merchandising and Buying
Assortment Strategy
Fashion Design
Creative Strategy
Retail and Sales
E-Commerce 
Customer Experience
Business Plans
Operations 
Start-Ups

Client Access

Case Studies
Design Work
Photo Studio