our approach
We provide merchandise intelligence and business mentorship to indy retailers--specifically in outdoor retail. We work with retail store owners & buyers to increase sales, improve profit margin, and build confidence in decisions with a systematic approach.
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carrie watson,
founder
Carrie is a distinguished member of the outdoor retail community with over a decade of experience managing merchandise for a variety of companies, from small independent shops to global fashion brands. Her expertise lies in buying, inventory management, and sales, which she utilizes to teach specialty retailers how to level-up their businesses.
Founder of Outside Looks LLC, Carrie’s mission is to modernize and ‘profitize’ independent outdoor shops by guiding them with the latest merchandise intelligence, data-driven metrics, and mentorship techniques. Her passion lies in proving that local businesses are crucial to communities and advocating for independent specialty retailers nationwide.
Carrie is proud of the growth of her consultancy. Approaching the10th year of business, Outside Looks is forecasting sales and guiding nearly $100m in sales and purchasing decisions specifically for independent outdoor retailers. Ryan and Klairyn have been invaluable adds to the team in recent years.
Ryan Mcneely
Ryan McNeely considers himself a “Jack of All Trades” in the retail world. Having worked almost every position a small company can offer, his niche is in buying and merchandising. After brief career as a climbing guide in Colorado, Ryan found a home in the Outdoor Retail Industry managing a 4-store buying operation for an independent retailer.
Ryan’s career mission is to coach and encourage retailers to optimize their time, effort, and cashflow through data-driven decision making and technology. Having worked with Management 1 from the retailer’s perspective, he knows firsthand the platform’s ability to transform a balance sheet and offer peace of mind to small businesses facing financial hardship.
While he has over 10 years of experience in brick-and-mortar retail, his most recent passion has been in growing ecommerce platforms specializing in site merchandising, endless aisle integrations, SEO, and content management. Through these best practices, Ryan was able to facilitate 80% YOY growth in online business with his most recent company, leading to over $430K in yearly revenue.
Ryan currently lives in San Marcos, Texas with his Wife and two kids. When he is not coaching retailers, he can be found coaching his kid’s soccer team, paddling the river, or riding his mountain bike in the Texas hill country.
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klairyn pletsch
Klairyn is a midwest native that now calls Northwest Arkansas home. Her experience in the outdoor industry started with humble beginnings at a national wildlife refuge in Maine and has wound its way to the Boston Mountains of Arkansas. Since then, she's found her niche in outdoor retail and merchandising. During her time in retail buying, Klairyn's departments grew 60.4% in revenue...all with less inventory overhead and better cash flow.
Klairyn's passion is helping to elevate the independent retailer by translating the numbers and data in an easily digestible manner, celebrating your hard work, and designing actionable plans around each buyers' classes. Not to mention, you'll gain access to her merchandising tool belt and creative thinking. She has a pulse on the industry and understands the struggles and nuances facing independent retailers today. She's an encourager by nature, and rest assured, she's ready to tailor a consulting and coaching experience specific to your business.
Having been a prior Outside Looks LLC client, she knows firsthand how empowering the tools provided by Outside Looks are that take the guesswork out of buying and allow for confidence in your decisions.
When she's not coaching indie retailers, you can find her playing outside with her husband and their two senior German Shorthaired Pointers, or running around town supporting local businesses. She is also a hobby horticulturist and loves throwing and sculpting pottery.
