Why this? Why now?

It's been a few months since I left my job and I've been busy. As a freshly minted consultant that's a good thing.

It's exciting to be starting out on my own with ILNIK Consulting and I feel it's worth the time to talk a little about why I'm doing this and why I'm doing this now.

To say that I've always wanted to start my own business is not enough. One, the chances of success in a new business is not that great. Two, I had a good job at a great company that, if I had decided to stay with, I'm sure would have been a great career. Three, I have a family to support and the most reasonable thing to do would be to stay in a stable job and continue to support that family. So then, why this? Why now?

I'm doing this because I want to create opportunity. Opportunity for people to succeed so that they can create opportunity for others to succeed. Take that desire, add it to what I've been living for the last 20 years, and you get me working with brands and independent retailers to make retail great.

You see, I believe that independent retail can thrive if the people that run those businesses have the support that they need to make it happen. I believe that a community with thriving retail creates opportunity for the people that live in those communities and, in turn, helps those communities thrive. I believe that a thriving community can make a better city, better state, better country, and better world. And I believe this is a huge opportunity for me.

I believe that brands that sell through independent retail have the responsibility to support those retailers.

I believe this because I've seen it in action. I believe this because I've been part of an organization, for the last eight years, that also believed that it had the responsibility to support their retailers. And I've seen it work. I've seen that when an organization cares about the people that are responsible for their success and support them in ways that they can't always do themselves, that those businesses can thrive. I loved being part of that process and through the opportunities I had there, I know I made a difference. Now it's time to take that learning and use it in new places. To use it in new industries, with new people, new businesses, and new communities. It is time to stop preaching to the choir. It's time to step out of my comfort zone.

So why now? Three reasons.

First of all, if I don't do it now I never will and I know I'd regret that. While I don't believe that's enough, I do know that I'd rather have tried and failed than not try at all. Cliché? Yes. True? Also yes.

Second… if you haven't heard… the retail apocalypse is upon us. There is no doubting the numbers. Stores are closing. People in retail are losing their jobs every day. There is no denying that the retail landscape is in turmoil.

There has never been a better time to be a great retailer!

Large retail is certainly suffering. I believe that independent retail has the opportunity to fill the gap. Why? Because people want great retail. People want to shop in a place that they connect with. Great retail is going to survive and poor retail is going to go away. If retailers are not able to change they will be left behind. My experience paired with brands and independent retailers that are willing to change will create great retail. Now is the time to get into the action and create some opportunity.

Finally… I managed to land a client that made it financially possible. More on that soon.

So why this?

Because I believe that my work will create opportunity.

Why now?

Because now is the time.