Business advisory from operators, not theorists
Hands-on guidance across planning, strategy and operations from people who have spent years behind the counter themselves.
Advice from people who have stood behind the counter.
Most advice for small retailers is generic. IBG advisory is grounded in real operating experience across independent retail, so it is specific to the decisions owners actually face.
Use it for a single decision or as ongoing support, with no obligation either way.
What this looks like in practice
Planning & strategy
Clear, practical planning for where the business is heading and the decisions that get it there. We help you set realistic goals, weigh the trade-offs and turn a vague sense of direction into a plan you can actually act on, informed by what works across independent retail.
Operations & process
Improving the day-to-day so the business runs with less friction and cost: staffing, rosters, stock flow, systems and the processes that quietly eat time. Small operational changes often free up hours and margin that go straight to the bottom line.
Financial clarity
Help making sense of the numbers so decisions are based on fact rather than gut feel. We work through margins, cash flow and the figures that matter, so you can see clearly where the business makes money, where it leaks and what to do about it.
Growth & succession
Support for the bigger moments: opening another site, expanding a category, restructuring or planning an eventual exit. These are decisions most owners face only once, and having someone who has been through them before takes a lot of the risk out of getting them right.
Explore other services
Marketing
Campaigns, catalogues, social and local-area marketing for independent retail.
IT & helpdesk support
POS, email, hardware and connectivity, fixed fast by real people.
Category management
Range reviews and seasonal buying programs informed by network data.
Virtual assistant services
Trained admin and back-office support that frees up your week.
Business advisory questions, answered
Advisory is delivered by people with real operating experience in independent retail, not career consultants working from theory. The guidance reflects decisions they have made themselves behind the counter and across multiple businesses.
Yes. You can bring a single question or decision to the team, or use advisory as ongoing support. There is no obligation to commit to a long engagement either way.
Anything from a pricing or staffing problem to opening a new site, restructuring, improving cash flow or planning succession. If it is a real decision facing your business, it is fair game.
Yes, business advisory is part of the support that comes with membership. Whether you bring one decision or want ongoing input, the team sets out how it works for your situation before you commit to anything.
See what this looks like in your store
Apply, and the IBG team will map business advisory and the rest of the support network to your business and your categories. No obligation, and nothing changes until you say so.