Believe this man when he tells you he will change your life!
Like most right brained creatives, I struggled for years to get the business side of my brand in order.
Dana knows how to talk to creatives and provided the motivation for me to dig in to the financials, which used to make my head spin. Alongside of getting the back end of my business organized, we grew my direct to consumer business within months. If I had not started working with Dana and his team a few short months ago, I may have had to shut things down once the pandemic hit.
My business is now thriving and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have such a knowledgeable team to partner with.
Elizabeth, Owner/Designer - Elizabeth Stone Jewelry
“Dana Fried is the best consultant I have ever worked with in my business career. I have worked with consultants from the Boston Consulting Group who could not measure up to the talent and energy that Dana has. Taryn Rose International would not have become a 40 million dollar company without the assistance of Dana Fried over 9 years. He has known me since I started from my garage and was by my side as a COO, during my company’s fast growth.
Dana is able to help a business owner get over the hurdles of production, inventory management, margin control and maximization and financial controls. He is the best negotiator I’ve ever met. He was able to put together a deal with our Japanese distributor during one trip to Japan. This is a remarkable feat given the Japanese reputation of being very slow and careful in business.
Dana Fried will add value to any company, because of his multifaceted knowledge base and talent. His incredible energy level makes him efficient and able to work under pressure and long hours when needed. I am able to recommend Dana with the highest praise and gratitude.
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Taryn Rose, MD. Founder Taryn Rose
“Working with Dana has been one of the best experiences in my career. He delivered on helping us get cash flow positive, he gave us special insights into the trends of the market, and led us down the path of success. More importantly though and beyond being a business consultant, he became one of our best motivators because he believed in us. Dana saw success in us and helped turn it into huge milestones for the company.”
Lucy Akin CEO/Founder - Ciao Lucia
We have seen our business grow and thrive immensely in a short period of time under the guidance of Dana and his awesome team. We were at a point where we really needed someone to help us better understand how to improve our operations, get a handle on inventory management, and understand and maximize our cash flow. Dana really helped us gain a big picture understanding of our business and also gave us the support we needed for the day-to-day stuff that can sometimes make you feel stuck and overwhelmed. After analyzing how we could reach more of our potential we worked with Dana's team to build a beautiful (and much more functional) new website which we are driving steady traffic to with the help of a strong digital marketing strategy.
Owning a business can feel like being alone on an island with very few people to talk to who really understand the stresses and unrelenting challenges. From our first meeting with Dana we felt the relief of having someone in our court who understands all that and can guide us along to help us reach our potential. We're now excited for the future rather than exhausted by our business!
Billy and Leah, Founders Baleen Jewelry
Working with Dana and his team has been a wish come true. As a busy, creative, multi-tasking entrepreneur I've lived with a nagging sensation that I wasn’t entirely on top of my business. Things were moving quickly, ideas were abundant, and flying by the seat-of-my-pants was the norm. While exhilarating, it was also stressful. I set an intention to find someone to help me get clear, stay focused, and build scalable, sustainable systems to poise my company for exponential growth.
Then Dana walked into my life.
Through his years of experience and the expert team he has assembled, I now have the depth of knowledge I was looking for. Together we have achieved explosive sales backed by solid financials, with a targeted online sales strategy that will propel our company forward for years to come. You’ll be lucky to work with him if given the opportunity!
Alexa Fischer, Founder + CEO, Wishbeads
“He changed our lives. He changed our business. I am seeing sales I wouldn’t have believed 6 months ago”
And that isn’t even MY testimonial!
When Dana reached out to our company 5 months ago, I was skeptical (we are New Yorkers!). The best advice I received was to “do your due diligence”. So, I researched him, his company, his clients, I emailed people, I called people, I googled…and what I heard was glowing testimonials from colleagues, and that his clients love him.
Dana and I had a couple of VERY long phone calls before I would commit myself, my partner and our company to anyone making “cautiously optimistic” promises of “changing your company and changing your lives”. He took the time, explained how he works (there’s a detailed plan) and what he can do for us and our company (no promises, only cautious optimism). The rest was up to us…we could learn a lot about our company and ourselves. Did we want to take that leap?
We made the decision to follow the “Dana plan” and in 3 months he changed our lives, changed our business, and we are seeing sales we knew we could attain, but really just didn’t know how to get there. With his guidance, our business has transformed. We were a slow and steady company, two steps forward, one step back. In the last 5 months, we have seen more rapid growth in all aspects of our business than we saw in the last 6 years. It’s been a fast and furious ride!
Dana says he sounds like a used car salesman, but in reality, he is a businessman who genuinely craves success for you, your company, your family, your lifework. Your success is his success and vice versa. Early on we learned Dana language. He is “cautiously optimistic” about your company “blowing up”, and is a numbers man. He has a plan… Follow the plan.
In the 5 months, we have been working with Dana, we have learned so much more about ourselves, our company, our abilities, and the level that we can take our business to.
His guidance has been invaluable. Dana is approachable, accessible, and even a little funny! We would recommend him to anyone who is willing to take the leap for their business and themselves to grow.
Laura Bascomb-Werth, Emerson & Oliver
Delphic Consulting has been a vital part of our company's growth over the past year and we would not be sitting where we are today had we not crossed paths with Dana and his knowledgeable crew. As a small home-based business with a stable spot in the marketplace, we were struggling to find enough time for the day-to-day operations and to manage our growth. Within the first three months of working together we had gained the insight and, more importantly, an understanding of our operations and our inventory management. This helped tremendously as we gained control of our cash flow and repositioned our company within the marketplace.
When you are the heart and soul of your brand the idea of taking advice and seeking help from someone outside of your daily operations seems rather daunting! However, with the guidance and deep wisdom earned through his years of experience Dana has the ability to "fit right in" and to see what it is (exactly) that you need. He points out what steps to take next and how to maximize your efforts so that you may be more profitable. It is his intelligence and gentle spirit that gives you the strength needed to adjust more freely through the daily stresses of running and growing your business.
We are now taking the necessary steps to build brand value as we transition from a wholesale-focused business to direct-to-consumer; a step we would have been unable to make without Dana at our side providing us with the necessary knowledge and the courage to make the change. We are a stronger company now, with deeper roots and a clear path ahead....
Nicole Furlano Turner, CEO/Founder Canyon Leaf
SoulKu experienced monumental growth in 2019. Dana and his team have been instrumental in catapulting our online sales resulting in growth exceeding 1000% in a six month period. Dana's expertise and sound advice helped guide us through the extreme challenges we faced when scaling at this level. Additionally, Dana helped us build a solid foundation to ensure longevity and success in all areas of our business including operations; inventory management; cash flow and budget.
Dana is incredibly hands-on, full of energy and passion regarding entrepreneurship and committed to building lasting brands. Dana makes himself accessible during times when we need him most. Dana puts his heart and soul into his work resulting in relationships that extend far beyond day-to-day business activities. Dana is not only one of the best business consultants but he provides incredible mentorship that is a rare commodity. We are grateful to have Dana as part of our team; with his partnership we are confident we can achieve any goal that we set for our business.
Allison Blake, Co-Founder Soulku Jewelry
“Dana and his team have truly changed the trajectory of my business. He has helped get our brand in front of the right audience and our DTC business grew by 300% within the first six months of working together. Dana has been the sounding board I have been looking for when making big decisions - he has always spoken honestly and has kept my best interest in mind. He has taught me everything I know when it comes to the financial side of a growing business such as how to maintain a cash flow and OTB all while keeping my biggest fears at bay as we began to experience our first stint of growing pains. Dana and his team truly feel like an extension of our own and I am so grateful to be working with them. I can’t recommend their services enough to anyone who is serious about taking their business to the next level.”
Jordan Flynn, Founder Mod and Jo
Dana Fried is one of the most honest consultants I have ever worked with. Not only is Dana the reason my company has grown year after year, but he’s my number one go-to for any and all business hurdles. He’s taught me how to manage inventory; increase margins; operate cash flow; negotiate with production teams; and, most importantly, build value in my company. Dana and his team's expertise, strategies, and knowledge grew my website 288% in one year. My advice would be to listen to this man and do his homework.
Kelly Decker, CEO/Founder JaxKelly
All I can say is, listen to what this man has to say. If you don't, it's your loss.
Our weekly meetings have helped us understand what a calendar is, get our books in order, make sure our margins couldn't cannibalize our profits, develop a back-end system, and this is only the beginning.
Want to know what my one take away is that I go back to on a daily basis?
"You can't make business decisions based on your emotions."
If you're a creative, sensitive, or get your period, this should speak volumes.
If you think you're not prepared enough to take on a consultant - well, you haven't met me. I was a totally over-caffeinated tornado. And now I'm… well, I'm still over-caffeinated but now I have a focus, and peace of mind knowing that Dana will walk us thru every hill we need to climb. Together, with a plan. And that's huge.
Tami Snodgrass, Sugarhigh + Lovestoned
Dana was with us every step of the way as we launched Made and Mastered. We run a Bangladesh-based garments manufacturing company and were looking to launch a brand in the United States. Dana put together a team of professionals with a lot of experience and together they took care of everything from the initial market research and branding to actually launching our product. He is an absolute delight to work with. He is very knowledgeable about the fashion industry and every aspect of launching a U.S. brand. The best thing about working with Dana is he always puts the interests of the company first and makes sure that we will be protected throughout every contract and business deal.
Sabah Sohel, CEO Made & Mastered
I worked with Dana a few years ago when my business sales went flat. With growing AP and flat sales, I did not know what to do. Sometimes as a CEO, it's hard to know what is holding you back especially because you are in the trenches daily. Dana came in and instantly started asking the right questions: Profit margin? Sales strategy? Merchandise mix? He helped me to see that we were no longer a wholesale business but a pure play ecommerce business and we should merchandise and market that way. This lead to doubling our sales in one year.
Dana is funny, honest, and no-nonsense, exactly what CEOs need. I appreciate that he always has his client’s best interests at heart. Dana has also been instrumental in introducing me to other resources that have pushed my business further like e-commerce experts and fiscal analysis tools that we couldn't begin to afford if we had to bring these people on full time. Dana's connections allowed us to use their resources at an affordable rate.
I highly recommend Dana!
Monif Clarke, CEO Monif C
Dana's business savvy and strategic way of approaching the unique challenges faced by apparel companies are second to none. In the time I have worked with him, he has helped me completely transform the inner workings of my business. Under Dana's guidance, I have streamlined my production and development process, increased my margins and gained sales representation.
Dana is able to translate his suggestions into specific action steps that I can successfully accomplish. He is truly a pleasure to work with. He tells me what I need to hear (even if it’s not what I want to hear) and he always makes me feel like a top priority.
Dana always has my company's best interest at heart and I trust completely the advice and suggestions he gives me. Dana is more than just a consultant. He is now an integral part of the S & T team.
Eliza Ladensohn, CEO. Sloan & Tate
“Right Bank Babies has been around awhile, knows the industry, has exceptional press coverage and great products but our sales weren’t reflecting this. We needed help so we called Dana. I think he took us through two semesters of Business School in those five meetings. Dana helped pinpoint our shortfalls in reaching our target audience and showed us what relatively easy steps to take to increase our bottom line. He analyzed our expenses and margins and helped us make an action plan. We’ve begun implementing Dana’s advice and already had a huge response. To be a little cliché, my only complaint is ‘I wish we had done it sooner.’ Having gotten my MBA and worked in the industry for 10 years, it was hard to commit to asking for outside help – BUT – it was great money spent – Dana has such specific knowledge of how this business works on so many levels that he gave us a new way of thinking. ”
I came up with a concept for a footwear product and was referred to Dana Fried of Delphic Consulting. I can tell you 100% that had I not found Dana I would not have launched. Not only does he teach you the 101 of starting a company which is hugely important, but he is so knowledgeable with real time “on the ground” experience that he analyzes what you know and what you don’t know and he fills in the gaps for you. If you get to the point where he says to go for it, you go and never look back. Not once did Dana make me feel ignorant for what I did not know or ridiculous for going for it to begin with given my lack of experience. He is adept at working with entrepreneurs and assessing where their individual strengths and weaknesses are. He absolutely points you in the right direction. We have no way of knowing at this point if we will grow into a larger successful business, but I can say unequivocally that if we do, it will be in large part because of his guidance. He gives you the information you need and also is incredibly humble and supportive. I trust him completely. He knows his business. Being an entrepreneur requires incredible courage and an iron will. But we don’t know what we don’t know. Dana is the window into the future of your start-up, a window into the day to day reality of your business before you know what that reality is. He is also the foundation from which I am growing my company.
Terri Kelly, Founder and CEO. terrikelly flip flops
I worked closely with Delphic Consulting for over a year. In that very short time frame we have rebranded our company, had a double digit increase in revenue, streamlined our reporting, budgeting and organizational processes, retrained our sales reps in line with our brand, and provided sales kits and marketing materials that have allowed us to double our sales from trade-shows when compared to the prior year.
My management team and I enjoy working closely with them. Their experience in the footwear industry is so valuable and I would give them my highest recommendation to any business owner looking to take their business to the next level.
Michael Su, CEO. Michael Antonio Footwear Group
“I hired Dana Fried to help me negotiate the best deal possible in bringing in outside equity in order to take my apparel company to the next level. He has provided guidance and knowledge as we have gone through the process.
I do not believe my position would be as favorable had I not had his advice. He negotiated a deal that allowed me to receive more cash upfront, a higher percentage of equity and keep control over the design process. Dana really cares about me and my company and I feel he is always looking out for my best interest above all else. I highly recommend his company’s services to anyone looking to improve their current situation.”
Do you know your margins? Are you keeping updated records of your below the line costs? What commitment are you making to your retailers for sell through? Do you know what sell through is?
I started Blu Pony Vintage with a clear vision of my brand identity and what I thought was an understanding of margins, my customer and my product. Dana Fried showed me that although I had a great product that doesn’t mean anything if you don’t have proper margins and a strong sales strategy to survive. And so the process began.
We met regularly to go over everything related to Blu Pony Vintage. If I had questions after our scheduled meet, Dana was always available. It felt as though I had a partner even though it was just me in the beginning. It was great knowing he would be checking my progress and keeping me focused on the next step.
There is no way Blu Pony Vintage would be where we are today with out Dana Fried’s support and guidance. I have always been great at coming up with business ideas but never good at executing them. Dana Fried has helped me to have a great and successfully growing business. For that, I am forever grateful.
Bonnie Matthews, Founder / CEO. Blue Pony Vintage
“I have known and worked with Dana Fried at Delphic Consulting for a number of years. His experience and hands on approach have helped many FBI members achieve their objectives. Dana gives advice based on real life industry experience of running both apparel and footwear companies from start-up to over $30M in revenues.
Dana is a teacher, advisor, mentor and motivator with the resources and connections to get companies to the next level. I consider Dana a trusted advisor and would recommend him to anyone looking to grow their business. ”
Frances Harder, Founder Author - Fashion For Profit
Dana was literally the answer to our prayers when all we had was a big dream, little hope, and sketches of shoes. He provided a reliable guidance and substance to our vision. He taught us the tools necessary to start our business in operations, manufacturing, sales and merchandising, and finances. Now we dream in terms of gross margins and projections.
He was like our "business dad", only looking out for our best interests, showing us the scenarios and tools for us to make our own decisions, and being there when we make our mistakes (like when we don't listen). Dana Fried brings to us and our company an indispensable knowledge and experience, all with a candid and fresh honesty, and a sense of humor. Now we just want to make him proud. Thanks Dad!
Emily and Jessica Leung, Founders. Hey Lady
It is a pleasure to submit this testimonial for Delphic Consulting. I cannot emphasize enough, the confidence I have in the company and the individuals I have had the pleasure to meet. Delphic Consulting have always conducted themselves as complete professionals whenever we have had the need for their services. The Dumbell Man Fitness Equipment experienced a significant growth in profit within weeks of our initial meeting. The Training programs, operations manual and employee handbook they developed helped define and regulate responsibility and employee behavior. I would encourage any group with a need for business consulting to utilize their services. They have my highest recommendation.
Michael J Garvey, President. The Dumbell Man Fitness Equipment
“For anyone starting a new clothing line, or ANY business for that matter, it is critical to have the business and financial guidance to confirm that your business is viable. It’s better to spend a little money up front to determine this than to go down the path toward financial ruin because you don’t have a viable business only a great idea. A great idea is only great if you can execute it and make it profitable. THIS is where Dana proves his worth in gold!”
Armed with an idea fit for an industry I had no experience in, I wondered if I could even get my business off the ground and going in the right direction...
Dana stepped in and offered his amazing industry and operations knowledge and provided me with a clear and robust blueprint of what I needed to focus on and where I needed to go. He took on the project as if it were his own considering the characteristics of my products and business as well as my personal experiences, abilities and vision and created a tailored and unique business blueprint.
I felt educated, confident and ready to start my business with Dana by my side and have been able to get it off and running with great results in less than a year! If you have no idea where to start, if you know exactly where you want to go but don't know how to get there, or if you think you have it right and just need a second opinion, Dana is the person to seek to help you get results and achieve goals!
Stephani Kim, Founder. Dekkori
I have been working with Dana since 2016 and he has transformed the business and has been instrumental in helping the company grow. He helped secure the necessary financing, stabilize the infrastructure and grow and manage supply chains for the business. He understands how to run the business profitably, but most importantly how to build value and the brand. The way he helps me run the business is how very few companies operate these days. I’m honored to be working with him and it’s exciting to see the company grow with his help and guidance.
Anna Metselitsa, CEO. Haute Rogue
I just wanted to reach out and say thank you for helping us launch Korked a few years ago; I feel the exercises you had us do were paramount to our success over the past two and a half years. I was just reaching out to let you know that we were just bought out by the company you had me do our GRID analysis on back in 2015. We got extremely lucky that first year, but I don't think we would have been able to capitalize on that luck as well as we did had we not done the quick start program with you. Cheers and thanks again.
Jacob Chandler, Co-Founder. Korked
“We have worked closely with Dana Fried for the past three years. He was specifically hired to help us become more profitable, enhance our team’s performance, and get our employees to become more efficient. He has more than delivered in each of these areas as our revenue has increased by 20% year over year, our cash flow has become more streamlined and our team is operating more efficient than it has in eight years. Dana brings a results-focused approach to executive coaching and he has been an instrumental driver as our company continues to grow.”
Spencer Castillo, Partner. Castillo & Ruig Communications
I’ve worked with Dana for nearly 4 years. I did his quick start program to help me determine the viability of my concept, and to learn about what is entailed with starting a footwear company. I’ve built another company that is a franchise, and I’ve worked at large companies for 17 years, so I have a lot of business experience. But having never been in footwear, nor started a company from scratch, Dana’s assistance has been invaluable. He has served an even broader role than that of an industry expert – he inspires me to get more creative when I think I’ve exhausted all options, he holds me accountable when I need to be pushed, he reminds me of our company’s achievements when I’m feeling there isn’t much good happening, he helps me put everything into perspective, and he supports me when I go in a direction that is different than he might have chosen. He has always been available to me when something urgent comes up. While Dana’s brilliance is in finance, he is excellent in all aspects of running a business. Starting a company is hard (and a lot of fun), and there’s no way I could have gotten this far without him.
Gwen Allen, Founder. Adrian Allen
“We were fortunate to start working with Dana at a critical cross road, deciding whether to transition from wholesale to direct-to-consumer.
Dana not only gave us the courage to make such a difficult change, he provided us the blueprint to accomplish the pivot that so many brands fail to execute.
Dana’s passion, sincerity and emotional intelligence are rare. Anyone can give advice but when you look at the tremendous track record of companies he’s been a part of, you realize there’s something way more valuable being bestowed. ”
Jason Griffin Reidel, Co-founder/CEO. gorjana
Working with Dana and his team has literally revolutionized our business. He helped us transition from a small business that was constantly spinning its wheels to a more organized, efficient and scalable business. Every direction Dana has pointed us in has led to increased sales and profitability. It seems like every month we are hitting new goals and breaking them! As of end of June we sold 130% of what we had sold the entire previous year!
If you aren't working with Dana and his team, you aren't working with the best! Simply put... Dana Kicks Ass!
JD and Joy Dravecky, Founders. Joy Dravecky
Dana's advice has been the missing link to our 18 year old fashion jewelry business. When we started working with Dana he hand-held us through how to truly understand and use financial information to make crucial decisions. He set a tone from the start with "there are no stupid questions." He has empowered us to have a better understanding of our business as a whole, and we have grown our business significantly in a very short period of time because of this. Dana and his team have a wealth of knowledge in all aspects of a retail and wholesale business and they always makes themselves available for any questions we have. Meeting Dana and working with him has been a true blessing. We have no doubt that helping brands grow and become successful is his true passion. We know he will always be in our corner for anything that comes up.
