CoLab Consulting
Connecting creative savvy and commercial smarts to take your apparel concept from passion to profit.
HOW WE WORK
You’ve heard of the left-brain right-brain theory, right?
Creativity on the one side, logic on the other. Two complementary elements that inform our thinking — just like the two disciplines of art and science behind product merchandising.
But the real magic happens when both sides come together.
The intuitive and visual with the rational and numeric. Where ideation, consumer research, design briefs and marketing strategies correlate with business lines, assortment planning and forecasting. A double vision with a single focus: your clearly prioritized product creation roadmap.
It’s all about making the connections.
With over 20 years’ experience crossing both sides of the product development divide, we’ve mastered the art of spotting the gaps — and developed a science for bridging them. A proven formula based on customized collaboration, and crafting a strategic plan that calls on our trusted network of industry professionals to complement your existing business strengths. Keeping things lean, agile and cost-efficient for improved product creation.
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
Right people. Right process. Right time.
Got a great concept, but struggling to turn it into a tangible product?
Got a great product, but missing the network to take it to market?
Got a great opportunity to grow, but losing momentum to make it happen?
From performance sportswear to athleisure apparel we connect technical smarts with creative savvy and close the gap between passion and profit so you can take your best ideas to market. Wherever you are in your product creation journey, we’re experts at pinpointing the challenges and putting a smart solution into place.
THE ART
Concept Ideation
Vision & Mission
Market Place Research & Validation
Brand & Product Strategies
Design & Graphic Network
Merchandising Assortments
THE SCIENCE
Financial planning
Forecasting & Buy Plans
Product Development
EU Production Network
Project management
Industry Terminology
OUR STORY SO FAR
Born of Inspiration
CoLab Consulting launched in May 2018, inspired by the fast-growing number of fashion and apparel start-ups and SMEs in the face of continued market challenges in the retail industry. Determined to continuously push the boundaries of fashion through collaboration, our vision is to empower your business with proven best practices to optimise your product creation cycle.
Built on Collaboration
CoLab Consulting is founded on the principle of collaboration. Working closely with your business, we offer a unique service of directing complex projects from initial concept to final completion, and creating a custom solution that taps in to our extensive network of fashion, retail and marketing professionals, to support your product creation cycle.
Backed by Capability
Headed up by Alicia Wiid — who brings over 20 years of proven capabilities in all aspects of product management, merchandising, sales, and the overall product planning process for powerhouses such as Nike and Asics — CoLab Consulting can support your venture with extensive domestic and international knowledge of retail, including consumer trend and product line dynamics, product development, and all manufacturing processes.
