Helping independent retailers improve cash flow and inventory performance
We help specialty retailers make smarter buying decisions, improve inventory productivity, and free up cash tied in stock.
Practical support built for real retail businesses across apparel, outdoor, gift, and lifestyle retail.
Make better buying decisions and free up cash tied in inventory. We focus on practical actions that immediately improve inventory health and free up cash inside the business.
Translate complex reports into clear decisions. Our goal is to help retailers turn raw data into clear decisions that move the business forward.
We help demystify financial reporting with clear, practical coaching. Retailers learn how to read their numbers, benchmark performance against similar stores, and make confident decisions based on real financial insight.
We help boutique owners protect cash flow while keeping the store inspiring and fresh.
Empowered Retail helps owners build stores that feel organized, profitable, and easier to run.
We help store owners manage breadth, freshness, and margin without tying up too much cash in inventory.
A family business built around helping independent retailers become more confident, more profitable, and less stressed.
Scott has spent more than 35 years in retail and has helped hundreds of independent retailers improve inventory productivity, cash flow, and profitability. He is known for taking complicated retail numbers and turning them into practical, confident decisions owners can actually use.
His work includes deep expertise in inventory planning systems such as Retail Orbit / Management One, with a focus on helping retailers build healthier businesses through better discipline, better visibility, and better buying decisions.
Scott is also a certified adult trainer. He has trained hundreds of retailers in inventory planning and retail software and serves as the lead trainer for Management One. In that role he has trained many successful retail consultants and helped mentor the next generation of retail advisors and industry leaders.
Although Zac began his early career as a forestry technician, he was quickly drawn back into the world of retail management he grew up in. Combining that background with strong skills in data analytics, Zac has quickly become one of the most sought-after retail coaches in North America.
Today Zac is trusted with almost a quarter of a billion dollars in annual retail sales across his client portfolio. Over the last five years, he has helped drive more than $50 million in sales growth for his retailers while also improving inventory efficiency and cash flow.
His portfolio is diverse, spanning some of the much loved outdoor stores, fast-moving online fashion brands, and iconic gift and lifestyle retailers. Zac focuses on helping store owners understand the numbers behind their businesses and turn that insight into clear, practical action.
Quickly assess inventory discipline and financial visibility in your retail business.
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Share a few details and Scott or Zac will contact you to arrange a complimentary 20-minute Inventory and Cash-Flow Review. We’ll help you identify the most useful next step for your store.
We combine decades of hands-on retail experience with practical coaching and data-driven insight so retailers can make clearer decisions with more confidence.
We bring more than 35 years of real-world retail experience, helping store owners navigate inventory, cash flow, planning, and profitability with practical advice that works in everyday business. Our goal is to turn complex retail challenges into clear, practical next steps.
We do more than review numbers. We help retailers understand what the numbers mean, where opportunities exist, and what actions will improve performance in a way that feels manageable and clear. Retailers leave conversations knowing exactly what to focus on next.
We have supported hundreds of independent and multi-store retailers with a personal, caring approach that helps owners feel more in control, more informed, and better equipped to grow sustainably.
Real experiences from independent retailers who have worked with Empowered Retail to strengthen inventory performance, cash flow, and confidence.
We’ve had the pleasure of working with Scott and Zac since the very first day Management One was introduced to Canada. They are two of the most caring people we know, and combined with the intelligence of the M1 program, their leadership and support have been truly life-changing for our business—we simply would not be where we are today without them.
Zac is like your store's good friend who celebrates your wins and gently but firmly puts you back on the right track when you're unsure of the way forward. We're more confident buyers and profitable retailers because of our relationship!
Scott brings a new level of understanding to data analysis and inventory management, and he delivers it in a consistent, fun, and professional way. He is results-oriented, always friendly and engaging, and we are grateful to have him as an honorary member of our own organization.
Scott is an invaluable partner in helping me grow and strengthen my business. He consistently goes above and beyond to ensure my business is as strong and successful as possible, helping me understand the numbers, maximize my budget, and make smarter financial decisions so I can focus on what I do best—selling. He is an absolute joy to work with and has played an essential role in my success!
Scott Smith has been an exceptional partner to Kenco—attentive, responsive, and always willing to dive deep into our financials and inventory to help us grow. His patience, expertise, and above-and-beyond commitment make him invaluable, and we truly cherish the time and insight he brings to our team. And I love when he calls us “mates”!
Working with Scott takes a lot of the stress out of inventory management. He keeps the Buying Team on track, focused on priorities, and he is always a thoughtful sounding board for new ideas, all while being kind and having a great sense of humor.
In the more than 10 years that Scott Smith has been helping to plan our business, he has proven an invaluable asset to our team. His knowledge and expertise are a key reason that our store has proven to be both profitable—and enjoyable.
Working with Management One has been a great experience and has made managing our inventory so much easier and more strategic. Scott meets with me each month to review our inventory, identify where we should be, and provide clear, practical guidance that helps us make confident buying decisions. He is incredibly pleasant, easy to talk to, and has a way of making the numbers and recommendations simple to understand and put into action.
Retail expertise built on decades of real-world experience.
Founder • Retail Performance Coach & Industry Trainer
Partner • Retail Strategy & Data Analytics