NNewtonRetail Consulting

About Newton Retail

A career retailer.Four decades of it.

Newton Retail Consulting exists because retail businesses are usually not short of opinions. They are short of people who have actually run stores, opened markets, restructured chains and delivered the numbers.

Our principal, Steve Newton, has been involved in every aspect of retailing. That experience is what you hire, and it is backed by a network of specialists in every functional area of the business.

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Steve Newton, Founder and Principal of Newton Retail Consulting

Steve Newton

Founder and Principal

  • Based in Celebration, Florida
  • Clients across the USA and the UK
  • Superstores to micro stores
  • Public and private sector experience

The record

Four decades, in sequence.

Interim and consulting assignments with owners, boards and management teams, on both sides of the Atlantic.

  1. 1983 - 2000

    Seventeen years at WH Smith

    Joined WH Smith, one of Britain’s largest retailers. In 1991 he was asked to develop their US business, spending the last nine years of his time with them in the USA.

  2. 2000

    Chosen by Bain Capital

    Asked to restructure a 300 store mattress chain, then appointed CEO to lead the work.

  3. 2000 - 2009

    Chapter 11 in five months

    Guided the chain through chapter 11 in only five months, then ran the business for the following nine years.

  4. 2009

    Sale to a private investor group

    Organised the sale of the restructured chain, closing out the turnaround with a new owner in place.

  5. 2010

    Building a national chain

    Teamed up with an entrepreneur to develop what started as a mere idea into a national retail kitchen and bath cabinet chain.

  6. 2013

    Review, then appointed CEO

    Asked to provide a detailed review of a cabinet business in the North Eastern US, and subsequently appointed CEO.

  7. Today

    Newton Retail Consulting

    Working with owners, boards and management teams across the USA and the UK, with specialists available in every retail discipline.

  8. Ongoing

    ERP, technology and AI strategies

    Helping retailers choose, implement and migrate ERP systems, review their technology estate, and put AI to work where it improves the operating numbers.

  9. Ongoing

    Non-executive board roles

    Non-executive board member for private equity owned companies, including Nemo Group, testing the plan and holding management to the operating numbers.

Board work

Non-executive seats,not decoration.

Alongside consulting, Steve holds non-executive board roles with private equity owned companies. The job is governance: testing the plan, holding management to the operating numbers, and making sure the customer is represented in the room.

The Nemo Group logo

Non-executive board member

The Nemo Group

thenemogroup.co

A family of independent tile and stone brands in the United States, connected by shared infrastructure and expertise, with Nemo Tile + Stone trading since 1921. Steve works with the leadership team on commercial performance and the group’s growth.

Private equity sponsor

Saw Mill Capital

sawmillcapital.com

The Nemo Group is a Saw Mill Capital portfolio company. Founded in 1997, Saw Mill Capital is a lower middle-market private equity firm based in the suburbs of New York, and a growth-focused partner with a long-term mindset.

01

Test the plan, not the people

Pressure-test strategy and capital decisions before they are committed, and say so plainly when the numbers do not support the story.

02

Hold the operating line

Sales, margin, stock and cash reviewed the way a retailer reviews them, not the way a board pack presents them.

03

Keep the people side honest

Succession, capability and what change actually means for the teams in stores, showrooms and distribution.

Steve also holds further non-executive roles with private equity owned retail and distribution businesses.

Goal & mission

Our goal is to give youwhat you need.

All of our consultants have many years of experience in specific retail disciplines, from multi-site field management through merchandising, real estate, IT, marketing, advertising, supply chain, accounting, HR and all the way up to CEO.

01

Story & History

With over 40 years of "C" level management experience, Steve Newton, our principal, has been involved in every aspect of retailing. He spent seventeen years with WH Smith, one of Britain’s largest retailers, the last nine of them in the USA developing their US business. As a career retailer he has a high level of expertise across all aspects of retailing, from superstores to micro stores, working in both the USA and the UK. Through numerous interim and consulting assignments he has worked with owners, boards and management to improve their businesses.

In 2000 he was chosen by Bain Capital to restructure a 300 store mattress chain. Appointed CEO, he guided the chain through chapter 11 in only 5 months and then ran the business until 2009, ultimately organising a sale to a private investor group.

In 2010 he teamed up with a brilliant entrepreneur to develop what started as a mere idea and turned into a national retail kitchen and bath cabinet chain. In 2013 he was asked to provide a detailed review of a cabinet business in the North Eastern US and was subsequently appointed CEO.

02

Goal & Mission

Our goal is to give you what you need. We can provide the short or long term expertise that you need in all areas of retailing. With our highly qualified network of consultants we can provide recommendations to improve your retail operations, or supply the team that can make it happen.

All of our consultants have many years of experience in specific retail disciplines, from multi-site field management through merchandising, real estate, IT, marketing, advertising, supply chain, accounting, HR and all the way up to CEO.

Our mission is to provide the guidance that your retail business needs to succeed.

03

Target & Success

Our consulting team has been involved with every aspect of retailing in both the public and private sectors. As key "C" level players at major public and private companies in both the USA and the UK, they have the experience to target the areas that matter.

That means expert advice where it will move the numbers, not a generic report that sits on a shelf.

He has also worked alongside multiple private equity firms, so he understands how they operate, what they are aiming for and how their strategy shapes the plan. The result is the success that your business deserves.

How we work

Four commitments.

01

Give you what you need

Short term expertise or long term support. We size the engagement to the problem, not to a standard consulting package.

02

Advice you can implement

Every review ends in a detailed, step by step plan. Unlike most consultants, we can stay and make it happen with your team.

03

Experience at the top

Our people have been key "C" level players at major public and private retailers in both the USA and the UK.

04

Fluent in private equity

Steve has worked with multiple private equity firms, so he understands how they operate, what their objectives are and how their strategy shapes the plan.

Specialists on call

Every functional area, brought in when the work needs it.

As CEO of multiple retail companies, Steve has built relationships with a team of highly focused consultants across the business.

Multi-site field managementMerchandisingReal estateITMarketingAdvertisingSupply chainAccountingHuman resourcesCEO level leadership

Next step

Need advice or strategic guidance for your retail business?

Find out how we can help you achieve your goals. Contact us today and we will tell you plainly where we think the opportunity is.

Start the conversationInfo@NewtonRetail.com