Senior Advisory

The retail expertise
you need.
On your terms.

Avenel Field Group delivers executive-caliber retail guidance without the overhead of a Big 4 engagement. A senior operator who has run the business at the highest level — now working directly for yours.

25
Years Retail Leadership
$850M+
Largest P&L Led
400+
Stores Led
Avenel Field Group
Who We Are

A boutique retail advisory
built by an operator.

Avenel Field Group is a boutique advisory firm offering senior-level consulting to retailers across operations, customer experience, sales, service, workforce management, and asset protection.

We are not theorists. The firm is led by a senior operator who has spent decades on the floor, in the boardroom, and everywhere in between. Each engagement is then staffed with vetted senior specialists matched to the work — so clients get deep, focused expertise without the overhead of a large firm.

We partner with mid-market and PE-backed retailers who need executive-caliber guidance without the overhead of a Big 4 engagement. Flexible engagements. Real results. Senior counsel from day one.

25
Years Enterprise Retail Leadership
$850M+
Largest P&L Led
400+
Stores Under Leadership Scope
Leadership

An operator, not a theorist.

Jennifer Drake, Founder & Principal of Avenel Field Group
Founder & Principal
Jennifer Drake
Retail Operations  ·  Customer Experience  ·  Field Leadership  ·  P&L
25 years of enterprise retail leadership across premium, luxury, and high-growth brands. Most recently VP, Head of Retail Operations & Product Allocation at Banana Republic (Gap Inc.), leading 400 North American specialty and factory locations — delivering the highest brand profitability in four years and double-digit comp growth. Known for rebuilding field organizations, elevating customer experience at scale, and developing high-performing teams from the ground up.
Previously
VP, Head of Retail Operations & Product Allocation, Banana Republic (Gap Inc.)  —  400 stores, North America
President, Saks OFF 5TH  —  $850M+ P&L, 100+ stores
SVP Head of Stores, Saks OFF 5TH
Flagship Sr. Store Director, Nordstrom Tysons Corner
District Manager, Nordstrom Mid-Atlantic
The AFG network
Beyond the principal, every engagement is staffed with vetted senior specialists — across asset protection, workforce strategy, and adjacent disciplines — drawn from decades of industry relationships and matched to each client’s needs. Senior depth, sized to the problem.
What We Do

Three integrated practices.
One point of accountability.

I
Retail Operations & Customer Experience
  • Store & field operations audits
  • Customer experience transformation
  • Sales & service model design
  • P&L optimization & margin enhancement
  • Field organization restructuring
  • Talent development & leadership pipeline
  • Real estate strategy, market entry & location assessment
  • New store opening planning & execution
II
Store Operations, Workforce & Fleet Analysis
  • Fleet analysis & store performance assessment
  • Workforce management & labor optimization
  • Census development & labor planning
  • Service model design & customer experience transformation
  • Omnichannel execution & BOPIS strategy
  • Continuous process improvement
  • Conference & field event planning
III
Risk, Security & Asset Protection
  • AP program assessment & strategy
  • Shrink reduction & inventory loss controls
  • Physical security assessment
  • Digital fraud & e-commerce risk mitigation
  • Emergency preparedness & active threat training
  • Investigations & internal controls
Talent Recruitment & Placement

Senior talent,
placed with precision.

Great operations start with the right people in the right seats. AFG places senior operating and leadership talent — drawing on decades of relationships and a first-hand understanding of what strong performance actually looks like on the floor and in the boardroom.

Because we’ve done the jobs we recruit for, we screen for judgment and fit, not just a résumé. Every search is led personally, with the same senior accountability that defines the rest of our work.

Our roots are in retail leadership, and that remains our deepest bench. But the discipline travels: we increasingly place talent across professional services and adjacent industries where operational rigor and leadership judgment matter most.

Executive & Leadership Search
Retained placement of senior operators, field leaders, and functional heads — matched on capability, culture, and readiness to lead.
Field & Multi-Unit Operations Talent
District, regional, and store leadership for retailers scaling or rebuilding their field organization.
Interim & Fractional Placement
Vetted senior operators placed on an interim basis to steady a transition, fill a gap, or bridge to a permanent hire.
Professional Services & Beyond
Leadership and operational talent placement across professional services and adjacent industries where execution and judgment are non-negotiable.
How We Engage

Flexible engagements,
tailored to fit.

We work in the model that fits your business — project, fractional, retainer, or integrated. Every engagement is led by a senior operator from day one, not handed off to an analyst.

Defined Scope
Project-Based
Focused engagements with clear deliverables, typically 30–90 days. Ideal for audits, assessments, organizational restructures, and turnaround diagnostics.
Ongoing Leadership
Fractional Executive
Senior operational leadership on a flexible, retained basis — either through Jennifer directly or through AFG's network of vetted retail operators. Ideal for brands that need executive-caliber leadership without a full-time hire, and for PE firms building interim leadership pipelines for portfolio companies.
Strategic Access
Advisory Retainer
Senior-level access to AFG on a recurring basis for strategic counsel, board prep, and ad-hoc challenges. Ideal for PE-backed leadership teams.
Both Practices
Integrated Engagement
Combined operations and risk engagement. Ideal for new acquisitions, turnaround situations, and major operational replatforming across the full retail enterprise.
Individual & Leadership
Executive Development & Career Navigation
One-on-one coaching for professionals at every stage — with Jennifer Drake.
Whether you are building toward your first leadership role, navigating a career transition, or a senior executive figuring out what comes next — the guidance is the same: real, direct, and grounded in 25 years of actually running the business at the highest level.

Jennifer works with professionals across industries — not just retail. Engagements are available at accessible price points for early and mid-career professionals, and at senior rates for executive-level coaching. Every engagement is tailored to where you are and where you want to go.

If this resonates, reach out directly at jennifer@avenelfieldgroup.com
Who We Serve

Sized for mid-market.
Built for senior conversations.

We partner with retailers and their investors who need executive-caliber guidance without the overhead of a Big 4 engagement.

01
Regional & Specialty Retail Chains
Multi-unit retailers seeking to elevate execution, modernize service models, or expand profitably.
02
DTC Brands Scaling Into Physical Retail
Digitally-native brands building their first stores or scaling a fleet without internal retail leadership.
03
Private Equity & Their Retail Portfolios
PE sponsors conducting diligence, value-creation planning, or post-close transformation.
04
Off-Price, Outlet & Value Retailers
Brands navigating the operational and shrink challenges of high-velocity off-price environments.
05
Luxury & Premium Brands
Luxury operators elevating client experience, clienteling, and store productivity.
Get In Touch

Let's talk about
your business.

Whether you're navigating a turnaround, scaling a fleet, or looking for a trusted operator in your corner — we'd welcome a conversation.

Founder & Principal
Jennifer Drake
General Inquiries
Avenel Field Group
We respond to all inquiries within one business day.
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