Solve it once.
Solve it right.
Solos is a network of embedded operators who get inside broken businesses and fix the underlying problems. We don't advise. We do the structural work that leaders identify as the problem but never have the bandwidth or resources to resolve.
A network of operators · Deep work · Real fixes
WHERE THINGS BREAK
You already know something's wrong. Here's what it usually looks like.
The data exists. Nobody trusts it.
The team is working hard. The business isn't moving.
A new system gets evaluated. The old problems remain.
Leadership asks for clarity. The reports get longer.
You don't need another strategy deck. You need someone to find the root problem and actually fix it.
See how we work →THE PATTERN
It's not one big problem. It's a thousand small ones compounding.
WHERE WE WORK
Merchandising & Assortment
Assortment strategy, SKU roles, and inventory alignment. We fix the structure that drives what you buy, carry, and clear.
Operations & Fulfillment
Planning, inventory execution, and the processes that keep the business running without breaking.
Digital & Ecom
What's sold, shown, and fulfilled online — aligned to operational reality, not disconnected from it.
Data & Analytics
The inputs every decision is built on. We fix the structure before anyone builds reporting on top of it.
Customer Experience
Front-end experience tied to what's actually in the business — not what looks good in a deck.
Agentic AI
Applied after the foundation is clean. AI on bad inputs means faster bad decisions. We fix the inputs first.
Merchandising & Assortment
⌄Assortment strategy, SKU roles, and inventory alignment. We fix the structure that drives what you buy, carry, and clear.
Operations & Fulfillment
⌄Planning, inventory execution, and the processes that keep the business running without breaking.
Digital & Ecom
⌄What's sold, shown, and fulfilled online — aligned to operational reality, not disconnected from it.
Data & Analytics
⌄The inputs every decision is built on. We fix the structure before anyone builds reporting on top of it.
Customer Experience
⌄Front-end experience tied to what's actually in the business — not what looks good in a deck.
Agentic AI
⌄Applied after the foundation is clean. AI on bad inputs means faster bad decisions. We fix the inputs first.
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
"Ian was our first engagement through Solos Studio and an incredibly valuable asset to us at Guitar Center, quickly assimilating as one of the team. He brought a wealth of retail knowledge and experience that allowed him to dive into the business, our processes, and our people from day one. His work on SKU rationalization and store reclustering gave us a clearer, more focused business almost immediately. He elevated our thinking by breaking things down to their simplest form while bringing both internal and external partners along for the ride. Not once did it feel like Ian wasn't a key member of our team. I'd highly recommend him without hesitation."
Jerry Brandehoff
EVP / Chief Merchandising Officer, Guitar Center
"I have worked with Ian at several multibillion-dollar retailers. He brings data-driven insights, merchant instinct, and an open mind to every business he touches. He drives measurable results while keeping the focus on customer and brand. Most recently Ian brought his expertise in licensing to advise me on a new business initiative at Dick's Sporting Goods. I would highly recommend Ian to anyone looking to leverage deep retail experience to grow and sharpen their product strategy."
Chad Kessler
EVP Apparel & Vertical Brands, Dick's Sporting Goods
"Ian Schwartz is the rare e-commerce leader who actually understands the why behind the numbers. I've partnered with him across multiple companies and watched him succeed every single time. He adapts his approach across vastly different organizations and team dynamics while relentlessly moving things forward. His deep operational knowledge of 3PL, drop-shipping, and pricing dynamics allowed us to move beyond standard PPC and execute sophisticated margin-based bidding at the SKU level. He knows when to roll up his sleeves and when to lead through others, and he knows exactly when to push the gas and when to lean on relationships to get the best result. He's an operator, plain and simple."
Steve Kroll
President, Granular