Our Story
Since 1997 Works Consulting has specialized in creating magnetic destinations; places that draw people back, places they can’t wait to tell their friends about. The Works Consulting team has assisted a wide variety of museums, healthcare organizations and nonprofits in developing retail spaces that express their mission, maximize revenue and help visitors understand and support the purpose of the organization. Our clients’ spaces have a wide range of designs but they have certain things in common; they are beautiful, functional, inspiring and profitable.
We know museum, healthcare and specialty retail inside and out, borrowing from the best practices of one environment to make the other more successful. Our clients thrive thanks to our strategic store layouts, carefully managed buying practices, and sensible, sustainable daily procedures. We don’t just focus on your short-term success, we put measures and procedures in place that will help your business grow and thrive over the long run.
Meet the Founder
Miriam Works
“I founded Works Consulting to solve problems for my clients. From the beginning, I have purposefully worked with a diverse client base. The commonality is that all are doing what they do to make the world a better place.”
“My clients are mission-driven, smart, creative, interesting and inspired to create something new that serves the greater good.
My background may be ordinary on the outside but it is extraordinary on the inside. I come from a working-class French/Irish family that was full of writers, artists, social workers, saints, and sinners. I took after all of them, choosing unusual paths and staying away from school as much as possible.
Working for small businesses in my very early years has inspired and amazed me by the commitment to excellence, untiring service and creative moxie it takes to start and operate any enterprise with integrity and care. That inspiration has shaped who I am and what my business has become. I can’t wait to hear your story and help you with what you need to succeed.
Recognitions
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Top 100 Retailer of American Craft | Fireworks
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Featured in Visual Merchandising and Store Design Magazine | Fireworks
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Featured in Museum Store Magazine
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Featured in Seattle Times | Product Design | Wing Luke Museum
Meet the Founder
Miriam Works
“I founded Works Consulting to solve problems for my clients. From the beginning, I have purposefully worked with a diverse client base. The commonality is that all are doing what they do to make the world a better place.”
“My clients are mission-driven, smart, creative, interesting and inspired to create something new that serves the greater good.
My background may be ordinary on the outside but it is extraordinary on the inside. I come from a working-class French/Irish family that was full of writers, artists, social workers, saints, and sinners. I took after all of them, choosing unusual paths and staying away from school as much as possible.
Working for small businesses in my very early years has inspired and amazed me by the commitment to excellence, untiring service and creative moxie it takes to start and operate any enterprise with integrity and care. That inspiration has shaped who I am and what my business has become. I can’t wait to hear your story and help you with what you need to succeed.
Recognitions
-
Top 100 Retailer of American Craft | Fireworks
-
Featured in Visual Merchandising and Store Design Magazine | Fireworks
-
Featured in Museum Store Magazine
-
Featured in Seattle Times | Product Design | Wing Luke Museum
Our Mission
Our mission is to bring humanity back to business, to increase creativity, foster personal development and promote human happiness through entrepreneurial joie de vivre.
Works Consulting has over 30 years experience in purposely diverse settings growing retail stores and creative businesses. We take pride in helping our clients reconnect with what it means to be part of a true community. We strive to exceed our customers’ expectations with innovative and customized programs, coaching sessions, and project management solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Call today for a free thirty-minute phone consultation. I will answer as many questions as I can during our call. If I am not the right expert for you, I probably know someone who is! At the end of our call, I will suggest next steps and we can decide together how best to move forward on your project. When you decide to work with me and my team, we will talk about whether one of my service packages works best or whether we need a specialized project contract.
How do I work with you?
See above, let’s talk! I can recommend a service package for you or write up a special agreement letter for your project.
How much does it cost to work with you?
It depends on your needs. Take a look at my usual service packages–often those will cover your needs. If you need more specialized services, let me know and we will work out a custom package for you.
TESTIMONIALS
“With guidance from Works Consulting, we were able to sort out a multitude of personal opinions, produce a well-substantiated business and operations plan and develop a store that opened as a great success. Miriam demonstrated wonderful skills in working with our staff, board and volunteers, aligning the retail program with our mission, and personal dedication to a critical project in which we take great pride. Not only has our store exceeded expectations but it is running smoothly behind the scenes thanks to her dedication and implementation of retail procedures.”
Beth Takekawa
Executive Director / Wing Luke Museum
“Where to begin? You were incredible to work with! Thanks for the calm confidence you brought to the whole process, especially during the last week. Your positivity was infectious and your diplomacy skills impressive. I particularly appreciated how you balanced giving strong expert advice to relative novices while accommodating our unusual perspective on retail.”
Adrian Lucia
Partner / Lucia | Marquand Publishing
“Miriam brought years of experience to the table and gave excellent advice throughout my store launch process. She provided store layout advice during the architectural design phase, minimizing operational issues and ensuring the architectural design jived with the merchandising plan.
She gave feedback during the buying phase, making recommendations about how broad and deep to go in initial inventory purchases. She assisted with the employee hiring and training process, teaching my employees best practices in customer service procedures. My store has successfully opened and is running well, and I continue to seek Miriam’s advice. She’s an invaluable asset to any retail business.”