Furniture-focused supply chain consultancy Profit Chain launches in Chicago

Profit Chain, a supply chain consulting firm focusing on the furniture industry, has launched in Chicago.

The new consulting firm will focus on helping small- and medium-sized furniture retailers and manufacturers effectively compete in a digital economy.

Companies across a range of industries are feeling intense pressure from e-commerce firms like Amazon which can deliver their product quicker and cheaper. "We know that the furniture industry has fundamentally changed...and companies need to ask the question: has your company changed to keep up with your customers ' expectations?" said Riaz Husein, founder and CEO of Profit Chain.

The Chicago-based firm will help companies grow their business by delivering products faster and more efficiently than competitors. The firm will utilize a proprietary methodology (“OPTImize”) to help SMEs transform their supply chains in a strategic and cost-effective manner.

The firm’s advisory services include strategy, logistics, transportation and inventory management, distribution center and warehouse operations, last-mile operations, reverse logistics, and customer service.

Profit Chain touts the use of short-term projects with quick and measurable results, as well as more reasonable rates than larger consultancies.

The team at launch – CEO Riaz Husein, sales director Bill O’Malley, and principals David Holcomb and Chuck Basa – are former c-suite and VP-level executives from Fortune 500 and large national retailers and manufacturers. Each one has 20+ years of industry knowledge and hands-on experience managing complex supply chain operations. Each team member also previously held a senior role in logistics or ecommerce at Macy’s.

Husein was previously CEO of Hillsdale Furniture and VP of logistics at Macy’s. He was also previously a supply chain consultant at Accenture.

O’Malley previously founded and ran two successful executive search firms. He was also VP of logistics for furniture and bedding at Macy’s and VP of operations at Levitz Furniture.

Holcomb previously served as group VP of logistics and operations at Macy’s and as chief safety officer at Levitz Home Furnishings. Basa was formerly the supply chain operations practice lead at consultancy Retail Process Engineering, VP of ecommerce operations at Macy’s, and VP of ecommerce operations at Kohl’s.