Meet Our Team

Margo Kopman

Margo Kopman lives, eats, and breathes all things retail. With over 25 years of retail consulting experience as the president of Project Retail, Margo is extremely passionate about inspiring clients with her vision and authenticity when tackling the complex business of the independent retailer. She believes that you can achieve the highest levels of success if you work hard, believe in your dreams, and stay focused on results.

She grew up in a family that instilled a strong work ethic and a character built on integrity. Soon after graduating from Southern Methodist University, she followed her dreams and opened Byrd, a contemporary women's boutique in her hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. As an owner & buyer of an independent retail store, she understands the ins and outs of the business, having experienced it firsthand.

Margo's passion for the science of retail-led her down the path of consulting independent retailers like herself. Because of her ability to simplify complex data & analytics paired with her strong critical thinking skills, she coaches her clients to maximize opportunities while facing challenges head-on. Margo embodies the skill set and the drive for success needed in today's independent retail world.

After 15 years in sunny Los Angeles, she moved back to her hometown of St. Louis, MO. Margo loves spending time with family & friends, cooking, traveling, and shopping. She is committed to the pet rescue movement through animal rescues and shares her home with her rescue dogs, Lucky & Norman.

Natalie Woods

Natalie’s path to retail consulting has been anything but traditional. After a decade promoting live events — including professional wrestling, Monster Jam, and Supercross — she opened and operated a contemporary women’s clothing store for more than eight years. When she eventually sold the business and relocated to Florida, she knew retail was still where she belonged.

Today, Natalie brings her firsthand experience as a store owner to Project Retail, helping retailers get a clearer picture of their numbers and focus on what will have the biggest impact on their financial health. Cash flow is her particular superpower, but her real strength is knowing how to zero in on the issue that matters most — from inventory to expenses to the bigger financial picture. A Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor, Natalie combines financial know-how with the empathy that comes from having been in the trenches herself. She’s made the mistakes, learned the lessons, and understands the good, the bad, and the ugly of running a retail business.

When she’s not helping retailers make smarter decisions, Natalie calls the St. Louis area home with her husband and two dogs. She loves to travel, eat, and shop — preferably all three at once — and is currently tackling a mid-century home renovation that may be her most ambitious project yet.

Lenore Elbrecht

With over 25 years of fashion experience, Lenore Elbrecht has dedicated her career to empowering entrepreneurs to thrive by optimizing efficiency to achieve their goals. As an operations specialist, she excels at creating and refining processes that bring clarity, accountability, and productivity to businesses and individuals. Lenore takes pride in being an 'operations nerd' and leveraging her expertise to drive success.

Collaboration is at the heart of her approach. Lenore guides clients through collaborative, cross-functional initiatives, providing end-to-end support and ensuring seamless completion. Whether it's managing data, shouldering responsibilities, or offering education on retail matters, she is their dedicated sounding board and partner in success.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Lenore finds solace in nurturing her green thumb through gardening, as well as embracing the joy of impromptu dance parties.

Sarah Garlich

After more than 16 years of owning and growing her own boutique, Sarah Garlich knows firsthand what it takes to build, manage, and evolve a successful retail business. She grew her St. Louis boutique from one location to three brick-and-mortar stores and an online business, gaining hands-on experience in every aspect of retail along the way.

Having lived the highs, challenges, and constant decision-making that come with retail ownership, Sarah now helps other retailers better understand their inventory, identify opportunities, and make confident decisions to grow their businesses.

Outside of retail, Sarah loves spending time with her husband, three kids, and dog, Poppy. She enjoys Pilates, staying active, traveling somewhere warm, and spending time with friends.

Alex Madden

With over 13 years of hands-on experience as the owner of a successful boutique, Alex Robertson Madden knows firsthand the challenges and triumphs of running a retail business. From curating the perfect inventory to navigating cash flow and marketing strategies, she has lived every aspect of the industry—making her uniquely equipped to help other retailers thrive.

Before joining Project Retail as a consultant, Alex was a longtime client, relying on the team’s expertise to guide her through inventory planning, sales strategies, and operational efficiencies. Their insight was instrumental in her boutique’s growth, and after selling her business in 2024, she knew she wanted to pay it forward by helping other store owners find the same clarity and success.

Now, Alex works closely with retailers to refine their buying strategies, improve profitability, and create actionable plans for sustainable growth. With a deep passion for small businesses and a keen eye for both the creative and analytical sides of retail, she’s here to help stores not only survive—but thrive.

When she’s not working with clients, you can find Alex exploring local boutiques, reading, playing Mahjong, or enjoying life in her new home of Austin, TX, with her husband and dogs, Annie and Winnie.

Claire Drago

Originally from New York, Claire began her retail career in college as a sales associate, where she developed a love for connecting with clients and understanding what drives purchasing decisions. After a move to NYC, she went on to work for a designer reseller, deepening her appreciation for the business side of fashion and the power of data to tell a story.

After moving to Florida, Claire spent five years with an independent women’s boutique, where she focused on budgeting, reporting, and inventory planning. This introduction into the world of inventory management sparked a passion for the analytical side of boutique business. Claire was a client of The Project Retail for four years before transitioning into corporate project management. Now based in the Washington, D.C. area, she combines data analysis with intuition in her consulting practice.

Outside of consulting, Claire lives with her boyfriend and her rescue pitbull. She is passionate about pilates, is an avid reader, and loves the outdoors.

Doug Hilficker

With over four decades of experience in the retail industry, Doug Hilficker brings a depth of knowledge that few consultants can match. Since beginning his retail career in 1979, Doug spent 40 years in wholesale apparel as a sales representative before launching his consulting practice in 2007 — and he hasn't looked back since.

Doug's consulting philosophy is rooted in a simple but powerful belief: business growth begins with people growth. He specializes in helping retail clients gain a fresh perspective on their operations, uncover opportunities hidden within their own data, and take the calculated risks necessary to move forward. His track record speaks for itself — the vast majority of his clients have gone on to add locations, remodel, or expand during their time working with him.

Whether a client has been in retail for 50 years or 50 days, Doug firmly believes there is always something that can be done better — and he has a gift for finding it. His approach reframes the consulting relationship entirely: not as an expense, but as a monthly investment that pays dividends.

Outside of work, Doug is devoted to his wife and their 10 grandchildren. He finds joy in ministry at his church, fishing, and getting his hands in the dirt — planting and tending to anything that grows. It's a passion that mirrors his professional calling perfectly.