The Bridge We Built: Cheers to 7 Years

Seven years ago this month, a group of us crossed the Charles River.

It's a short trip, from Boston to Cambridge. For us it marked the end of one chapter and the start of something we built together, on purpose. This month Cambridge Retail Advisors turns seven. I've been thinking about how we got here, what we've learned, and the people who made it possible.

Where we came from

Many of you know our story. Most of our core team came from Boston Retail Partners, a firm with an excellent reputation that we were proud to be part of. BRP was acquired by a telecommunications company, and then that company was acquired too. The new owner didn't want a consulting firm under its umbrella, so BRP was dismantled.

We tried to buy back the name. They said no. So we did what any good team does with a setback: we laughed about it, crossed the river, and became Cambridge Retail Advisors.

What I'm proudest of from that time isn't the new name. Every one of our BRP clients came with us to CRA, without missing a beat. A logo didn't earn that loyalty. It came from years of relationships, built one project and one conversation at a time. That told us everything about what kind of firm we wanted to be.

What seven years has taught us

Relationships are the work. Strategies, roadmaps and system selections matter, but they are not what our clients remember. They remember who picked up the phone, who told them the truth when it was hard to hear, and who was still there after go-live. We have never wanted to be a consulting firm that looks only at the bottom line. We want to be the partner people call because they trust us, not only because they have a project.

Be a true partner to everyone in the industry. Our relationships don't stop with retailers. Our vendors, solution providers, industry associations and peers are part of the same community. When retailers, vendors and advisors work as partners instead of adversaries, everyone wins, and the shopper most of all. We've found that the most successful transformations happen when everyone at the table feels like they're on the same team.

Speak the language. Retail is its own world, with its own rhythms, pressures and vocabulary. Our clients don't have time to teach their advisors what a peak season feels like or why a store associate's experience matters. Our team has lived retail, and that shared language builds trust faster than any slide deck.

Bring real enthusiasm. We love this industry. Helping a retailer change how they serve their customers, empower their associates, or run their business is exciting, and we hope that shows in everything we do. Transformation is hard. It goes better when the people guiding you believe in where you're going.

Take care of your team, and they'll take care of your clients. A dedicated, experienced team is the foundation of everything above. Our consistent growth over seven years has never been about adding headcount for its own sake. It's been about bringing in people who share our values and care about our clients as much as we do.

The proof is in who comes back

We are humbled that 96% of our clients choose to work with us again. In consulting, a re-engagement is the most honest feedback there is. It means we didn't just deliver a project; we earned a relationship. That number, more than anything, tells us we're living up to what we set out to be.

Remembering Ken

Ken Morris, founding partner

No reflection on CRA's seven years would be complete without Ken Morris, one of our founding partners.

Ken was an eternal optimist. Whatever the challenge, a client crisis, a shifting market, or a firm being dismantled out from under us, Ken saw the opportunity first. He was one of the most respected voices in retail, and the industry knew it. He was a regular on Bloomberg and other outlets, a sought-after speaker on stages across the industry, and someone people simply wanted to hear from.

What stays with me most is that Ken's optimism was never naive. It was a choice he made every day, and it shaped the culture of this firm. When we talk about being partners rather than just consultants, and bringing real energy to the work, we are carrying forward what Ken modeled for all of us. We miss him every day, and we're grateful his influence is still so present in who we are.

Thank you to our CRA family

We often say that CRA feels like a family, and seven years in, I believe it more than ever.

Members of our team at NRF 2026

To our team: thank you for your expertise, your dedication, and the care you bring to every client. You are the reason retailers trust us.

To our retail clients: thank you for your loyalty, for letting us into your businesses, and for trusting us with your biggest decisions. Many of you have been with us since before we crossed the river, and that means more than we can say.

To our vendor and solution partners: thank you for your collaboration and candor, and for working alongside us to do right by retailers.

To our supporters, friends and peers across the industry: thank you for cheering us on, sending introductions our way, and being part of this community with us.

Looking ahead

Retail has changed enormously in seven years, and it will keep changing. Our approach won't: show up as a true partner, speak the language, bring real enthusiasm, and build relationships that last. I think Ken would be proud of where we are, and as optimistic as ever about where we're going.

Here's to the next seven years, together.

If you have a memory of Ken or of working with our team over the years, we’d love to hear it. Reach out anytime.