I've Sat on Both Sides of the Table. Here's What That Means for Your Brand

Black and white portrait of a smiling woman with long, straight hair, wearing a textured short-sleeve cardigan and dark pants, sitting against a plain background.

I'm Rachel McKay — a commercial and retail strategist with 16 years at the heart of UK prestige beauty and consumer brands.

As a Beauty Buyer at Selfridges, Space NK and Harrods, I saw thousands of brands pitch for shelf space. As Commercial Director at Charlotte Tilbury and Head of Sales at LVMH Perfumes & Cosmetics, I learned exactly how to win it — and grow once you're in.

That dual perspective is rare and its where I add value. I know what retailers want before a brand walks in the door, and I know how to build the commercial case, negotiate the terms and execute the launch that gets results.

Today I work with a select number of ambitious brands — helping them scale into retail, enter new markets, and build the commercial foundations that last.

Retailer Access

Senior-level relationships with buyers at Boots, Space NK, Selfridges, Sephora, John Lewis, Cult Beauty, Lookfantastic, ASOS and Harrods — built across 16 years of buying and selling within UK beauty retail.

If this sounds like what your brand needs, lets talk