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We Are The Team Propelling Retail Forward

We Are A

Forward-thinking, Innovative, Solution-driven, Transformational

Retail Business Education and Economic Development Firm.

What We Believe

We believe that
retail is not dead.

Lack of a financial plan, merchandising strategy, innovation, and diversity is.

In reality, the coronavirus sped up the inevitable. Large chains that should have downsized years ago are being forced to, are filing for bankruptcy, and unfortunately, even closing their doors for good. There’s a craving for shopping local goods. Companies are seeing the importance of developing domestic supply chains.

In this rapidly–changing retail environment, it is critical that you have a Retail Educational partner who empowers your independent brands and retailers with the tools, strategies, and merchandise to continuously drive sales, conversion, productivity, customer engagement, and overall business growth. A partner that can inspire merchandising teams to innovate and look at their departments with a fresh, new perspective.

We are that partner. Your partner.

there is no retail apocalypse, just a retail awakening

Passionate About The Future Of Retail

Meet the team proving retail is
not dead every single day.

DeAnna McIntosh

Global Retail Strategy

Rachel Williamson

Store Operations

Felicia Loewy

Product Development

Darlene Mitchell

Inventory Planning

Meet The Visionary Behind TAGI

DeAnna McIntosh

Founder, Global Retail Consultant

DeAnna McIntosh leads the team at The Affinity Group International (TAGI). Her proven success as a Buyer, Strategy Manager, and Merchandise Director inside numerous brands like Chico’s, Office Depot, and Home Depot, drove her to launch TAGI to duplicate these same successes for small retail businesses, both within the US and abroad.

With a strong eye for design and her corporate merchandising experience, she has launched numerous products into retail and e-commerce platforms – with one of the most notable being the Chico’s No-Iron Linen Collection, which is now a multi-million-dollar program. DeAnna also curated the first-ever “shop local” assortment initiative at Office Depot, merchandising 10+ local Austin, Texas brands inside the 13 area stores, including consumer favorites Epic Provisions and Chameleon Coffee.

Her time inside these large retailers is what drives the content inside the Revitalize Retail® Program. She believes that the future of retail is small (businesses) and that they should be elevated in every aspect of the retail ecosystem. After all, 98% of all retail companies are small businesses.

In 2018, DeAnna launched TAGI’s sister, Retail Coaching and Consulting firm, Retailing Evolved®, to work directly with small businesses, equipping them with the proven strategies, tools, and systems she utilized daily as a Buyer and various other roles during her corporate career. She and her team help Retail Entrepreneurs build their 12-month growth roadmap, then systematize and align their back-office operations to scale profitably, in 1 single [transformational] day.

In 2020, After the senseless murder of George Floyd, and seeing the awakening of retail companies to their lack of diversity, DeAnna co-founded the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Diversify Retail® Inc. to connect two communities she loves to drive change and make a global impact – the retail community and minority communities. Through her nonprofit, she educates and empowers BIPOC brands and retailers to open and build retail businesses that evolve as quickly as the industry does, and that will shape the face and future of what retail looks like today.

DeAnna is a Thought Leader and Changemaker often called upon to speak and inspire audiences that the future of retail is in their grasp.

She is renowned for her collaborative and energetic work style, innovation, and conducting business with integrity and transparency. DeAnna and her team bring priceless insight, original and actionable ideas, brilliant branding, organizational effectiveness, and sales-driving strategies to your company from day one.

DeAnna holds a Bachelor of Science degree in International Fashion Merchandising Management from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York, USA, and Polimoda Institute in Florence, Italy. She currently resides in Atlanta, GA with her husband and baby boy.

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I'm so happy I got to meet and know DeAnna while preparing for a trade show. I found her to be incredibly knowledgeable and supportive during a period of uncertainty for me. She exceed my expectations in helping me prepare, plan and execute my brands trade show debut and provided a comprehensive trade show manual. She continues to be a source of sound counsel & guidance.

Blair Armstrong

Founder, Gilded Glamour

DeAnna runs a world class business. I was in need of expanding the details in my business plan and pitch deck. DeAnna and her team blew me away! The Affinity Group International, by far exceeded what was asked and delivered in exceptional time a business plan and pitch deck ready to take my company to the next level. Looking forward to our continued working relationship.

Tashiba Jones-Wilson

Retail Founder

DeAnna is a hard and thoughtful worker who loves diving into data fearlessly. She is design savvy, fun to work with, and not afraid to bring new ideas and insights to the table. At Capital, she helped us establish data-informed product development targets to make sure that we were bringing the right mix of products to our next launch. She also explored trends in the industry, reaching out to customers and travelling to trade markets to keep the pulse of styles and designs that are relevant to our company. Her varied work experiences and blend of fashion / style interest with data / numbers insights makes her a unique asset to any team, and I would definitely work with her again!

Liz Townsend

Marketing Director, Capital Lighting Fixture Company

DeAnna was the most detailed, proactive and positive person I have ever had work for me. To say she was critical to the business’ success is an understatement. Anybody who has the pleasure of her on their team is truly fortunate.

Eva Rodriguez

Director of Merchandising, The Home Depot

I worked with DeAnna when she was a Merchant at Chico's FAS and we were one of the key suppliers. DeAnna has clearly demonstrated her professionalism during our collaboration. She has been open to new ideas, willing to explore win-win solutions, not only solving problems but at the same time creating values to both parties. I personally look forward to having a chance to work with her again.

Ben Tsui

VP, Customer Engagement, TAL

I worked with DeAnna at Chico's FAS where was was the Merchant of Woven Tops. I found DeAnna to be a very strong merchant and business woman. She was frequently utilized to teach and train the merchandising team on system functionality and best practices and was a great resource. She had a strong work ethic and was a trusted and respected member of the team. DeAnna did the work of 2-3 people in reality many times. I also know she is very entrepreneurial and creative, traits which are great to possess! DeAnna excels at what she does!

Mike Wills