Client Success Stories

“I am grateful to have worked with Marilisa. She helped me define my brand strategy and translate that into guidelines. I previously had a Brand Guidebook that was outdated and minimally helpful, and now it is much more cohesive. My Wholesale Catalogue has also improved with help of Marilisa, and I'm excited to share it with potential wholesale accounts in the luxury market. She also helped me clarify my role as the founder of Solid Soaps, and I have a better idea of what lies ahead for my business. Thank you, Marilisa, for your expertise and support!” 

Emlyn Roesler, Solid Soap Founder

“Working with Marilisa Barbieri has been a game-changer for my artisanal jewelry brand. Her deep understanding of the fashion industry, combined with her strategic insight, helped refine our brand positioning and elevate our presence. She's professional, creative, and truly invested in your success. Highly recommended!” 

Baiyinah Brookins Founder and Creative Director of Mystics & Sages

“I had the privilege of working with Marilisa as a mentor for my brand, Resham Dor, and the experience was transformative. She brought unparalleled expertise and strategic insights, especially in helping us define strategy to access the US market for our artisanal products for interior design segments. From helping us define clear client personas targeting interior designers to guiding us through market activation strategies and pricing, Marilisa helped us create a roadmap that was not only practical but also aligned with the premium nature of Resham Dor. Her attention to detail, industry knowledge, and ability to tailor strategies to our unique needs was invaluable. Thanks to Marilisa mentorship, we understand the nuances to enter the US market and connect with the right audience. If you're looking for a consultant who can provide deep market insights and actionable strategies while understanding the nuances of luxury and craftsmanship, I wholeheartedly recommend Marilisa. Thank you for your invaluable guidance!” 

Lakshmi Malhotra, Resham Dor Founder

“Marilisa has such a clear understanding of the design world and she was able to give us structure and a plan to move forward in our goals. Her experience is such a value and we are so thankful she shared this with us!” 

Sarah Trammel, Sales Manager at Madda’s Studio

“It was a great experience working with Marilisa. The suggestions given were very helpful and specific. I look forward to seeing how implementing the strategies given will impact my business.” 

Bobbi Brown, Jewelry Designer

"I have had the pleasure & fortune of spending past few weeks working with Marilisa for my luxury business in textiles. Marilisa is highly experienced, informed and knowledgable professional in the business of luxury and her insights have been instrumental in guiding me and forming key strategies for my business. She empowers the process with relevant tools, quick communication, valuable feedback and structured analysis. Highly recommend her services and time."

Anjali Purohit,  Studio Variously Founder and Creative Director

“I recently had the pleasure of receiving a 30-minute online consultation from Marilisa who provided me with invaluable insights on how to penetrate the US market of handicrafts, corporate gifts, and high-end products. I must say that I was thoroughly impressed with the level of expertise and professionalism demonstrated by her. During our consultation, Marilisa took the time to understand my business goals and objectives. She then provided me with a comprehensive analysis of the US market, including key trends, consumer behavior, and competitor analysis. Marilisa also shared practical tips on how to position my products in a way that would appeal to US consumers. What stood out for me was Marilisa's ability to break down complex concepts into simple terms that were easy to understand. She was patient in answering all my questions and provided me with actionable steps that I could implement immediately. Overall, I would highly recommend Marilisa to anyone looking to enter or expand their business in the US market. Her expertise and guidance will be invaluable in helping me navigate this complex market successfully. Thank you for your excellent service!” 

Hisham El Gazzar, Yadawee Founder

“It has been a pleasure working with Marilisa. She is organized and knowledgable. We look forward to continuing our relationship with her as we build our business brand.” 

Buffy Ferguson, Design Principal at Elizabeth Ferguson Design

“Marilisa is incredibly knowledgeable and has been such an asset in helping us reposition our brand for success. We highly recommend her services!” 

Carley-Beth Castro, Interior Designer at Elizabeth Ferguson Design

“Thank you so much for sharing your insight about corporate gifting! As a new brand and first time exhibitors at NY NOW, it really opened our mind to the possibilities of corporate gifting as we scale.” 

Fay, Terminal B Team

“I’ve really enjoyed the mentorship program and have found Marilisa's insight to be very informative and structured. She's helped me see my business in a new light and given actionable advice on what to improve and reorganize.” 

Laura Preston, Principal at Vacilando Studio

“We worked with Marilisa through the NY NOW summer gift show at the Javits Center. Marilisa helped our business add corporate gifting as a revenue stream, and has helped our company build brand awareness. Many thanks Marilisa!” 

Alex Gemme, Founder of Treeline Terrains

“Marilisa is both thoroughly delightful and professional to work with. Her recent experience in both Europe and North America allows her to offer a global perspective of design trends, and deliver insights that can be applied to business for practical, timely results. Highly recommend!!” 

Tracie Yan, Director of Special Projects at Baccarat

“I highly recommend Marilisa as a mentor for anyone seeking personal and professional growth in the area of corporate gifting. She has been exceptional in providing invaluable guidance and sharing her expertise. Marilisa's supportive nature, attentive listening, and thought-provoking questions create a great mentor-mentee relationship.” 

Jyoty Jaiswal, OmSutra

“I had a wonderful first meeting with Marilisa. In a short 30 minutes she was able to give me key insight and suggestions to help rethink my approach to my bespoke studio. I am looking forward to applying what she shared and making some thoughtful shifts.” 

Lesli Robertson, Creative Director at Mekeka Designs

“It was a pleasure working with Marilisa Barbieri. She is knowledgeable about the luxury business. She provided me with tools to help grow and understand what it's going to take to grow my business. I highly recommend Marilisa as business consultant.” 

Lisa Polite, Founder and CEO of La Polie Fragrances

“Thank you for your mentorship. I appreciate you taking the time to listen to my challenges and presenting solutions. Marilisa, the resources you have provided will definitely help me to grow. Thank you again for providing structure and strategies for growth. You have provided so many great resources and inspiring plans. It's been a pleasure working with you. I hope to connect in person in the future. Also, I appreciate your advice and assistance in preparing for this opportunity. I was very nervous and just wanted to be sure that the segment would go well and air before promoting to social media and audiences. I will definitely share and carry through on our marketing plans. Thank you again for all of your help and time. You are appreciated.” 

Hailey Washington, Fashion Designer at Haicceity

“I had such a wonderful experience with Marilisa. She was kind, knowledgable and open to all the questions I had. I definitely left our meeting with a lot of positive feedback that was also helpful and is beneficial to the evolution of my business. I am so appreciative for her expertise and service. Thank You Marilisa” 

Ash Luckett, Creative Director at Tribe Called Vibe

"Working with Marilisa Barbieri was a game-changer for our brand. She guided us through a strategic discovery process that helped us uncover our core identity and align it with our niche in the art, design, and creative industries. Each remote session was focused, outcome-driven, and built toward a powerful result: a clear, actionable branding and marketing playbook and a cohesive digital presence across our website, Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn. What truly stood out? Marilisa didn’t just help us build our digital branding and marketing strategy—she empowered us to own it. Her approach is intentional, insightful, and incredibly generous—even beyond the booked sessions." 

Peter Gakunga, Director, Naomi Wanjiku Studios

"Working with Marilisa has been transformative for me and my art business. She is among the most impactful professionals I’ve worked with. While I excelled creatively as an artist, I struggled to promote my work and access the opportunities I deserved. Marilisa quickly identified these challenges and guided me through a focused branding and marketing journey. Through structured weekly meetings, she helped me reflect, define my brand and audience, and position myself for success. Our sessions were engaging and productive, with tasks that encouraged active participation and incisive feedback to drive progress. Her availability via email offered valuable ongoing support. Most importantly, Marilisa helped me recognize the true value of my work, far beyond what I had previously realized. I look forward to continuing our collaboration as I scale my business." 

Naomi Wanjiku, Founder of Naomi Wanjiku Studios

“Marilisa has been one of the most unbelievably helpful resources my small team and I have had the privilege of working with over the past couple of months. Our weekly meetings have truly shifted our perspective and continually increased our successes. She prepares each meeting with incredible structure, and her availability through email each week post-meeting has been invaluable as well. Her advice and suggestions have been spot-on, and her approach to some of our most challenging tasks have finally illuminated areas of our business that were far too confusing for far too long. She has been a complete game-changer. I hope to have her counsel for a long, long time. Thank you, Marilisa!” 

Zoe Kestan, Creative Director at Elizabeth Hayt Studio

"Marilisa Barbieri is completely devoted to achieving the goals of her clients. She is extremely intelligent, insightful and enthusiastic, as well as thorough and creative in achieving her client’s goals. She is an outstanding resource for those of us — I am a decorative artist who designs tabletop collections, like napkins and placemats— who hope to expand and refine our professional endeavors. I was so pleased with her consulting services that I even extended my contract so that I could continue to benefit from her outstanding advice and suggestions for growing my business." 

Elizabeth Hayt, Founder of Elizabeth Hayt Studio

"Marilisa's attention to detail, combined with the large range of topics her consultancy services include has been very helpful to grow our business."

Esther Sibiude, Studio Manager at Elizabeth Hayt Studio

“Meeting with Marilisa was very helpful to gain clarity and insight on the next steps I need to take as a small business owner.” 

Eden Studio Ceramics, Meghan Howell 

"I truly wish I had the chance to work with Marilisa before starting my business—her insights would have saved me so much time and uncertainty. Her mentorship came at a perfect time, just when I needed that extra clarity. She took the time to understand my goals and provided practical, actionable advice that aligned with my vision. Each conversation left me feeling more focused and confident about the next steps. If you’re looking for someone who listens deeply and truly understands your journey, I highly recommend working with Marilisa."

Soleil Castro, Founder of Mamasun Ceramics

"I had 8 sessions with Marilisa and it was very helpful for my business. She’s very organized and compassionate. She also has a structured approach that helps to stay focused!” 

Maria Loram Founder and Creative Director of Loram Ceramics

“Marilisa had great advice on the direction our brand should go. In only a half hour, I left with meaningful feedback and specific suggestions on what to focus on so we can grow our business. I also appreciated the follow up resources she sent after our conversation.” 

Tracie Fountain, Starfish Project

"I had the distinct pleasure of working with Marilisa as my business coach, and I cannot recommend her highly enough. From the outset, Marilisa impressed me with her articulate and engaging communication style. She has an exceptional ability to present complex concepts in a way that not only captures your attention but also motivates you to take action. Marilisa's guidance was instrumental in crafting our corporate gifting strategy. Her insights were precise, actionable, and tailored to our specific needs. She took the time to understand our business and its unique challenges, ensuring that her recommendations were both relevant and impactful.

One of the highlights of our collaboration was preparing for the NY NOW trade show. Marilisa provided invaluable tips and advice that positioned us for success in the US market. Her strategic vision and attention to detail were evident in every aspect of our preparation, from booth presentation to product positioning. Thanks to her expert guidance, we felt confident and ready to showcase our brand on an international stage.

Marilisa's presentations are a masterclass in engagement. Her ability to convey information clearly and compellingly kept our team focused and inspired throughout our sessions. She has a natural talent for making complex information accessible and actionable, which made a significant difference in our strategic planning and execution.

In summary, Marilisa is an outstanding business coach whose expertise and communication skills have profoundly impacted our business. Her ability to motivate and guide us through the intricacies of corporate gifting and market entry has been invaluable. I am grateful for her support and look forward to continuing to work with her as we grow and expand our presence in the US market. Thank you, Marilisa, for your exceptional coaching and unwavering dedication to our success." 

Suzan Yavuz, Founder of ØSTERLAND

“It was such an honor for us to have the help and guidance of the super talented Marilisa Barbieri last year as one of the Nest Guild groups trusted fellows and mentors . This gave us a much needed deeper insight into the Luxury Homeware space and helped us to deal with a variety of challenges and obstacles "head on"giving us the tools to manage some difficult situations and provide us with lots of achievable solutions.” 

Jane Taylor, Principal at CCP Collaborative Craft Projects

"When I think of brand elevation, and navigating an ever-changing luxury climate, my first thought is always of Marilisa. She is dedicated to sharing tools for measurable impact. Marilisa's thorough insight and deep knowledge of the best practices and (proven!) strategies to take your brand to the next level are truly unmatched."

Anthony Galante, Director of Global Handcraft Programs at NEST

“NY NOW© has been collaborating with Marilisa in her capacity as a luxury brand expert and educator since early 2021. Marilisa delivered a series of live webinars that were extremely well attended and brought us many new prospects as well as strong engagement with existing brands and attendees. Along with the webinar series, Marilisa delivered a very compelling presentation during our in-person market, as well as hosting several IG live interviews on-site, generating excellent social media engagement and content. Such has been the success of our partnership with Marilisa, we were thrilled to expand our collaboration with Marilisa for 2022 to include an on-site press tour, an exclusive on-site group discussion with our Luxury Lifestyle community of brands and buyers, award adjudication and editorial content, in addition to a second series of webinars. We have high regard for Marilia’s knowledge and expertise, and the partnership has brought much value and success. We look forward to continuing to grow our collaboration and initiatives with Marilisa.” 

Sandra Kehoe, Director of Exhibitor Marketing Emerald, NY NOW

“Marilisa provided an excellent overview of the current luxury market and  navigating the launch of a new product. Additionally and more importantly she gave clear, concise directives and the steps for preliminary market research. Thru her personal experience with numerous luxury brands she has a unique and authentic perspective which is invaluable.” 

Cristina Hadzi, Principal at Cristina Hadzi Design

“Thank you for the expertise and wisdom you shared via the NY Now webinar” 

Shannon Cohen

“Excellent presentation on Corporate Gifting Opportunities for Luxury brands” 

Jean Fasanello

“The webinar was one of the most informative web presentations I have viewed during this COVID era. Brava! Thank you for sharing your knowledge”. 

Camille Ann Brewer, Interior Designer

“I just wanted to drop you a line to express how utterly impressed I am with you and your course - it's nothing short of SUPER! Seriously, the content you've put together is absolutely FANTASTIC. Your hard work and dedication shine through every aspect of this course. I can't thank you enough for sharing your knowledge and expertise. Your course has been incredibly valuable to me, and I feel like I've gained so much from it. The way you present the material is not only engaging but also highly informative. Once again, a huge CONGRATS on a job very, very well done! You are making a real difference in the lives of your students, and it's evident that you put your heart and soul into your work. Looking forward to more fantastic content from you in the future!” 

Vincent Salvatore 

“Your presentation was very informative and just what I needed at this stage of my furniture launch.” 

Gerald ClarK, Furniture Designer

“Your webinar series has greatly informed our business and opened a new market. We have taken your advice to heart and already established two corporate partnerships, with Porche and Lavazza, since you began the series. Thank you once again for opening the corporate gifting/corporate partnerships door for our company.” 

Alex Gemme, Founder of Treeline Terrains

“Thank you again for the virtual webinar you gave through NYNOW in December.  Since that webinar (inspired by it), I've raised MOQs for custom products, raised some product prices, updated our rush order fee, reevaluated our discount structure into tiers and raised our wholesale minimum.  Not only have our customers not balked at the changes, no one has even noticed them.  These changes have helped our production run more smoothly.  Thank you so much for sharing this information!” 

Katy Westcott, Founder of Katrinkles 

“I watched your webinar “Learn the Language of Luxury” and I appreciate your tips, insights and suggestions.” 

Lancia Soans, Lancia Designs

“Great webinar sessions from Marilisa with a lots of insights about building up luxury business strategy!” 

Xu Chengcheng

“Ho acquistato il corso sulle regole per vendere prodotti di lusso, l'ho trovato veramente utilissimo e strutturato in modo magistrale, mi ha permesso di comprendere molte cose. Ottimo corso, veramente! Grazie infinite. Ho appena iniziato la mia avventura con la mia start-up e questo corso e’ uno tra i primissimi punti fermi, una piccola pietra miliare (oltre che una pietra preziosa), per iniziare il mio, spero lunghissimo viaggio come Happiness and Beauty Coach. Fondamentali le risorse. Grazie ancora!” 

Arianna Gnani

"I have had the pleasure & fortune of spending past few weeks working with Marilisa for my luxury business in textiles. Marilisa is highly experienced, informed and knowledgable professional in the business of luxury and her insights have been instrumental in guiding me and forming key strategies for my business. She empowers the process with relevant tools, quick communication, valuable feedback and structured analysis. Highly recommend her services and time."

Anjali Purohit, Founder and Creative Director at Studio Variously 

“I have had the fortune of working with Marilisa for the past several months on business strategy for our studio, Mekeka Designs. At the end of our 8 week program, my team and I had clarity, new vision, and most importantly the tools on hand to make significant changes to how we approached client relationships, sharing our story, and strategies for working in the custom textile space. She is very organized, listens incredibly well, and works to help you refine with it is that drives your business. She doesn't try to fit you into a mold. I truly appreciate all that I learned and in the middle of putting it all into practice! Thank you Marilisa!” 

Lesli and Pamela, Founders of Mekeka Designs 

“I’ve really enjoyed the mentorship program and have found Marilisa's insight to be very informative and structured. She's helped me see my business in a new light and given actionable advice on what to improve and reorganize.” 

Laura Preston, Vacilando Studio Founder

“It has been a pleasure working with Marilisa. She is organized and knowledgable. We look forward to continuing our relationship with her as we build our business brand.” 

Buffy Ferguson, Principal at Elizabeth Ferguson Design

“Marilisa is incredibly knowledgeable and has been such an asset in helping us reposition our brand for success. We highly recommend her services!” 

Carley-Beth Castro, Interior Designer at Elizabeth Ferguson Design 

Marilisa Barbieri is completely devoted to achieving the goals of her clients. She is extremely intelligent, insightful and enthusiastic, as well as thorough and creative in achieving her client’s goals. She is an outstanding resource for those of us — I am a decorative artist who designs tabletop collections, like napkins and placemats— who hope to expand and refine our professional endeavors. I was so pleased with her consulting services that I even extended my contract so that I could continue to benefit from her outstanding advice and suggestions for growing my business. 

Elizabeth Hayt, Artist & Founder at Elizabeth Hayt Studio

"Marilisa's attention to detail, combined with the large range of topics her consultancy services include has been very helpful to grow our business. 

Esther Sibiude, Studio Manager at Elizabeth Hayt Studio

"Marilisa has been one of the most unbelievably helpful resources my small team and I have had the privilege of working with over the past couple of months. Our weekly meetings have truly shifted our perspective and continually increased our successes. She prepares each meeting with incredible structure, and her availability through email each week post-meeting has been invaluable as well. Her advice and suggestions have been spot-on, and her approach to some of our most challenging tasks have finally illuminated areas of our business that were far too confusing for far too long. She has been a complete game-changer. I hope to have her counsel for a long, long time. Thank you, Marilisa!” 

Zoe Kestan, Creative Director at Elizabeth Hayt Studio