In 1994, Lauren Freedman founded the e-tailing group, inc., a Chicago-based consultancy that provides strategic and e-commerce merchandising solutions to merchants selling online as well as to firms targeting that market.

Its client list has included Fortune 500s and start-ups, including Toys “R” Us, The Vitamin Shoppe, Scholastic, Staples, Circuit City, J.Jill, MoMA Retail, Orbitz, M&M’s, West Marine and MSN.

Freedman is the author of It’s Just Shopping, a behind-the-scenes look at the evolution of multi-channel selling. She resides in Chicago with her husband and daughter.