Interbike 2018

Doug Stephens




As the Founder of global consultancy Retail Prophet, Doug Stephens has made a name for himself as one of the world’s leading retail and consumer futurists, not to mention as a top global retail influencer. His books, The Retail Revival and Reengineering Retail, have accurately predicted the transformation of retail in the post-digital world. In his aptly titled new release, Resurrecting Retail: The Future of Business in a Post-Pandemic World, Stephens once again offers an essential roadmap for the industry, this time outlining how a public health emergency of this size and scope will shape retail and consumer behaviors long after the threat of COVID-19 has passed. Stephens’ research and insights help major organizations—such as Johnson & Johnson, BMW, Citibank, Disney, Google, and more—understand exactly how trends in demographics, global economics, AI, and media are forever altering consumer/brand relationships. We’re all shoppers, says Stephens. Consumers are now empowered with technology—experts in their own right. What can we learn from our buyers (and browsers) to ensure that we look forward, not backward, when it comes to innovating new retail strategies? Drawing on over 20 years of analytical and on-the-ground experience, Stephens will leave you feeling entertained, enlightened, and inspired to put his wisdom into action. Prior to founding Retail Prophet, Stephens spent 20 years in retail, holding senior international roles, including the leadership of one of New York City’s most iconic retail chains. Stephens is also the syndicated retail columnist for CBC Radio Canada, and appears regularly on North American and international radio and television shows. As a business journalist, Stephens’ writing has been featured in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, the National Post, The Globe and Mail, Chicago Tribune, Fortune Magazine, Business Insider, Business of Fashion, Daily Beast, and the Toronto Star, among many others worldwide.

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