Retail Prophet is an advisor to some of the world's most respected brands in the exploration, imagination and articulation of cutting edge consumer-market strategies. We employ an extremely flexible approach based entirely on individual client objectives. Our work runs the gamut, from high-level executive sessions that rapidly expand and accelerate organizational thinking, all the way to preparing agency teams for very specific client pitches. Our advisory services clients include Fortune 500 brands, national retail chains, manufacturers, leading global marketing agencies, trade associations and government. All advisory work is underpinned with up to the minute research and insights. About Doug Stephens Retail Prophet Founder Doug Stephens is one of the world’s foremost retail industry futurists. His intellectual work and thinking have influenced many of North America’s best-known retailers, agencies and brands including Google, Walmart, Home Depot, Disney and Coca Cola. Doug is the author of the groundbreaking books, The Retail Revival: Re-Imagining Business for the New Age of Consumerism (2013) and Reengineering Retail: The Future of Selling in a Post-Digital World (2017). He is also the syndicated retail columnist for CBC Radio and sits on the advisory boards of the Dx3 Digital Conference and the David Sobey Centre for Retailing and Service Excellence at Saint Mary's University. Doug speaks regularly to major brands and organizations across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
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I want to send a big Southern thanks to Laurie Burns and her entire team at the Gift and Home Trade Association for inviting me to keynote their 2024 conference in Charleston S.C! And to everyone who came to my talk, breakout session and book signing, thanks so much! You were all amazing!
Thanks to my friends in Australia and New Zealand at Jeweller Magazine for featuring my op-ed on why any business looking to win in the future of retail will need to focus less on science and a whole lot more on art.
Interesting with loads of implications for retailers, staff and consumers!
Hey all! If you missed this morning's segment on CTV Your Morning, looking at retail staff wearing body cameras as a deterrent to retail theft, you can catch it here!
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More retailers are experimenting with body cameras to deter theft. But do they? I’ll be on CTV Your Morning at 8:10 ET today to discuss!
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This week I took my new talk, The Future of Competitive Advantage, to Zürich, where I had the honour of presenting at European Marketing Distribution’s 35th Anniversary Jubilee. I want to thank EMD’s Managing Director Philippe Gruyters for giving me license to be provocative and also emcee Rene Schneider for a thoughtful Q&A following. And to the audience… you were outstanding. Thank you!
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Had a fantastic session today with Susan Irving and the entire team Kruger Inc. exploring The Retail Archetypes of the Future! Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome!
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Sending a huge thanks to the Retail Council of Canada this morning for inviting me to close out yesterday’s retail marketing conference in Toronto. It was a blast! And to the wonderful audience that hung in for my talk, you were awesome! Just remember, the future of physical retail is already here. Now it’s up to you to do something remarkable with it! :)
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I’ll be on CTV Your Morning tomorrow at 7:00 AM ET to discuss Ontario’s expansion of alcohol sales to convenience stores and what it will mean for consumers, businesses, regulators and ultimately, the costs for taxpayers.
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As we enjoy a day off with family and friends today, we can thank a small, courageous group of newspaper printers at Toronto’s Globe newspaper who, in 1871, were jailed and charged with sedition for striking, in a plea for basic worker rights - like putting an end to the 12-hour work day. Within hours thousands of other workers took to the streets demanding their release and calling for basic rights for working people. Thus began a labour movement that spread across North America giving a collective voice to frontline workers in their fight for dignity. It’s a battle that continues to this day in far too many retail and food service companies. Dignity, safety and a living wage shouldn’t be negotiable. So, to honour those who have fought for the rights so many of us today take for granted, wherever possible, support retail that supports, protects and values workers.
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Happy to announce that I’ll be in Zurich on September 19th to give a talk on the Future of Competitive Advantage at European Marketing Distribution’s 35th Anniversary Jubilee! Hope to meet some of you there!