Doug Stephens

You Can’t Predict the Future of Retail, but You Can Prepare for It

6 January 2021 • By Doug Stephens

You Can’t Predict the Future of Retail, but You Can Prepare for It

In an exclusive excerpt from his new book, ‘Resurrecting Retail: The Future of Business in a Post-Pandemic World,’ Doug Stephens outlines the common pitfalls to which business leaders fall victim when tasked with devising strategies for the future.

The Radical Strategy That Drove Nike’s Pandemic Success

15 December 2020 • By Doug Stephens

The Radical Strategy That Drove Nike’s Pandemic Success

How a bold direct-to-consumer push unveiled by former chief executive Mark Parker almost four years ago drove the sportswear giant’s stock price to an all-time high in the middle of a pandemic.

How to Survive the Future of Retail

28 July 2020 • By Doug Stephens

How to Survive the Future of Retail

Covid-19 is a once-in-a-century event that will eradicate many retail species and accelerate the growth and evolution of 'apex predators' like Amazon, Alibaba, Walmart and JD.com. Only the fittest will survive.

How an Exodus from Cities Will Reshape Retail

10 June 2020 • By Doug Stephens

How an Exodus from Cities Will Reshape Retail

The work-from-anywhere revolution will accelerate the coming of a post-digital age for shopping, argues Doug Stephens of Retail Prophet.

On the Frontlines of Retail There Are No Heroes, Only Victims

21 April 2020 • By Doug Stephens

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On the Frontlines of Retail There Are No Heroes, Only Victims

Most retail workers are woefully underpaid, stripped of rights and treated as interchangeable parts in a global retail machine, writes Doug Stephens of Retail Prophet.

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Why Branding Matters Now More Than Ever

31 March 2020 • By Doug Stephens

Why Branding Matters Now More Than Ever

As the coronavirus crisis deepens, companies are slashing advertising budgets but branding never goes on pause, writes Doug Stephens of Retail Prophet.

In Brands We Trust: Why Companies Are the New Communities

3 December 2019 • By Doug Stephens

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In Brands We Trust: Why Companies Are the New Communities

Brands have a powerful opportunity to fill the void in belonging and meaning left by the decline of religion and eroded faith in government.

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The Most Important Metric in Retail

9 July 2019 • By Doug Stephens

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The Most Important Metric in Retail

Retail’s most important metric is something most retailers aren’t even paying attention to.

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The Future of Luxury Is Freedom

1 April 2019 • By Doug Stephens

The Future of Luxury Is Freedom

Beyond goods, services and experiences, freedom will become the ultimate signifier of status.

Is Surveillance the Future of Service?

29 January 2019 • By Doug Stephens

Is Surveillance the Future of Service?

The internet has become a surveillance state. Now, it’s coming to physical retail, creating powerful business opportunities and deep cultural challenges, writes Doug Stephens.