Retail Prophet

The Existential Question Facing Every Retailer Today

7 September 2021 • By Doug Stephens

The Existential Question Facing Every Retailer Today

Retailers must create radical value, not just for consumers, but for brands.

The Metaverse Will Radically Change Retail

7 June 2021 • By Doug Stephens

The Metaverse Will Radically Change Retail

The coming of a collective, persistent, virtual reality will fundamentally transform how we live and shop, writes retail guru Doug Stephens.

In Retail, Discovery Is Dying

8 March 2021 • By Doug Stephens

In Retail, Discovery Is Dying

The unbundling of iTunes and the algorithmic echo chambers of Facebook have spilled into retail, robbing consumers of surprise and serendipity, but there is opportunity in this state of affairs, argues Doug Stephens.

Why Editorial Brands Will Dominate Retail’s ‘Long Tale’

3 February 2021 • By Doug Stephens

Why Editorial Brands Will Dominate Retail’s ‘Long Tale’

Brands and retailers must create their own deep and sticky ecosystems of content, argues 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.