Doug Stephens
@retailprophet.bsky.social
Retail Futurist | Fortune 100 Business Advisor International Bestselling Author | Media Contact
An occupational hazard of being a futurist is that people remember very clearly when you’re wrong. But I think I got Agentic #AI roughly right. This is from my first book, written in 2012.
June 22, 2025 at 12:40 PM
An occupational hazard of being a futurist is that people remember very clearly when you’re wrong. But I think I got Agentic #AI roughly right. This is from my first book, written in 2012.
Brand equity is tough to measure.
Until it’s gone.
Until it’s gone.
April 23, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Brand equity is tough to measure.
Until it’s gone.
Until it’s gone.
My latest piece for The Business of Fashion.
April 7, 2025 at 10:50 AM
My latest piece for The Business of Fashion.
The one index that’s up today. And no, that’s not a good thing.
April 3, 2025 at 4:44 PM
The one index that’s up today. And no, that’s not a good thing.
(VIDEO) How did Canadian retail icon Hudson's Bay fall so far and what does it mean for the future of department stores?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6T-...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6T-...
The Fall of Hudson's Bay's and What It Means for Retail
YouTube video by Retail Prophet
www.youtube.com
March 21, 2025 at 2:24 PM
(VIDEO) How did Canadian retail icon Hudson's Bay fall so far and what does it mean for the future of department stores?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6T-...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6T-...
1/2 IMO, @shopify should acquire Hudson's Bay’s brand assets and key stores. Reclaim this great Canadian icon and flagships in key cities to create a multi-floor marketplace of new and exciting Canadian merchants.
March 14, 2025 at 1:47 PM
1/2 IMO, @shopify should acquire Hudson's Bay’s brand assets and key stores. Reclaim this great Canadian icon and flagships in key cities to create a multi-floor marketplace of new and exciting Canadian merchants.
There are rising reports of grocery retailers mislabelling US products as Canadian. I talked with @ctvyourmorning.bsky.social about why it's happening and how shoppers can be sure of what they're buying.
March 11, 2025 at 7:23 PM
There are rising reports of grocery retailers mislabelling US products as Canadian. I talked with @ctvyourmorning.bsky.social about why it's happening and how shoppers can be sure of what they're buying.
Having trouble knowing who to believe when it comes to the current trade war? We asked a friend who knows a thing or two. Here's what they said.
#Tariffs #Tradewar
#Tariffs #Tradewar
4-D Chess or "Dumbest Trade War in History"?
YouTube video by Retail Prophet
www.youtube.com
March 8, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Once upon a time the two things that made Starbucks compelling were…
1. their people and
2. the complexity of their beverages.
1. their people and
2. the complexity of their beverages.
Starbucks is laying off workers and paring back the menu as it tries to turn the business around | CNN Business
Starbucks is taking Frappuccinos with cookies and cream, white chocolate and other Frappuccino drinks off the menu.
www.cnn.com
February 25, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Once upon a time the two things that made Starbucks compelling were…
1. their people and
2. the complexity of their beverages.
1. their people and
2. the complexity of their beverages.
Thanks to my friend David Macadam and the team at the Middle East Council of Shopping Centers for featuring my piece on the future of competition in the latest issue of Retail People Magazine.
RETAIL PEOPLE MAGAZINE ISSUE 42 - SUSTAINABLE RETAIL THE FUTURE OF SHOPPING CENTRES
Retail People Magazine Issue 42 explores the theme “Sustainable Retail: The Future of Shopping Centres,” shedding light on how the industry adapts to environmental responsibility, digital transformati...
online.fliphtml5.com
February 21, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Thanks to my friend David Macadam and the team at the Middle East Council of Shopping Centers for featuring my piece on the future of competition in the latest issue of Retail People Magazine.
Ever wonder why there’s no innovation or inventiveness in the Russian economy? It’s that the Russian economy is run by a cadre of oligarchs. And if you’re an oligarch you don’t have to compete. Just curry enough political favour and you’re golden.
And this 👇 is how oligarchies are formed.
And this 👇 is how oligarchies are formed.
Zuckerberg's political pivot targets Apple, puts Meta staffers on edge
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's actions to curry favor with the president have rattled employees, but people familiar with his efforts say there's a clear strategy.
www.cnbc.com
February 18, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Ever wonder why there’s no innovation or inventiveness in the Russian economy? It’s that the Russian economy is run by a cadre of oligarchs. And if you’re an oligarch you don’t have to compete. Just curry enough political favour and you’re golden.
And this 👇 is how oligarchies are formed.
And this 👇 is how oligarchies are formed.
Walmart is now selling Rolex, Chanel and other luxury resale products. I sat down with the @theglobeandmail.com to discuss what it says about
Walmart, consumers and the general state of retail.
Walmart, consumers and the general state of retail.
February 5, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Walmart is now selling Rolex, Chanel and other luxury resale products. I sat down with the @theglobeandmail.com to discuss what it says about
Walmart, consumers and the general state of retail.
Walmart, consumers and the general state of retail.
I spoke with the The Globe and Mail’s Bernadette Morra about the meteroric rise of the global #DUPE market and its impact on luxury retail.
Say hello to the superfakes: Dupes of luxury goods are the new hot item
Ethical issues around the manufacturing of fakes don’t seem to be a concern among younger consumers driving demand
www.theglobeandmail.com
February 4, 2025 at 1:18 PM
I spoke with the The Globe and Mail’s Bernadette Morra about the meteroric rise of the global #DUPE market and its impact on luxury retail.
Last night I sat on an #AI in #retail & #fashion panel discussion in Toronto. The most urgent message (or perhaps passionate appeal) I shared was this one 👇
Doug Stephens on LinkedIn: #fashionaf
Last night I had the pleasure of sitting on a panel at #FashionAF event in Toronto. Thanks to Huma A. for inviting me to be a part of it.
My most crucial…
www.linkedin.com
January 31, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Amazon is shuttering all of its Quebec facilities. Quebec also happens to be home to Amazon's ONLY unionized workforce in Canada. The company says there's no connection between the two. (eye-roll)
I'll be sharing thoughts with CTV News this evening at 7:15 ET.
#Amazon
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
I'll be sharing thoughts with CTV News this evening at 7:15 ET.
#Amazon
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Amazon to close Quebec facilities, insists it's not because of new union | CBC News
A company spokesperson said Amazon will outsource deliveries to smaller contractors. The spokesperson insisted that the decision was tied to cost savings — not the recent unionization of about 300 emp...
www.cbc.ca
January 22, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Amazon is shuttering all of its Quebec facilities. Quebec also happens to be home to Amazon's ONLY unionized workforce in Canada. The company says there's no connection between the two. (eye-roll)
I'll be sharing thoughts with CTV News this evening at 7:15 ET.
#Amazon
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
I'll be sharing thoughts with CTV News this evening at 7:15 ET.
#Amazon
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
(VIDEO) We’re at the end of an 80 yr era in how companies compete and there are 4 key things that businesses will have to rethink: 1.Their relationship with government. 2.Their beliefs on capitalism. 3.Their goals with respect to growth and 4.Their reliance on public education.
youtu.be/AP9sNxgWVBc
youtu.be/AP9sNxgWVBc
WINNING: In the new era of competition with Doug Stephens
YouTube video by Retail Prophet
youtu.be
January 18, 2025 at 3:38 PM
(VIDEO) We’re at the end of an 80 yr era in how companies compete and there are 4 key things that businesses will have to rethink: 1.Their relationship with government. 2.Their beliefs on capitalism. 3.Their goals with respect to growth and 4.Their reliance on public education.
youtu.be/AP9sNxgWVBc
youtu.be/AP9sNxgWVBc
In my opinion, simply building a bigger life boat won’t end the storm.
Lucky, Forever 21 Operator Merges With JCPenney
(Bloomberg) -- Sparc Group, the operator of fashion brands including Lucky, Eddie Bauer, Aeropostale, Forever 21 and Brooks Brothers, has merged with JCPenney to form a new company called Catalyst Bra...
ca.finance.yahoo.com
January 9, 2025 at 2:01 AM
In my opinion, simply building a bigger life boat won’t end the storm.
A very interesting thread from @eurasiagroup.net looking into 2025 and beyond.
Moral of the story as I see it…For anyone involved in the global consumer economy, it’s going to be a wild and unpredictable ride. The next 5 years will be less about chasing growth and more about mitigating risk.
Moral of the story as I see it…For anyone involved in the global consumer economy, it’s going to be a wild and unpredictable ride. The next 5 years will be less about chasing growth and more about mitigating risk.
In 2025, we are heading back to the law of the jungle.
A world where the strongest do what they can, while the weakest are condemned to suffer what they must.
Here are the Top 10 risks 🧵⤵️
#TopRisks2025
A world where the strongest do what they can, while the weakest are condemned to suffer what they must.
Here are the Top 10 risks 🧵⤵️
#TopRisks2025
January 6, 2025 at 2:02 PM
A very interesting thread from @eurasiagroup.net looking into 2025 and beyond.
Moral of the story as I see it…For anyone involved in the global consumer economy, it’s going to be a wild and unpredictable ride. The next 5 years will be less about chasing growth and more about mitigating risk.
Moral of the story as I see it…For anyone involved in the global consumer economy, it’s going to be a wild and unpredictable ride. The next 5 years will be less about chasing growth and more about mitigating risk.
These are the 4 watchtowers I'll be exploring the future of business from in 2025 and beyond.
Competing in 2025 and Beyond
As we look ahead to 2025 and beyond, I’ll be focussed on 4 key pillars that I believe represent the new competitive battle grounds of the future, and the means through which savvy companies will drama...
www.linkedin.com
December 30, 2024 at 2:23 PM
These are the 4 watchtowers I'll be exploring the future of business from in 2025 and beyond.
Every year I sit down with Retail Dive’s Daphne Howland to share my thoughts on the future of retail & the trends shaping the industry. This year we hit everything from the future of AI, to the deep societal transformations that retailers will need to adapt to or die. (50 min. listen grab a ☕️ )
The Backroom: Doug Stephens looks to 2025 and beyond
The retail and brand expert discusses the hype around AI, how marketers can preserve human creativity and his optimism about the future.
www.retaildive.com
December 28, 2024 at 1:41 PM
Every year I sit down with Retail Dive’s Daphne Howland to share my thoughts on the future of retail & the trends shaping the industry. This year we hit everything from the future of AI, to the deep societal transformations that retailers will need to adapt to or die. (50 min. listen grab a ☕️ )
2024 was a remarkable year! Thank you to our friends, followers and amazing clients for making it one to remember!
2025 will, no doubt, bring challenges and opportunities. The winners will be those who don’t distinguish between the two.
Happy Holidays!
2025 will, no doubt, bring challenges and opportunities. The winners will be those who don’t distinguish between the two.
Happy Holidays!
December 23, 2024 at 10:56 PM
2024 was a remarkable year! Thank you to our friends, followers and amazing clients for making it one to remember!
2025 will, no doubt, bring challenges and opportunities. The winners will be those who don’t distinguish between the two.
Happy Holidays!
2025 will, no doubt, bring challenges and opportunities. The winners will be those who don’t distinguish between the two.
Happy Holidays!
(4 min. video) Everything about how businesses compete is set to change. And any business that misses this shift, will miss the future entirely!
#strategy #retail
#strategy #retail
Doug Stephens on LinkedIn: (4 MIN. VIDEO) Regardless of what we sell, we all compete. And for about…
(4 MIN. VIDEO) Regardless of what we sell, we all compete. And for about the last 80 years the means of creating a competitive advantage in business have been…
www.linkedin.com
December 20, 2024 at 6:40 PM
In Dubai last week delivering a keynote on the future of competitive advantage in business. I made the case that the old competitive fronts (product, selection, price, service and convenience) will be replaced by a new set of key imperatives! More here 👇
thefutureeconomy.ca/op-eds/the-f...
thefutureeconomy.ca/op-eds/the-f...
December 19, 2024 at 10:55 AM
In Dubai last week delivering a keynote on the future of competitive advantage in business. I made the case that the old competitive fronts (product, selection, price, service and convenience) will be replaced by a new set of key imperatives! More here 👇
thefutureeconomy.ca/op-eds/the-f...
thefutureeconomy.ca/op-eds/the-f...
Thanks to The Future Economy for sharing my latest OpEd on the Future of Competitive Advantage. It’s a future that’s coming fast. And brands that miss it, could be toast.
TheFutureEconomy.ca on LinkedIn: Read more from Doug Stephens
The era of extracting value from society is over.
The future of competitive advantage lies in contributing to it.
Think businesses can’t drive…
www.linkedin.com
December 12, 2024 at 7:02 AM
Thanks to The Future Economy for sharing my latest OpEd on the Future of Competitive Advantage. It’s a future that’s coming fast. And brands that miss it, could be toast.