Doug Stephens
retailprophet.bsky.social
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
Brand equity is tough to measure.
Until it’s gone.
April 23, 2025 at 12:25 AM
My latest piece for The Business of Fashion.
April 7, 2025 at 10:50 AM
The one index that’s up today. And no, that’s not a good thing.
April 3, 2025 at 4:44 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.
March 14, 2025 at 1:47 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.
March 11, 2025 at 7:23 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...
December 19, 2024 at 10:55 AM
Starbucks mission : “With every cup, with every conversation, with every community – we nurture the limitless possibilities of human connection.”

Turns out “with every cup” they’re nurturing nothing but landfill. Over 75% of BILLIONS of Starbucks cups may end up as pollution.

Image CBS News
December 8, 2024 at 7:23 PM
“The office” for the next couple of days.

Wonderful to be at the beautiful Hôtel Chateau de Montvillargenne to deliver a talk for the annual L'Oréal Retail University!
November 17, 2024 at 5:56 PM
Had a wonderful day in New York City yesterday speaking at the Sourcing Journal Summit. Thanks to everyone who attended! You were awesome. #SJSummits
November 13, 2024 at 11:36 AM
Heading to NYC today to keynote the kickoff of tomorrow’s Sourcing Journal Summit. Great lineup of speakers on tap.

www.events.sourcingjournal.com/sjfallsummit...
November 11, 2024 at 4:40 PM
Huge thanks to Zach Phillips , John Mlynczak and the incredible team National Association of Music Merchants - NAMM for allowing me to kick off the morning today! And a special thanks to The Chapman Brothers for warming up the crowd with an absolutely amazing performance!
January 27, 2024 at 7:24 PM
What a phenomenal week, beginning in Amsterdam to speak at Retail Trends Live and then on to Riyadh Saudi Arabia for a keynote and 4 amazing panel discussions on the future of cities. Thank you to all my amazing hosts and panelists. You were all outstanding!
September 11, 2023 at 2:38 PM
When I wrote Resurrecting Retail in 2020 I posited that the next “big short” would be in the CRE market when the bottom fell out of mortgage-backed securities (aka dirivitives) in the retail sector, as it applied to malls/office.

Today’s FT seems to confirm my worst suspicion. Buckle up.
June 6, 2023 at 3:25 AM
Something I talk a lot about when it comes to experiential design is surprise.

With that in mind, the team at Air Canada surprised me yesterday with a simple, hand delivered card, in the lounge en route to Miami. Memorable #CX often means doing small, meaningful, things and doing them well.
May 1, 2023 at 11:52 PM