Reengineering Retail: The Future of Selling in a Post-Digital World

Author: Doug Stephens

Publication: Vancouver; Berkeley: Figure. 1, 2017

Summary:

In “Reengineering Retail: The Future of Selling in a Post-Digital World,” Doug Stephens, a renowned consumer futurist, delves into the rapid changes and transformations taking place in the global retail sector.

This book serves as a continuation of his previous work, “The Retail Revival,” where he predicted the end of a retail era and the rise of online giants like Amazon and Alibaba.com.

The book is divided into four parts:

1. Retail is Dead: This section discusses the impact of software on retail, the decline of traditional retail hubs, the rise of online shopping, and the challenges faced by traditional advertising methods.
2. Media is the Store: Here, Stephens explores the evolution of e-commerce, the role of artificial intelligence in shopping, the potential of virtual reality, and the implications of 3D printing for the retail industry.
3. The Store is Media: This part emphasizes the importance of human interaction in retail, the changing preferences of consumers, the future of physical shopping spaces, and the idea that stores will become a form of media in themselves.
4. Reengineering Retail: The final section provides insights into how retailers can adapt to the changing landscape, emphasizing innovation, rethinking traditional retail models, and the importance of staying agile in a rapidly changing environment.

Throughout the book, Stephens paints a vivid picture of a future where the very essence of what a store is, how consumers shop, and even the core revenue model of retail will undergo radical transformation.

He provides real-world examples and insights from industry disruptors, offering a roadmap for retail executives to navigate the future.

The book underscores the fact that while many brick-and-mortar retailers have closed their doors, there are vast opportunities for those willing to adapt and innovate.

The overarching message is clear: the retail industry is undergoing a profound transformation, and businesses must be prepared to reengineer their strategies to thrive in this new landscape.

Since the release of Doug Stephens’ first book, The Retail Revival, change in the global retail sector has accelerated beyond even the boldest forecasts.

As predicted, online giants like Amazon and Alibaba.com are growing at a dizzying pace.

Hundreds of well-known brick and mortar retailers have closed their doors, and brands and retailers across categories are struggling to understand the shifting needs and expectations of a new consumer.

Picking up where The Retail Revival left off, Reengineering Retail explores the coming revolution in the global retail and consumer goods market, offering sales and marketing executives a roadmap to the future.

Author and internationally renowned consumer futurist, Doug Stephens, paints a bold vision of the future where every aspect of the retail experience as we know it, will be radically transformed.

From online to bricks and mortar, the very concept of what stores are, how consumers shop them, and even the core economic model for revenue, will be will be profoundly reinvented; changes sure to affect not only retailers large and small but any business with a stake in the global retail industry.

Infused with real world examples and interviews with industry disruptors, Reengineering Retail illustrates the vast opportunities at play for bold brands and business leaders.

Stephens’ strategies will provide businesses with the foresight required to move quickly and effectively into the future.