Is the physical store still relevant in an age of online shopping and remote working? According to today’s guest, the answer is an emphatic yes. Doug Stephens is a retail futurist who, as CEO of Retail Prophet, advises the leadership of global brands on what’s next for retail. His client list includes Walmart, IKEA, Disney, LVMH and Microsoft. He’s also the author of the best selling books The Retail Revival and Re-Engineering Retail. In a nutshell, Doug’s view is that the future is bleak for physical shops selling mundane items that are easier (and cheaper) to buy online. But when it comes to high-interest products, he thinks consumers are hungry for physical stores. Especially ones that brim with imaginative experiences – like the Apple Store. Meanwhile, Doug says that for brands that want to boost returns on their marketing spend, exciting physical retail is a no-brainer. Why? For a start, online advertising costs have gone through the roof. That means physical stores are often a cheaper way to make potential new customers aware of your brand. Next, he argues that nothing beats an inviting physical store for enthusing people about a brand and its products – and converting those people into buyers. Meanwhile, Doug has strong views on the future role of landlords. In particular, he says that if landlords want to avoid tumbleweed blowing through their retail spaces, they need to get busy driving footfall. How? By curating spaces and places that people want to spend time in. Listen to our conversation now and you’ll learn: How the relationship between physical and online retail works today (hint: there’s more to it than you think). How to win with physical stores. What kind of physical experiences appeal to younger consumers. Why the changing role of physical retail will impact rent models. How the shift to remote working will change the shape of physical retail. Which landlords are getting it right. And MUCH MUCH more.