Howard Saunders: Retail Futurist

Howard Saunders designed stores for over twenty five years. I learnt my trade at one of the biggest and best London agencies, Fitch. Rodney Fitch pretty much invented retail design. He passionately believed that design was a force to make ordinary people’s lives better, much better. Those days in Soho were life changing. It was […]

Travel & Fee Range:**

  • Travels from: London, UK
  • **Fee range: On Request

Keynote Topics

From international conferences to team seminars, my job is to ignite enthusiasm and kickstart innovation.

Whatever the category, there is so much we can learn about truly engaging with our customers.
My talks are high energy, visual journeys through the world of groundbreaking retail that build a clearer picture of where we’re heading. I’m known for being provocative, challenging, brutally honest, evidence-based, as well as thoroughly entertaining.
 

But there’s a dark and murky side to all this democracy. ME Agers have evolved into an army of super-entitled consumers, brimful with great expectations. Any semi-literate teen is a potential vlogging evangelist now, preaching how we should live, how we must better our lives.

Howard Saunders designed stores for over twenty five years. I learnt my trade at one of the biggest and best London agencies, Fitch. Rodney Fitch pretty much invented retail design. He passionately believed that design was a force to make ordinary people’s lives better, much better. Those days in Soho were life changing. It was […]

Howard Saunders designed stores for over twenty five years. I learnt my trade at one of the biggest and best London agencies, Fitch. Rodney Fitch pretty much invented retail design.

He passionately believed that design was a force to make ordinary people’s lives better, much better.

Those days in Soho were life changing. It was ridiculously competitive and brimful with flamboyant and opinionated characters.

That’s why we worked so hard… to be smarter than the next. It was an exciting time and I’m very grateful for everything I learnt at Fitch.”

“As a Retail Futurist Howard Saunders encourages my clients to take a fresh look at what they do and what they really stand for. Business is often too busy to pause and think, you have to force these things. I try to unravel the meanings behind the things we buy: why our aspirations shift and how the future is likely to change the way we behave.

Howard Saunders believes shopping is not only the engine of our economy, it’s the foundation of a thriving community. This isn’t some business to business thing, this is life.”

Howard Saunders | Retail Futurist

Howard has worked in retail design for over twenty five years. As a former Creative Director of Fitch, based in London, he was responsible for retail design and branding and for creating multi-disciplinary teams of architects, graphic designers, product designers and copywriters and making them work together!

As an independent consultant Howard Saunders has worked closely with Marks & Spencer, Waitrose and Westfield, for over a decade, helping them develop new store designs and keeping them informed of the latest retail innovations and shifts in customer expectations.

Howard Saunders work with Westfield, for example, culminated in the creation of the artisan Great Eastern Market at Westfield Stratford, Europe’s largest shopping centre, which opened in 2011 on London’s Olympic Park.

Now based in New York, Howard Saunders current clients include CBRE, Claire’s Accessories, Consumer Goods Forum, Ebay, Johnson & Johnson, L’Occitane, Magento, Mothercare, Permira and Westfield World Trade Center.

As an international speaker Howard Saunders talks are big, visual journeys across the world of retail. Provocative, challenging, brutally honest, evidence based and thoroughly entertaining.

Retail is in the middle of a revolution and too few companies are prepared or even fully aware. We all changed in the wake of the global financial crisis and the consequences of this are just becoming apparent.

More than ever before we seek out things that give us reassurance; products with meaning or stories to tell. We look for retail spaces that enhance our sense of community, of belonging, and we’re turning away from stores that only want to sell us more stuff. This is as relevant for value brands as it is for the luxury end of the market.”

Retail is the lifeblood of our towns, cities and most importantly, our communities. So it’s critical that we keep innovating and maintain enthusiasm for our stores.”

“The key is to understand what customers are really looking for, then we can start to engage.

It’s not the porn you need to worry about. It’s the feeding frenzy of entitlement your children are locked into that will distort their view of life on earth. Remember, they are all beautiful now, no matter what, and all deserving of our undying respect, as well as a flawless complexion, of course.

The entitled generation is already percolating into our shopping centres, and you can expect them to become ever more demanding as they grow in number. Every mundane thing you take for granted, or haven’t thought much about, they will have an opinion on, passed to them, no doubt, by one of their teenage life coaches.

Toothpaste, toilet paper, washing-up liquid, fruit juice, shampoo, aspirin…they’ll be keen to enlighten you as to how deadly these seemingly innocent products are to the health of you and the planet. Clearly, we must prepare for a mighty surge in demand for products and services that are specifically tailored to their highly individual tastes.

Contact us at Speakers Inc and subscribe to our YouTube channel 

Speakers Contact

Speaker Enquiry Form

Talent Resources to download

In order to view the below you must be logged in.

  • Powerpoint Slide – For meeting and event planners
  • Gallery Images
  • High Resolution Images
  • PDF Files
  • Books and Magazine Links

View further speakers

  • (8 reviews)

Meet Lorne Sulcas – The Big Cat Guy, an unconventional motivational speaker who stands out from the crowd. With a career spanning since 1996, Lorne Sulcas has graced some of the world’s most prestigious stages, captivating audiences with his unique approach to motivational speaking. His presentations, under the banner of Thriving in a Wild World™, […]

  • The Big Cat Guy

Tim Cohen, a seasoned business editor and journalist, has profoundly shaped South Africa’s economic reporting landscape with his incisive analysis and commitment to truth. Before joining the highly respected Daily Maverick as Business Editor, Cohen served as the editor of Business Day, one of South Africa’s premier financial newspapers. His career began on the pages […]

  • GeoPolitical Analyst

Sizakele Marutlulle, founder and CEO of a pan-African strategy and advisory firm, is a powerful voice in reimagining business through a human-centered lens. She champions Humancentric Creatives, a pioneering approach that places people, not just profit, at the heart of organizational success. Sizakele’s advisory work guides leaders across the continent to design inclusive futures, build […]

  • Creative Leadership

Francis Herd stands as a beacon of trust and credibility in the realm of broadcast journalism, commanding attention as a familiar face on the nightly news. With nearly two decades of immersive experience in the dynamic field of broadcasting, she has carved an indelible mark on South Africa’s media landscape. As the co-anchor of the […]

  • Business Emcee

Dr. Rassie Erasmus, a name synonymous with South African rugby excellence, has risen beyond the pitch to become an influential figure globally, both in sports and leadership. Known for leading the Springboks to World Cup glory in 2019, Rassie combines his illustrious career as a former player and as one of the most dynamic and […]

  • Springbok Legend

Lihle Msimang is a multifaceted entertainer and storyteller with over a decade of experience, captivating audiences as a comedian, writer, and master of ceremonies. Known for blending humour with heartfelt storytelling, Lihle’s unique approach to inspiring and engaging people has made her a sought-after presence in both entertainment and corporate spaces. As an MC, Lihle […]

  • Comedian

Craig Wing is inspiring companies to “future proof” themselves by “imagineering” their future strategy and complementary culture to survive the emergent world of technology, changing customers and the “New World or Work.” Futurist and Business Strategist. Engineer by qualification. Entrepreneur by passion. Googler by Spirit. 2 Masters degrees in Engineering (MSc) and Business (MBA) 2 […]

  • Futurist Strategist

Capturing the essence of the Cape Flats in his impersonations and humour, Marc Lottering – MC Comedian is considered to be one of the hottest comics available. Marc hails from Cape Town with a colourful upbringing which often reflects in his unique brand of comedy. Marc stormed onto the scene in 1997 with his one-man cabaret “AFTER […]

  • Comedian
Disclaimer
The profiles and images embedded on these pages are from various conference entertainers and other talent.

These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by Speakers Inc.

Fee ranges where listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only.

All talent fees exclude VAT, travel and accommodation where required.

Our Mission

We are your partner creating memorable and engaging experiences that go beyond the event itself.

Newsletter Signup

* indicates required

Intuit Mailchimp

Subscribe to our Newsletter and get connected:

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Speakers Inc Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated.

We use Brevo as our marketing platform. By submitting this form you agree that the personal data you provided will be transferred to Brevo for processing in accordance with Brevo's Privacy Policy.

We promise to not spam you!

Our Mission:

We are your partner creating memorable and engaging experiences that go beyond the event itself.

© All rights reserved 2025.  Designed using Voxel