PROFILE
Michael Zakkour
Founder - 5 New Digital &International Marketing Lead at UNILEVER
Michael leads 5 New Digital in providing research, strategy and structure building for a world class roster off retail, brand and FMCG clients to navigate the evolution of retail, the disruption in digital commerce and the integration of online/offline for the "New Retail Model". He is a Rethink Retail Top Global Influencer for 2022 and 2023 and is a two-time Amazon #1 best sellling author. Michael is a renowned retail and digital commerce futurist, keynote speaker and media personality and is currently also serving as and Interim International Marketing Lead at UNILEVER.
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- Posted on: 05/26/2023
How Can CPG Brands Recapture Market Share Lost to Private Labels?
1. Double down on branding, brand story, and brand love. 2. Start to understand that retailers have made the choice to go to D2C with PLs and they need to increase their activity in the space. 3. Embrace new sales/tech channels and more closely marry the eCom/Sales/tech teams. - Posted on: 05/23/2023
Will One CEO Work Better Than Two For PacSun?
Brie Olsen is a rock star. She is visionary who is embracing the new retail, making immersive and virtual commerce work and 100% gets who her customer is. A great move by a great company. - Posted on: 05/19/2023
Will More States Follow Montana And Ban TikTok?
All political. An nothing is uglier than copying the tactics of the system you claim to ne the opposite of. - Posted on: 05/17/2023
What Will a Down Year Mean For Home Depot Beyond 2023?
The decline has to be seen in the context of the 43% growth over the last three years. They have maintained the vast majority of that growth. They have also invested wisely in Unified Commerce and logistics. I am confident and bullish on HD's future growth and destination of choice for home improvement. - Posted on: 05/15/2023
Will Google’s AI-Driven Search Captivate Shoppers?
I think GAI will be a game changer for he big players and will help deliver on customization, convenience, better curated "selection" and more focused pricing parameters. But, I think this could bee a boon for smaller retailers in helping them create more immersive content, and better integration of content, community and commerce on the majority of sights that under-perfrorm on conversions. - Posted on: 05/10/2023
Will Self-Checkout Tip Prompts Prompt a Tip Backlash?
I think the tipping issue is just the tip of the iceberg (sorry) of a potential backlash against consumers being asked/required to do the jobs that for time immemorial retail workers, cashiers, and others have done and being asked to pay more for it, - Posted on: 05/08/2023
Why Is Shopify Abandoning In-House Fulfillment?
Another case study in how Cost of Consumer Aq and logistics are the margin eaters that make eCommerce a tough business. That said, companies like Alibaba, JD, Rakuten, have been successful vertically integrating. I was betting on Shopify tp do the same. That said I also thiink it's a reflection on their understanding of how fast the ecommerce game is being disrupted and that their core services need a major refresh to keep up and stay relevant. - Posted on: 05/08/2023
Why Is Shopify Abandoning In-House Fulfillment?
A good point, but they were well on their way. This retreat is surprising. Walmart, Target and others have shown you can do it well. Perhaps their lack of grounding in the physical world is the issue. - Posted on: 05/01/2023
Is Streaming TV Retail Media’s Next Growth Driver?
In 2017, at the Channel Advisor conference in San Diego I debuted a future model for retail that broke things down into Mega-Ecosystems, Habitats (online and offline) and Platforms (Platform Retail). My theory on the latter was that Platforms like Netflix, Twitch, Roblox, Hulu would become central players in retailing and advertising. Six years later, the skepticism I was met with, has been proven wrong. Streaming services are in retail now and their presence will grow as a sales and marketing platform. - Posted on: 04/29/2023
Will Gap Cut Its Way to a Turnaround?
Buried in this story is this: "Gap, also last month, closed its retail media network, GPS Media, about a year after its start. A company spokesperson told Business Insider that the company was shifting its investments to its supply chain and stores." A proof point that not all retailers are fit to have their own Retail Media Network. This is something to keep an eye on. - Posted on: 04/26/2023
Why Hasn’t One-Click Checkout Gained Much Traction Beyond Amazon?
An interesting question. I think there may be a few contributing factors. For the consumer there needs to be trust in the retailer and an expected frequency of shopping with said retailer. For some retailers there is a continued hesitancy around implementing new technology deployed by trailblazers. - Posted on: 04/18/2023
Americans Have Money to Spend. Where Will They Spend It?
I'm seeing a great deal of movement towards travel. Planes are full, hotels are full, ABNB and VRBO arre posting healthy profits. I think people are balancing spending on essentials with spending on experiences. - Posted on: 04/17/2023
Does Virtual Fitting Room Tech Discourage Sales?
Sigh, I feel you Gary. - Posted on: 04/15/2023
Is Shoplifting Killing Store Morale?
It must be. How are we to further encourage people to build a career in front-line retail when this problem is now at epidemic levels and store associates have to fear for their safety. - Posted on: 04/13/2023
Are Consumers Willing to Wait Longer to Have Their Online Orders Delivered?
The answer is choice. Provide consumers with choices on speed and service. Fulfillment is either fast and expensive or slower and less costly. It benefits the seller and the buyer to have a tiered choice system. We did project for a major apparel retailer a couple of years ago. They assumed they HAD to have 2 day and free on all purchases. Our consumer research and surveys show that not to be the case. Many were happy with 3-4 days on a Sweater and some desired 2 day for a party dress. We saved them a lot of money by not simply instituting 2 day and free across the board.
