Becoming a Retail Radical

“If failure is not an option then neither is success.”

- Seth Godin

We discuss the final component in Steve's 8 Essentials of Remarkable Retail framework: "Radical" with guests Pier Fawkes and Scott Lachut from PSFK, a leading retail experience design and innovation firm. Being "Memorable" is what's what's needed to become the signal amid the noise in creating a remarkable growth strategy, whereas becoming "Radical" is a big part of how to do it by building a culture of experimentation and developing innovation as core capability and organizational habit. In unpacking this essential we discuss how Walmart, Amazon and others fight what Steven Pressfield calls "The Resistance," why quitting is underrated and how we can find beauty in imperfection.

Piers Fawkes

PSFK Founder | Trends Researcher | Futurist

Since his early career, Piers Fawkes has driven the adoption of progressive ideas to impact the global community. It began with the first Dotcom boom, where he led the London office of one of Europe’s top agencies. He also pioneered the use of digital video at a scrappy start-up a few years before YouTube came about. He is best known for establishing the progressive think-tank PSFK.

Today, he continues to give talks, support the companies he owns and advises, and provide a mix of inspirational services to help businesses realize their potential.

Scott Lachut, Partner/President of Research & Strategy at PSFK

In my current role, I'm tasked with studying the shifting context of the consumer, culture and marketplace to understand what that means now and in the future. I look at both the big picture and emerging signals of change to identify opportunities and develop strategies to take advantage of them. I've had the pleasure of working with a great roster of companies across industries, including Facebook, American Express, Nike, BMW, Marriott and Apple, helping them to innovate their retail, marketing, product and customer experience.

Learn more and register for PSFK's Retail Innovation Week here.

Related Reading

Steve Dennis, "Misteaks Were Made," "Quitting is Underrated," and "Wabi-Sabi."
Seth Godin, The Practice

Steven Pressfield, The War of Art

Steve Dennis is an advisor, keynote speaker and author on strategic growth and business innovation. You can learn more about Steve on his website. Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption was recently named the best retail book of all time by BookAuthority. It's available in hardcover, audiobook or as a ebook at Amazon or just about anywhere else books are sold. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can check out his speaker "sizzle" reel here.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Registration is open for a special webinar featuring Steve in conversation with Placer AI's Head of Analytical Research RJ Hottovy. From changing shopping patterns to emerging market opportunities, shifting consumer demand continues to reshape the industry. So don't miss this data-driven session unpacking the most important trends defining today’s marketplace and the strategies leading brands are using to win retail's future. It's all brought to you by Placer.AI and It all happens on Tuesday September 29 at 1pm ET..

Register here today:

https://www.placer.ai/discover-events/discover-shifting-consumer-demand

About Us

Steve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling author of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.

Michael LeBlanc is a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions hosted senior retail executive on-stage in 1:1 interviews worldwide. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including The Remarkable Retail Podcast, The Voice of Retail, The Food Professor, The FEED powered by Loblaw and the Global eCommerce Leaders podcast. He has been recognized by the NRF as a global Top Retail Voice for 2025 and 2026 and continues to be a ReThink Retail Top Retail Expert for the fifth year in a row.