Chris Wilkinson, a leading retail expert and futurist, is the Managing Director of First Retail Group Ltd – an award-winning retail consulting practice.

With decades of experience under his belt, Chris is an experienced strategist who has helped numerous brands, government organisations and NGO’s navigate the ever-changing retail landscape.

He’s not just about the present, though. Chris is a forward-thinker who translates complex trends and emerging technologies into actionable insights that propel organisations towards sustainable growth and success.

Chris Wilkinson, the Founder and Managing Director of First Retail Group Ltd, is a name synonymous with retail expertise and future-focused thinking. His career has included the development and sale of experiential retail and service brands. Today, Chris is not only a highly sought-after consultant and strategist, but also a recognised leader who has been Businessperson of the Year – a testament to his exceptional contributions to the retail sector.

Chris’s retail journey began in the one-hour photo industry, when he opened his first store at the age of 19. This niche market provided him with a valuable foundation, shaping his keen understanding of customer needs, market dynamics, and the ever-evolving nature of retail itself. As one of the first sectors to be impacted by digital trends, he developed a keen understanding on how categories can manage change and build resilience.

From his early days, Chris demonstrated a natural aptitude for identifying trends and capitalising on opportunities. This experience, coupled with his curiosity about the future, has helped his consultancy group establish a unique niche, with clients spread across the globe.

Chris leverages his diverse background and proven track record to guide retail, healthcare, service, leisure and tourism brands through the complexities of the modern retail landscape. He is adept at translating complex trends and emerging technologies into actionable insights, empowering businesses to unlock their potential and achieve sustainable growth. Chris’s forward-thinking approach and dedication to helping businesses thrive have cemented his position as a leading light within the Australasian retail industry.

Chris Wilkinson was just 19 when he started in business, establishing what would become a chain of one-hour photo stores.

Not afraid to think big, he says he ran that company like a much larger business, developing systems, procedures and strategies you’d find in bigger, multiple-outlet operations.

“We’d built up quite a successful operating formula, which was spotted by a company in the US that eventually bought our system,” explains Wilkinson, who is the Founder and Managing Director of First Retail Group. “That gave us an idea that there was a value to our ideas and knowledge.”

It was that ambition to add value to others’ businesses by sharing the knowledge he’d already gleaned from years spent in retail, and a desire to continue the relationships he’d developed in the sector, which prompted Wilkinson to set up the Wellington-based retail consultancy.

The years since have seen massive changes in the sector. While many point to the growth of online retailing, Wilkinson says that’s just one factor, with changes also in consumer patterns and behaviour. Reduced discretionary spending has also vastly altered the landscape.

The growing pace of technological change is a topic on the lips of everyone in business these days, but those conversations began much earlier in some sectors than others.

Wilkinson says his involvement in the photographic industry, among the earliest sectors disrupted by digital technology, offered him insights he was keen to take into consultancy.

“Photography was one of the first sectors that transitioned with new digital technology, before books or even CDs … That’s really helped us understand how sectors can change and how to manage those changes properly, so we’ve developed a bit of a speciality in working with sectors going through extreme change.”

Wilkinson says his ambitions are now focused on building the resilience of the business.

Currently about half of First Retail Group’s business comes from overseas – primarily the UK, the Pacific Islands and Australia – and Wilkinson says he sees this as a key measure of the company’s success.

“I feel very successful travelling around the world seeing our clients in action. I feel a tremendous amount of success putting my suit on in the morning and going to work in a different country.”

Wellington’s growing reputation as a hub for technology companies means the firm is often exposed to new ways to employ technology in its operation. A lot of the company’s work overseas is carried out remotely from New Zealand’s capital. Wilkinson says this is key to maintaining a good work/life balance, which he cites as another measure of his success.

Given so much of the firm’s work is relationship-based, says Wilkinson, getting the right people to maintain those relationships has been the biggest challenge.

“So it’s about keeping the team small,” he explains, “and not chasing all the work that’s out there. Naturally, commercially, you want to pick up every piece of business but we’ve realised that it’s like a marriage, where we want to have clients that we love and we want them to love us.”

Running your own business can also be a lonely road but Wilkinson says he’s developed a strong peer network to share successes, challenges and ideas.

Having started in business at a young age, Wilkinson says it’s a pattern he’s keen to continue. One thing is for certain, change will be a constant. “The big question we get from businesses is, ‘When is everything going to stop changing?’,” he says. “Well, it won’t – but that’s what I think is so exciting.”

• Igniting Minds: Keynote Presentations: Chris Wilkinson isn’t your average keynote speaker. He enthuses audiences with his presentations, blending his deep retail experience with a keen eye for the future. He deciphers complex trends into actionable insights, leaving attendees energised and equipped with the tools to propel their businesses forward.

• Guiding Productive Discussions: Event Facilitation: Chris excels as an event facilitator. He fosters productive dialogue among industry leaders with his insightful questions, sparking meaningful conversation and collaboration. His expertise ensures all voices are heard and a clear path is established. Attendees gain valuable insights and actionable solutions through Chris’s facilitation style.

• Deep Dives into Retail’s Future: Workshops & Retreats: Chris’s workshops and retreats are highly anticipated by attendees. He equips participants with the tools and frameworks needed to not only understand emerging retail trends, but also implement them within their organisations. These interactive sessions offer a deep dive into the future of retail, empowering attendees to transform their businesses and navigate the ever-evolving retail landscap