Paul Greenberg

Paul is recognized as a pioneer of online retail in Australia. But he is also a registered psychologist with a keen interest in organizational and consumer psychology. In this keynote, he explores 'retail feel'. He cautions that with our obsessive focus on big data, we dare not forget that retail is a deeply creative endeavour at its core. He argues that emotive connection is where the art of retention dwells, in an increasingly homogenous retail industry. And in leadership he explores the shift from IQ to EQ, as the core skill driving successful retail.

Paul is the founder and chair of NORA.org.au, The Voice of New Retail. In this keynote, he explores the convergence of physical and digital retail, as well as, a technology led, customer centric and increasingly global/borderless retail. He argues that Australian retailers, in an attempt to deal with unprecedented change, have often engaged in channel definitions of their business models. Bricks and mortar, clicks and bricks, multi-channel, omni-channel, pure play online, the list goes on. But the recognition that customers engage with a brand, not a channel, has shifted the focus. Inevitably, Paul argues that it will all become "retail" once more, the sooner the better

Paul was 45 years old when he launched Australia’s first online department store, DealsDirect. In less than ten years, the business had been sold to private equity and Packer family interests, and subsequently listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. The current market capitalization-now over $120m. In this talk, Paul shares his belief that opportunity is everywhere and the Lucky Country delivers if one has a go.