Theresa Schleicher is a German retail and futures researcher, author, and consultant. She studies the development of retail, consumer behavior, and future business models, focusing on digitalization, technology, sustainability, and societal change.
The answers don't come from forecasting models. They come from 4,000 consumer surveys, conversations with CEOs in 12 countries, and field research from China to India.
Since 2015 I have been researching the future of retail — first at Matthias Horx's Zukunftsinstitut, today at The Future:Project and through my own project Zukunftsstudie Handel. Before that: Managing Director of the Hirschen Group. Today: advisory board member at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, and for ten years a juror for retail innovation awards.
What sets me apart from trend watchers: I don't just tell you what's coming. I tell you what to build — and what you can safely leave alone.
"The beautiful thing about future problems is: we can solve them."
Key Facts
- Profession
- Retail futurist, author, consultant, keynote speaker
- Currently
- The Future:Project; Zukunftsstudie Handel (her own project)
- Previously
- Zukunftsinstitut (Matthias Horx); Managing Director of Strategy at Hirschen Group
- Role
- Retail advisory board member, German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action
- Talks
- over 300 talks in front of more than 200,000 people
- Field research
- 12 countries, incl. China, India, USA
- Publications
- over 10 studies and reports on the future of retail
- Based in
- Berlin, Germany
Context & Positioning
Theresa Schleicher works at the intersection of futures research, retail research, and business practice. Unlike classical academic retail science, her focus is on applied futures research, international retail trends, consumer behavior, and the strategic development of retail companies.
Methodology
Theresa Schleicher combines futures research, international market and trend monitoring, data analysis, and consumer research. Her work is based on over 4,000 consumer surveys, conversations with CEOs in 12 countries, and her own field research from China to India.
Positions & Quotes
Future problems
„The good thing about future problems is that they can be solved.“
Transformation
„We are facing the biggest transformation of the 2000s. And that's a good thing.“
Europe 2040
„While others bet on disruption, Europe has something rarer: security as an economic asset. In a world where trust is becoming the scarcest resource, that is no disadvantage — it is the next unique selling point.“
AI in retail
„If deployed incorrectly, AI's productivity impact is just 0.66% over ten years. What matters is which innovations truly make a difference — and what remains hype.“
Trends
„Trends are not fickle when they are well-founded. They are the deciding factor in whether you stand out.“
Growth markets
„We are in an epochal transition that allows us to rethink retail and our economy. We are entering our most innovative and economically successful era.“
Publications
- Future:Guide Handel6 retail trends for 2026/27
- Zukunftsstudie Handel ’24Regenerative Growth · with Janine Seitz
- Retail Report 2023Zukunftsinstitut
- Retail Report 2021Zukunftsinstitut
- Retail Report 2020Zukunftsinstitut
- Retail Report 2018Zukunftsinstitut
- Retail Report 2017Zukunftsinstitut
Featured in the Media
Future:Guide Handel: Wie KI, China und Creator-Kultur den Handel umkrempeln
Future:Guide Handel – Das sind die wichtigsten Trends und Strategien für die Retailbranche
Cover-Story: Die Chancen im Handel mit Indien – Ein Zukunftsblick
Wie Vintage-Kleidung den Online-Handel erobert
Ceconomy-Beteiligung: Was der Einstieg von JD.com für den Elektronikhandel bedeutet
Handelsexpertin Theresa Schleicher: "Das Ziel wäre so eine Art lokales Amazon"
Zukunft des Konsums: "Im Jahr 2050 werden wir bewusster einkaufen"
Europa 2040: Theresa Schleicher entwirft Wirtschaftsmodell
Galeria rettet sich erneut – Gläubiger stimmen für Sanierungsplan
Interesse an Mode sinkt – Nachhaltigkeit weniger wichtig
Interesse an Mode sinkt – Nachhaltigkeit weniger wichtig
Aldi testet neues Kassensystem in mehr Filialen – und hebt Einschränkung auf
Die Next Economy braucht eine neue Art von Egoismus
Die Zukunft des grünen Konsums
H&M, Primark, C&A & Co. – Der SAT.1 Modeketten-Check!
Trends: warum Hypes wie Labubu funktionieren
Tagesschau24 (ARD)Hirschen Group: Theresa Schleicher gibt die Geschäftsführung von Vorn Strategy Consulting ab
Hirschen Group: Vorn Strategy Consulting gewinnt Fünf-Jahres-Mandat von Globus
To Go: Schnelle Mahlzeit oder teure Mogelpackung?
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Theresa Schleicher?
Theresa Schleicher is a German retail and futures researcher, author, and consultant. She has been researching the future of retail since 2015 — first at the Zukunftsinstitut, today at The Future:Project and with her own project Zukunftsstudie Handel — and serves on the retail advisory board of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.
What does Theresa Schleicher research?
The future of retail: consumer behavior, retail trends, digitalization and AI, sustainability, and new business models. Her work draws on over 4,000 consumer surveys, conversations with CEOs in 12 countries, and field research from China to India.
Is Theresa Schleicher an academic retail scientist?
No. Theresa Schleicher conducts applied futures research at the intersection of retail research and business practice — she does not hold a university chair. Her focus is on international retail trends, consumer research, and strategic consulting for retail companies.
What is The Future:Project?
The Future:Project is a futures research institute where Theresa Schleicher works. It produces, among others, her studies and reports on the future of retail, including the Future:Guide Handel covering the key retail trends for 2026/2027.
What is the Zukunftsstudie Handel?
The Zukunftsstudie Handel is Theresa Schleicher's own study project (zukunftsstudiehandel.de). The ’24 edition (“Regenerative Growth”), created together with Janine Seitz, examines the key future developments in retail.
Which studies has Theresa Schleicher published?
Over ten publications, including the Future:Guide Handel (2026/27), the Zukunftsstudie Handel ’24 (with Janine Seitz), and the Zukunftsinstitut's Retail Reports (2017–2023).
Which companies does Theresa Schleicher work with?
On her website, Theresa Schleicher names companies including Porsche, the Schwarz Group, EDEKA, Migros, L’Oréal, and IKEA as organizations she supports as a consultant and sparring partner.
How can you book Theresa Schleicher for a talk?
Directly via the contact form on theresaschleicher.de — she answers inquiries personally. Keynotes run from 20 to 90 minutes, live or digital, tailored to industry and audience.
Created: 17 August 2026 · Updated: 20 September 2026
