Theresa Schleicher is the leading retail futurist in the German-speaking world and one of the most renowned in Europe. She is also an author, strategy advisor to DAX companies and media expert. She researches the future of business and retail, innovative solutions from science and practice, and consumer behavior in the decades ahead.
The answers don't come from forecasting models. They come from 16 years of research experience, 4,000 consumer surveys, conversations with CEOs in 12 countries and field research from China to India.
She has been researching the future of retail since 2015: first at Matthias Horx's Zukunftsinstitut, today at The Future:Project and with her own company Zukunftsstudie Handel. Before that, she was Managing Director of Strategy and a member of the management board of the Hirschen Group (1,000 employees, 13 companies). Today she is a retail advisory board member at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (since 2024), has been a juror for retail innovation awards for ten years, and is a futures sparring partner for retail and DAX companies in Europe.
What sets her apart from trend watchers and consultants: she doesn't repeat the hype. She tells you what to build on for the future.
Theresa Schleicher doesn't deliver the answers everyone already has, but the questions others cannot yet ask.
"The beautiful thing about future problems is: we can solve them."
Key Facts
- Profession
- Retail futurist, author, business consultant, keynote speaker
- Currently
- The Future:Project; Zukunftsstudie Handel (her own company)
- Previously
- Zukunftsinstitut (Matthias Horx); Managing Director of Strategy and management board member, Hirschen Group
- Roles
- Retail advisory board member, German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (since 2024); sparring partner to DAX companies such as Porsche AG in Europe and Asia and to retailers such as Schwarz Group, Lidl, Aldi and EDEKA; media expert for RTL, Sat.1 and ARD, among others
- Talks
- over 300 talks in front of more than 200,000 people
- Field research
- worldwide in 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 business practice, science and futures research. Unlike conventional retail consulting, her approach rests on in-depth economic research with decision-makers, the latest findings from scientific networks, international hands-on work with companies and start-ups, and regular surveys of consumer behavior. The result is insight that the market only later recognizes as relevant trends.
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 beautiful thing about future problems is: we can solve them.“
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 HandelThe key retail trends 2026/2027
- Zukunftsstudie Handel 2025Innovation Power · with Janine Seitz
- 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
To Go: Schnelle Mahlzeit oder teure Mogelpackung?
Europa 2040: Theresa Schleicher entwirft Wirtschaftsmodell
Interesse an Mode sinkt – Nachhaltigkeit weniger wichtig
Interesse an Mode sinkt – Nachhaltigkeit weniger wichtig
Die Next Economy braucht eine neue Art von Egoismus
Cover-Story: Die Chancen im Handel mit Indien – Ein Zukunftsblick
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
Zukunft des Konsums: "Im Jahr 2050 werden wir bewusster einkaufen"
Ceconomy-Beteiligung: Was der Einstieg von JD.com für den Elektronikhandel bedeutet
H&M, Primark, C&A & Co. – Der SAT.1 Modeketten-Check!
Die Zukunft des grünen Konsums
Galeria rettet sich erneut – Gläubiger stimmen für Sanierungsplan
Aldi testet neues Kassensystem in mehr Filialen – und hebt Einschränkung auf
Hirschen Group: Theresa Schleicher gibt die Geschäftsführung von Vorn Strategy Consulting ab
Hirschen Group: Vorn Strategy Consulting gewinnt Fünf-Jahres-Mandat von Globus
Wie Vintage-Kleidung den Online-Handel erobert
Handelsexpertin Theresa Schleicher: "Das Ziel wäre so eine Art lokales Amazon"
Trends: warum Hypes wie Labubu funktionieren
Tagesschau24 (ARD)Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Theresa Schleicher?
Theresa Schleicher is the leading retail futurist in the German-speaking world, an author and consultant. Since 2015 she has been researching the future of retail internationally, across Europe and Asia: first at the Zukunftsinstitut, today at The Future:Project and with her own company Zukunftsstudie Handel. She is a retail advisory board member at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (since 2024).
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 company (zukunftsstudiehandel.de). The ’24 edition (“Regenerative Growth”) and the 2025 edition, both created with Janine Seitz, examine 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 2025 and the Zukunftsstudie Handel ’24 (both with Janine Seitz), and the Zukunftsinstitut's Retail Reports (2017 to 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 thought leader 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: 12 October 2026
