Gary Hoover

Lifelong retail student, strategist, innovator, and consultant Gary Hoover (www.hooversworld.com) put three books into one in this unusual 200+ page blend of text, data, and key concepts, PowerPoint style.  The first section is a brief history of retail innovations and innovators.  Next is a major work, "Think Like a Merchant," which covers the mindsets leading to retail success; the basic ideas about products, customers, real estate, etc.; and the business models of retailing, how their finances work and how to maximize profitability.

A big third section is "Retailing Trends and Giants 2016" which goes into detail on long-term and recent trends in retail sales and profits, including analyses and comments on the largest retailers in groceries, drug stores, home improvement, department stores, supercenters, warehouse clubs, and other categories.  It even includes projections on the future of ECommerce. 

Nowhere else will you find so much timely information and so many lists combined into one report!

Gary Hoover's Retail Handbook 2016 is ideal for retail investors and strategists, those leading or working for retail or ECommerce companies, suppliers and vendors of merchandise and technology, real estate developers, and any retailing student or enthusiast.  

Here is what others say about Gary's knowledge of and background in retailing:

When it comes to retail trends, evolution, and innovation, Gary Hoover is one of the most knowledgeable people I know.  He served as a valuable Board of Directors member at Whole Foods Market during our early growth and Initial Public Offering.  He always has innovative ideas.  There are few if any people who share Gary’s lifelong passion for and deep understanding of retailing, its past, and its future. 

  -- John Mackey, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Whole Foods Market

I have known Gary Hoover for over 30 years.  He is a lifelong student of retail strategy and innovation. His Bookstop idea pioneered the large selection bookstore chain and changed that industry.

  -- Herbert Simon, Chairman Emeritus, Simon Property Group

Gary Hoover’s knowledge of the origins and development of the retail industry is encyclopedic and his attention to both the “big picture” and the smallest details is accurate and entertaining.

  -- Richard Marcus, former CEO, Neiman Marcus

I've been honored to work with many of the best retail leaders in the world.  But I've never met anyone who knows retail evolution better than Gary Hoover.  He has obsessively studied it since his childhood and has then applied that learning as an entrepreneur, teacher, author, and former Board member of Whole Foods Market.  He is my go-to expert for business ideas and trends in the retail space.

  -- Brett Hurt, Founder, Coremetrics and Bazaarvoice, Co-Founder & CEO, data.world

Gary Hoover is a true pioneer in creating retail experiences and furthering innovative brands. He's been rethinking the retail experience for decades, literally since he founded Bookstop!"

  -- Jason Dorsey, Co-Founder, The Center for Generational Kinetics 

When we launched our retail vertical, multiple members of our team recommend we have Gary talk to Square Root to kick-start our knowledge.  Gary's energy and depth was hugely beneficial to our team. I loved his open, conversational format in his History of Retailing and Top Trends in Retail Today presentations. He tailored his talks to be relevant to Square Root, and inspired us on many levels.  I couldn't recommend Gary enough.

  -- Chris Taylor, CEO, Square Root, Software for Retail Management