Boris Planer

Boris Planer is an Expert in the Future of Retail, FMCG and Consumer Trends. He brings over 25 years of experience as an analyst and consultant in the retail and consumer goods sectors. He began his career in London with Retail Intelligence before joining Planet Retail (London, Frankfurt) in 2000, where he developed the foundation for a globally consistent data methodology.

As head of the German branch from 2013—most recently under the brand Edge by Ascential—he led initiatives focused on market data, disruption, digital transformation, and the dynamics of emerging markets, all from a consumer goods perspective.

In 2021, he transitioned to WGSN, a sister company of Edge by Ascential and a global leader in forecasting consumer and product trends.

A frequent speaker at conferences and media contributor, Boris consistently underscores the importance of addressing future challenges early, even amidst the pressing demands of the present.

The Future of Things and Non-Things

The world that we live in is changing all the time and is getting more disruptive. But while it is true that the future world will be less global, less stable and less predictable, the biggest source of change is the consumer. Their needs and expectations evolve from deep emotional streams that will translate into how people feel, how they think, what values they priorities, how they connect, how they communicate, how they make decisions and what they spend their money on. Businesses need to see change coming - the winners of the future will anticipate change and cultivate adaptability at the same time.