Graham Soult

Graham Soult, speaker on retail development, contemporary placemaking, and regeneration.

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Graham Soult is one of the UK’s most respected retail analysts, known for his intricate knowledge of shopping streets, consumer behaviour, and place management. With a keen eye for potential in underperforming, or neglected retail spaces and urban centres, Graham works with businesses, landlords, and local authorities to revitalise struggling locations, increase occupancy, and shape sustainable new retail and hospitality strategies.

As the founder of retail consultancy CannyInsights.com, he has spent more than a decade helping to breathe new life into town centres that face economic and structural challenges, offering practical solutions grounded in real-world experience. Having visited more than 600 retail centres across the UK, Graham’s insights are shaped by firsthand observations of what works—and what doesn’t—in diverse locations. His acclaimed #Woolies15 research tracking the fate of former Woolworths stores has provided a unique perspective on the changing fortunes of the British high street, earning him national recognition as an expert in retail. Graham is a familiar face in the media, regularly appearing via BBC News, ITV News, The Guardian, Retail Week, and LBC.  His recent TV appearances include Netflix and Channel 5 documentaries including 24 Hours in Lidl, Inside Greggs 24/7, and 24 Hours in Tesco.

Graham is a speaker at conferences, industry events, and policy discussions, offering sharp, informed analysis of retail’s changing landscape. His talks go beyond statistics, bringing retail and place management to life with real-world examples, historical context, and an understanding of the social and economic forces that shape our commercial streets today.

As a Fellow of the Institute of Place Management (IPM) and a former High Streets Task Force Expert, Graham has played a key role in rethinking and reimagining town centres for the future. He works as a matchmaker in his local towns matching retail and hospitality entrants to vacant property. Graham is also Chairman of Durham Business Group, supporting business and economic growth at a regional level.

Whether advising on retail strategy, urban regeneration, or the future of brick-and-mortar businesses, Graham offers refreshingly honest, engaging, and practical insights.Graham Soult is an invaluable speaker for audiences keen to understand the opportunities and challenges facing retail today. Graham works currently from the North of England and Slovenia.