Retail Isn't Dead

Matthias Spanke is Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the full-service visual merchandising agency BIG IDEAS with headquarters in the USA and Europe. In his 25-year career he has been shaping brand experiences of leading retailers worldwide. His expertise covers the development and implementation of successful strategies for the in-store brand experiences of more than 100 leading companies.  Spanke's career began in Europe, where he was Global Head of Visual Merchandising for leading chain stores. In 2009 he shifted to the agency side as a founder and partner and supported internationally renowned brands as Retail Consultant and Creative Director. When Macy's Inc. offered Spanke the position of Vice President Creative Director of Visual Merchandising, he moved to New York, where he was responsible for the visual concept of all Macy's stores in the US. In 2017, Spanke left the department store chain to found the full-service agency BIG IDEAS Visual Merchandising. Since then, he has been Chief Executive Officer of the agency. Spanke's strategic leadership is driven by his passion for creative and innovative solutions that fit the respective brand precisely. An expert in brick-and-mortar retail and visual merchandising, Spanke regularly gives presentations and leads workshops on the retail trends and retail experience. He is the author of two industry books and more than 30 articles for industry magazines.