Dr. David Bosshart

GDI is an independent European think tank, founded by the European Retail Pioneer Gottlieb Duttweiler (1888-1962). The Institute is specialised in trend research, retail, economic and social issues, strategic workshops, lectures, and conferences like the International Retail Summit (60th edition in 2010), the European Foodservice Summit (11th edition in 2010) and the European Consumer Trend Conference (6th edition in 2010). The main topics are: changes in consumption patterns and behavior, innovation in retailing and the service industry.

Following high school and a business education, Bosshart capped his studies with a Ph.d. from the University of Zurich in philosophy and political theory. He has been involved in communications and marketing consulting, in retailing and in scientific research. 1991–1996 head of department at the GDI for consumer research and social change. 1997–1999 head of strategic development and director of the cultural and social section of the Federation of Migros Cooperatives (the famous culture percentage). Bosshart has held his current position since 1999.

David Bosshart is the author of numerous publications and a speaker at international events in Europe, the U.S. and Asia. His expertise is focussed on consumption and retailing, management, social change, and political philosophy. He is currently lecturing on the following topics:

Management, Change, and Globalisation

• Trends and countertrends in business, the economy, and society
• Globalization: myths and realities, winners and losers
• Game Changers: 10 players who set the new rules in a global world
• The future of success: how management is going to change
• How to get smart in an unbalanced world: tips and tricks for better motivation
• Simpler, but better. Why and how simplicity will win
• Survival of the fittest – what it really means
• Soft power vs. Hard Power. Politics in an interconnected environment.
• Small is beautiful.

Consumer Trends, Retailing, Brands, and Consumer Behavior

• The future of consumption: how will we be living tomorrow?
• The future of shopping: channels, customers, brands
• New premium, old luxury. Why customers intend to spend more on real added value products and services
• Statusfaction: the comeback of hierarchies, new status features and how they will distinguish us
• Authenticity – a new trend establishes/penetrates/takes hold. What is means, what it changes
• Age of less – less but best
• The Future of food: Food trends in a globalized supply chain

Society, Technology, Communication, Entertainment, and Leisure

• The future of entertainment: why better communication will win
• Totally mobile: where do we go?
• Workstyle: The future of work
• The future of technology and how it affects business and society

Ethics, Gender, Radical Trends

• Radical trends: the hidden agenda of our desires
• The future of the male, the future of the female, the future of the family:
• redesign of the sexes
• From lifestyle to healthstyle. Changing values of an aging society
• Further topics on demand
• Lectures held in German, English or French. Italian on request

Books and Studies (in German, English, Korean; a complete publication list is available on request):

• Politische Intellektualität und totalitäre Erfahrung. Duncker & Humblot 1992. 292P.
• Kult-Marketing. Die Neuen Götter des Marktes. ECON 1995 (with Prof. Dr. N. Bolz), 2.A.1995. 373P.
  (sold out)
• Toptrends. Metropolitan 1995, Paperback Edition 2000 (Co-Author)
• Die Zukunft des Konsums. Wie leben wir morgen? ECON 1997, 2.A.1998; 312S.
  Korean Translation and Edition 2004
• Trendreport Basic. Megatrends and Countertrends for Business, Society, and Consumption. GDI study 2003. 70S. Authors: David Bosshart and Karin Frick (available in English and in German)
• Radical Trends Guide. Die heimlichen Sehnsüchte der Konsum- und Dienstleistungsmärkte von morgen. GDI Studie Nr.12. 64P. 2004. Autoren: David Bosshart, Karin Frick, Stefan Kaiser
• Billig! Wie die Lust am Discount Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft verändert Ueberreuter/Redline 2004, 2. Aktualisierte A. 2004, 3. A. 2004. 185P.
• The Age of Cheap. Why customers intend to pay less and less as prices become more important than ever. GDI study No.13. 76S. Authors: David Bosshart, José Luis Nueno, Daniel Staib. (Available in German)
• Cheap. The Real Cost of Bargains, Discount, and Consumer Choice. Kogan Page 2006 197p.
• The Future of Leisure. Travel in 2020. Trend Report for Kuoni. 2006 67 S.
• B.A.N.G.: The Future of Evolution. GDI study no. 27/2007 (available in German)
• European Food Trends Report. Perspectives for Industry, Retail and Gastronomy. Authors: David Bosshart, Mirjam Hauser. GDI study no. 29/2008 (available in German)
• Discount Forever. Authors: David Bosshart, Martina Kühne. GDI study no. 30/2008 (available in German)
• European Food Trends Report: Science versus Romance. Authors: David Bosshart, Christopher Muller, Mirjam Hauser. GDI study no. 32/2010 (available in German)
• Reprimatisierung. Warum wir in Neuen Medien wie Affen kommunizieren. Authors: Lionel Tiger, Norbert Bolz, David Bosshart, e-book edition only, 16p.
• The Age of Less. Hamburg Murmann 2011, 223p (e-book available).

David Bosshart gives also lectures at business schools and universities. Press review (selection):

Time Magazine, Business Week, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, WirtschaftsWoche, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Frankfurter Allgemeine, Standard, Der Spiegel, Focus, Stern, Playboy, Greenpeace Magazin,
Hürriyet, Het Financieele Dagblad, Standard, Die Zeit, Manager Magazin, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Die Welt, CNN, BBC, ZDF, ORF, SF etc.

German, English or French. Italian on request.

• David Bosshart biography (PDF)
• David Bosshart picture 1 (JPG)
• David Bosshart picture 1 (EPS)
• David Bosshart picture 2 (JPG)
• David Bosshart picture 2 (EPS)
• D. Bosshart picture 3 (JPG)
  
• David Bosshart picture 3 (EPS)

Fon: +41 44 724 62 01
Fax: +41 44 724 62 00
Mailto:ingrid.schmid(at)gdi.ch