Stephen Kulmar

Stephen Kulmar combines over 40 years of deep retail experience with a straight-talking, impactful delivery. He’s known for telling it like it is, often with humour and sharp observation, while backing his views with data, consumer insight, and real-world case studies.

He’s equally strategic and practical, offering audiences big-picture thinking alongside tangible, actionable takeaways. His passion for retail, curiosity about human behaviour, and love of innovation come through in every talk. Whether he’s presenting to boards, brands, or business owners, he delivers with clarity, conviction, and relevance.

The CEO & founder of RetailOasis, and former CEO of IdeaWorks, Steve Kulmar is one of Australasia’s most regarded retail marketing and communication experts, with experience ranging from Woolworths to Westfield, and most specialists in-between. Stephen sits on several public boards and is an active strategic advisor to the industry.
 
Steve Kulmar’s career spans more than 45 years of owning, building, and running retail marketing services businesses - in all he has over 50 years in the brand building, advertising, communications, and marketing industries.

Steve's consistent presence across industry media has positioned him as a trusted expert on the evolving retail landscape and shifting consumer behaviour. As a go-to voice for commentary, Stephen regularly appears on platforms like ABC, Channel 9 News, and Channel 7’s Today Tonight, earning recognition as one of Australia’s most prominent speakers on retail and shopper trends.