PSFK
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Media, Market research, Consulting |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Founder | Piers Fawkes |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | Corporate clientele |
Key people | Piers Fawkes (Founder) |
Number of employees | 15 (2013) |
PSFK is a United States-based media company located in New York, New York, focusing on innovation research and trend forecasting tailored for corporate clientele.
History
Established in 2004 by Piers Fawkes, PSFK delivers market intelligence platforms, weekly newsletters, and strategies for retail innovation such as trend analysis and store design consultancy. The name PSFK is derived from the initials of Fawkes and his associate Simon King. The company evolved from Fawkes' technology-oriented blog following his move from London to New York, with its inaugural client being Anheuser-Busch. By 2011, the organization had grown to a team of seven employees, working with prominent customers including Coca-Cola, Target Corporation, BMW, and Procter & Gamble.
In 2009, PSFK released a ranking of the top 10 most "inspirational brands," highlighting corporations like Google, Apple, and Zipcar. Their yearly Future of Retail report monitors emerging trends and innovations within retail sales. The scope of PSFK's research encompasses areas such as circular supply chain models, chatbot technology, purchasing behaviors of Generation Z, metaverse utilization, retail store technologies, and integrated omnichannel customer experiences.
In 2011, PSFK collaborated with former Vice President Al Gore's Climate Reality Project to initiate a video game competition aimed at promoting climate change solutions, culminating in the "Gaming for Good" event held in New York City.
Operating out of Bond Street in New York City, PSFK employed 15 staff members as of 2013. Its main revenue stream comes from consulting engagements, complemented by income from conferences, specialized events, retail strategy publications, consumer research studies, and advertising within newsletters.
Reception
Fortune characterized PSFK as a "21st-century re-boot" of McKinsey & Company, acknowledging its notable clientele and growing service offerings, although it is not expected to directly compete with McKinsey.