Steve Kulmar
Chief Executive Officer, Retail Oasis
Steve Kulmar has spent the best part of his career identifying how marketing and branding initiative can improve retail businesses. From specialist to category killers, Steve has worked for the last 28 years in a business that he founded, helping retailers re-engineer, rebirth and launch some of the most successful businesses in Australia - from Westfield to Woolworths.
Steve has worked with and learnt from Australia's best retail practitioners. He has an experience base second to none working for over 15 years with the team at Big W in making it today Australia's most successful discount department store. Then turning his hand to assisting the team at SCA to launch and development the boating, camping fishing category killer. More recently again with the team at SCA identifying the next big growth category - bikes and family fitness and also working on the development and launch of the Goldcross brand.
Work experience includes Woolworths BWS, Angus and Robertson, Mitre 10, Borders, Warehouse Stationery (New Zealand)
Steve is well known by all leading retailers and private equity players who are involved in the retail category from liquor, to food, general merchandise and specialist retailing Steve's experience is both broad and specialist in the retail marketing arena.
Steve retired from IdeaWorks in June 2008 to start a new retail marketing consultancy, retail oasis. A business that concentrates in the strategic development and improvement of retail businesses through marketing and branding initiatives and to work with clients or suppliers who are focussed in the retail space for their business improvement.
Steve is also a non-executive director of two public and 3 private businesses and a shareholder in two successful retail businesses, in very different categories (fashion and building supplies).
Steve firmly believes that all retail businesses no matter how successful currently can be improved through a consumer focussed approach to business improvement with skilfully thought through and executed marketing and branding initiatives.
He is also a regular contributor on the speaking circuit both domestically and internationally, he is a passionate and opinionated presenter challenging and thought provoking ... with a firm belief that his purpose is to ''help all retailers both improve their performance and make their business sustainable for the dynamic and ever changing future'' .
Steve lives in Sydney and spends his leisure time with his family, surfing and sailing in gods own country... Manly (a harbour beachside oasis).
