Our Mission

Our History

The Retail Doctor launched in 1994 when Bob Phibbs saw brick-and-mortar retail starting to lose ground to online competitors. While other consultants told retailers to cut prices and hope for the best, Bob focused on what physical stores could do better than websites: human connection.

For 30 years, The Retail Doctor has worked with independent retailers and Fortune 500 brands to increase sales, improve customer service, and train employees who actually know how to sell. We've trained over 250,000 retail associates and helped brands like LEGO, Omega, Seiko, Brother, Hearts on Fire, Hunter Douglas, and Yamaha increase sales 20-50% within months of implementing our training.

Bob Phibbs built The Retail Doctor on a principle most retailers miss: retail is a professional skill that requires dedicated training. Your team won't learn how to greet customers, ask questions, handle objections, or close sales by accident. They need practice, feedback, and real scenarios. That's what we provide.

One of our earliest successes was helping an independent coffee shop compete against Starbucks. When Starbucks opened 10 blocks away, sales dropped. When a second Starbucks opened 75 feet from the store, the owner called Bob. After overhauling operations and training the team, sales increased 50% the first year and another 40% the following year. That coffee shop is still in business today.

Our Training: SalesRX+

SalesRX+ is our AI-powered retail sales training platform. Retail associates practice real customer interactions with Sidekick Rex, an AI role-play coach that simulates actual selling scenarios.

How SalesRX+ Works

Retail associates complete role-play exercises where Sidekick Rex acts as different customer types: the browser, the price shopper, the difficult customer, the rushed buyer. Associates practice greetings, product recommendations, objection handling, and closing techniques. The AI provides immediate feedback on what worked and what didn't.

No passive videos. No generic scripts. No hoping your team figures it out on the sales floor. SalesRX+ gives retail employees the practice they need before they talk to real customers.

Meet Bob Phibbs

Bob Phibbs is the founder and CEO of The Retail Doctor. He's been called the world's leading expert on brick-and-mortar retail and has worked with over 1,000 retail executives to improve sales, train employees, and create better customer experiences.

Background

Before founding The Retail Doctor, Bob held senior management positions in retail, including corporate officer and franchisor roles. He served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Marketing Officer of It's A Grind Coffee, helping grow the chain to 135 franchised locations nationwide. Under his leadership, It's A Grind became the second-fastest growing company in Los Angeles County two years in a row.

Bob also partnered in growing the Hunter Douglas Gallery dealers program across the United States and earned the highest sales increase from South Coast Plaza, at that time the highest-grossing mall in America.

Recognition

• Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), earned by less than 7% of speakers worldwide
• World Retail Forum Innovation Leadership Award 2020 for SalesRX platform
• IBM Retail Futurist
• American Express Merchant Advisor
• RetailWire BrainTrust Partner
• National Speakers Association member

Media Appearances

Bob's expertise has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur, and the Los Angeles Times (where he performs business makeovers). He's appeared on ABC, Fox, MSNBC, and PBS discussing retail strategy and customer service.

Speaking and Training Experience

Bob has delivered keynotes and training programs for retail brands, trade associations, and business conferences globally. He's trained over 250,000 retail associates and worked with clients ranging from independent specialty stores to Fortune 500 companies.