J Walker Smith
Member since April 2004Described by Fortune as “one of America’s leading analysts on consumer trends,” J. Walker Smith is a student of the American consumer and a strategic advisor to senior business leaders worldwide. Walker’s experience includes President, Yankelovich; Executive Chairman, The Futures Company; Chief Knowledge Officer, Kantar Consulting; and Knowledge Lead, Kantar. He now speaks and consults as Founder/Principal of Paradigm Edge. Walker is the author of four well-regarded books, a blogger, a columnist and a former public radio commentator. He has been recognized by his peers with the Market Research Council Hall of Fame, the N.C. Journalism and Media Hall of Fame, three WPP Atticus Awards, a Kantar SPARK Award, and the AMA’s Charles Coolidge Parlin Award. He was a director of Premiere Global Services (NYSE) and President of the Foundation Board for the U.N.C.–Chapel Hill Hussman School of Journalism and Media, from which he holds a doctorate.
- A Loss Of Agency in
Planning & Buying Insider on
09/15/2026
There is no greater loss of agency than extinction, but any loss of agency can feel like the end of the world. Particularly things like privacy, surveillance pricing, and inflation
- The Craving To Quiet Cravings in
Planning & Buying Insider on
09/02/2026
- Time Matters Most in
Planning & Buying Insider on
08/07/2026
Everything about marketing is about capturing as much of people's time as possible. More than money, we want people's time. As much as we can get.
- A Narrative Of Possibility in
Planning & Buying Insider on
07/22/2026
The hope for a technological break with decadence is nothing new. You may remember some of the buzzy concepts in this long inventory of hype: The Global Village, The Information Superhighway,
Cyberspace, The New Economy, move fast and break things...
- AI Natives Are Different in
Planning & Buying Insider on
06/24/2026
Over the immediate term, AI-native firms will get more out of AI and do more with AI, as big brands watch and learn. Big brands can afford to be behind at the get-go.
- AI Is New And Not New in
Planning & Buying Insider on
05/27/2026
So far, AI is just another tool for persuading humans, but when consumers hand off to AI agents, humans will be out of the loop. That's not something marketers have faced before. Humans have always
been the target. Until now.
- Affordability Is Also An Attitude in
Planning & Buying Insider on
05/13/2026
Pocketbooks are taking a hit, but affordability is not only about price. It's also about how people regard the system itself and the world-at-large. Lower prices won't fix this.
- Heads, Hearts, AI in
Planning & Buying Insider on
04/29/2026
The notion that AI is all facts, no emotion is belied by the connection between humans and chatbots. If this seems odd, it's no different than brand love, superfans, or evangelists.
- AI In Marketing: ATM Or iPhone? in
Planning & Buying Insider on
04/14/2026
Imagine consumers delegate shopping to agents. Businesses will no longer sell to humans. They'll be selling to smart technologies. No need to communicate with people. No need for marketing.
- A Lot Of A Little Is Still Not Enough in
Planning & Buying Insider on
03/18/2026
Insurgent brands accounted for 36% of aggregate growth across all categories, which seems pretty impressive, given that they only comprise an aggregate share of less than 2%.