Gary Schwartz

Gary Schwartz is a technology entrepreneur, investor, and author known for his expertise in mobile commerce and retail innovation. His books "The Impulse Economy" and "Fast Shopper, Slow Store" (Simon & Schuster) examine mobile shopping behaviors and retail transformation. Schwartz built his early career in Japan as a journalist for U.S. News & World Report and worked with TV Asahi from 1988 to 1992. He later collaborated with major organizations including McGraw-Hill, Scholastic Corporation, UNICEF, and the World Bank Group on media development initiatives. As CEO of Impact Mobile, Schwartz pioneered North America's first cross-carrier mobile marketing short code campaign in 2002. He has received numerous industry accolades, including the Mobile Commerce Evangelist of the Year (2013) and Retail Innovator of the Year (2014). Throughout his career, Schwartz has maintained involvement in educational and social initiatives, including publishing "My City" and developing the Street Business Toolkit with Street Kids International, which operated across multiple developing nations. He also founded the mobile committee for the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) in New York City in 2006.

Readers value Schwartz's insider knowledge of mobile commerce and retail trends, but some find his writing style challenging to follow. On Amazon, "The Impulse Economy" (2011) received praise for predicting mobile shopping behaviors that became mainstream years later. One reviewer noted: "He called many developments in mobile commerce before they happened." What readers liked: - Deep industry expertise and examples - Forward-thinking predictions about retail - Real case studies from major companies Common criticisms: - Dense, academic writing style - Too much technical jargon - Some sections feel repetitive - Examples become dated quickly "Fast Shopper, Slow Store" averages 3.8/5 stars on Amazon (42 reviews) and 3.6/5 on Goodreads (89 ratings). Several readers mentioned the book would benefit from more straightforward organization and fewer tangential discussions. A Goodreads reviewer wrote: "Good insights buried in overcomplicated prose."

The Impulse Economy: Understanding Mobile Shoppers and What Makes Them Buy Examines how mobile technology transforms shopping behavior and retail environments, based on research into consumer psychology and digital commerce patterns.

Fast Shopper, Slow Store: A Guide to Courting and Capturing the Mobile Consumer Analyzes the disconnect between rapidly evolving mobile shoppers and traditional retail environments, providing insights into modern consumer behavior.

The Afterlife Experiments: Breakthrough Scientific Evidence of Life After Death Documents scientific studies and laboratory experiments investigating the possibility of consciousness surviving physical death through mediumship research.

Malcolm Gladwell His books examine social trends and consumer behavior through research and case studies. Like Schwartz, he bridges academic concepts with business applications and explores how technology changes human behavior.

Chris Anderson His work focuses on how digital technology transforms business and commerce. He examines long-tail economics and the future of retail, paralleling Schwartz's analysis of shopping evolution.

Clayton Christensen His research centers on disruptive innovation in business and technology sectors. His analysis of how established companies handle technological change aligns with Schwartz's exploration of retail transformation.

Don Tapscott He writes about digital technology's impact on business and society. His focus on how digital natives are reshaping commerce connects with Schwartz's work on mobile shopping behavior.

Ray Kurzweil He examines how technology advances affect business and society. His analysis of technological acceleration relates to Schwartz's work on retail innovation and mobile commerce evolution.