Paul Watkins is a business growth strategist who helps SMEs cut through the noise with no-nonsense marketing that works.
Beginning his career in retail, Paul quickly recognised the gap between big-brand marketing theory and the practical needs of small and medium enterprises. He co-founded and franchised a successful retail chain before establishing a retail marketing support group, providing hands-on solutions to business owners navigating rapidly shifting landscapes.
His leadership roles include Head of Marketing for two major companies and CEO of a tourism marketing organisation, where his team earned two national marketing awards. These experiences deepened his insight into what drives results—especially when traditional media is upended by digital disruption.
Across professional services, financial services, retail and tourism, Paul has worked with countless businesses to adapt, evolve, and grow. He is a published author of multiple industry-specific books and an unapologetic champion of simple, low-cost strategies that can be implemented immediately—no fluff, no jargon.
Paul holds three tertiary qualifications, including a Master’s in Marketing, and remains a committed lifelong learner. With humour, clarity and real-world experience, he translates change into opportunity, delivering refreshingly direct insights for a digital-first world.
Talking Points
• How to Thrive Despite the Online Onslaught
How to cope with the online onslaught, where geography no longer matters when it comes to who consumers buy from.
• How to Thrive Despite the Online Onslaught
The Proven Step-by-Step Formula for Retail Profit Growth
The 3-step formula for growing retail profits (personalised to your category), being how to get more customer, how to have them spend more and how to achieve higher gross margins.
The Proven Step-by-Step Formula for Retail Profit Growth
How to be a Big Fish in professional services
How to be a Big Fish in professional services, by standing out in a very crowded marketplace
How to be a Big Fish in professional services
Trust is the New Currency: How to Build Loyalty Beyond Price
Trust is the New Currency: How to Build Loyalty Beyond Price
Paul continued our topic - full of enthusiasm and creative thoughts. ... keep reading The Professionals
Paul was the right mixture of comedy and information. He moved at a good pace, not too detailed. The audience loved him, lots of positive feedback since the meeting.
