I'm a retail consultant, blogger, writer and media commentator, who's built a business around the things that I love: shops, high streets, and the web.The Journal newspaper described me, rather accurately, as "a cross between Stephen Fry and Mary Portas" - in terms of what that means, I like to say that I help retailers improve their stores, marketing and insight.There are currently two halves to what I do. CannySites.com is the umbrella brand for my five consumer-focused directory websites - covering the home, garden, property, holidays and fashion - where I use my digital marketing knowhow to showcase businesses in those sectors, and give consumers a hand in finding the products and services that they’re looking for.Meanwhile, CannyInsights.com is my retail consultancy arm - embracing activities such as market research, social media training, and improving the customer experience instore or on-site.To promote what I do - and because I love retail anyway - I regularly comment on retail issues and developments through Twitter (at @soult) and via my blog, Soult’s Retail View.It's also a pleasure to have the opportunity to appear regularly on television, on radio and in the press, in the North East and nationally, commenting on the retail issues of the day.I've also written columns for publications including Speciality Food Magazine, the Bdaily Business Network and Retail Week, and have presented seminars on creating great retail website content at big events like Autumn Fair, Spring Fair and Pure London.So, that's how I've turned my passions into a job that I love, while meeting some fantastic people along the way. I'm always thrilled to make new connections, so whether you have a potential project for me, fancy advertising with CannySites.com, or just reckon we have a shared interest in things retail or digital, feel free to say 'hi' and invite me for a coffee ;)