Carl Phillips, founder and CEO of Customer 1st, is well known as one of the “fathers” of the mystery shopping industry and nationally as a speaker and trainer on a wide range of customer service and brand protection topics. He launched Customer 1st in 1996, after twenty-six years of successfully exceeding sales goals with his first-generation mystery shopping techniques as a manager of department stores across the country.
Customer 1st grew into an international mystery shopping company with an impressive list of clients across every industry from retail clothing and restaurants to banking, auto-motive, and new home construction, such as Sketchers, Subway Marketing Group, and Calvin Klein Furniture.
Carl is a charter member of the Mystery Shopper Providers Association (MSPA). He held MSPA Executive Board positions for seven years and spearheaded the development of professionalism standards for all mystery shoppers.