S6 | Revolutionising B2B E-Commerce: Insights and Strategies with Vendure’s David Höck

January 29, 2025

In this episode of The FODcast, we delve into the transformative world of B2B digital commerce with David Höck, co-founder of Vendure.

From his beginnings in mechatronics engineering to reshaping the digital commerce landscape, David’s journey offers invaluable insights for businesses navigating the complexities of B2B.

Vendure’s open-source, headless platform is a game-changer for companies managing multi-region and multi-language operations. By addressing the limitations of traditional solutions, it empowers global brands like IBM and QVC, as well as smaller enterprises, to thrive in an evolving market.

💡 Key topics we explore include:

  • The vast untapped potential of the B2B market and how to drive innovation
  • A deep dive into composable commerce vs. monolithic systems—and which suits B2B best
  • Balancing founder priorities while navigating venture capital challenges
  • How AI and automation can enhance the B2B experience without losing the human touch
  • The growing influence of younger generations in shaping B2B customer expectations

🎙️ Why listen? This episode is packed with actionable insights and forward-thinking strategies to help you stay ahead in the competitive B2B e-commerce space.

Whether you’re a founder, a digital commerce expert, or simply intrigued by the future of B2B, this is a must-listen conversation that could reshape your approach.

Written by:

James Hodges

Director of Client Engagement

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S6 | Turning Intuition into Growth: Martijn Wijsmuller on Navigating E-Commerce Success

January 21, 2025

What if you could transform your career from corporate to entrepreneurial success? Martin Wijsmuller did just that, leaving his role in Communications at Heineken, to co-found Shopify agency, Ask Phill.

In this episode of The FODcast, Martin shares his inspiring entrepreneurial journey—from cutting his teeth in his uncle’s fashion business in Australia to finding business inspiration in China’s vibrant markets.

Martin reveals how his sharp focus on Shopify for niche industries powered the growth of Ask Phill across Europe and the US. Plus, we learn more about his approach to juggling multiple ventures; trusting his intuition in decision-making, and the crucial role of working with passionate partners to drive success.

💡 We also chat some more about:

  • The early challenges of building Ask Phill from the ground up
  • Why targeting the right market is essential for scaling a business
  • The power of collaboration with skilled partners
  • How agility and strategic hiring fuel business growth

🎙️ Don’t miss out on Martin’s invaluable insights—tune in now to learn the secrets behind his success and how you can apply them to your own entrepreneurial journey.

Written by:

James Hodges

Director of Client Engagement

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S6 | Building Customer Loyalty in the Digital Age: Insights from Fiona Stevens

January 14, 2025

Can simple loyalty strategies really make a difference in today’s competitive landscape?

In the latest episode of our podcast series, The FODcast, we’re joined by Fiona Stevens, Director of Marketing at LoyaltyLion, to explore the power of loyalty programs in digital commerce.

Fiona shares how focusing on customer loyalty early on can set brands apart, even without the resources of giants like Amazon. We dive into actionable insights that can help transform how your customers interact with your brand and drive lasting retention and growth.

💡 What’s in this episode?

  • The stages of building a successful loyalty program and tailoring rewards to customer journeys
  • How personalisation and gamification enhance customer engagement
  • Success stories from brands like The Inkey List and AU Vodka, and how they integrate loyalty into their digital strategies
  • The power of data in shaping loyalty programs and boosting conversion rates Emerging trends like omnichannel experiences and sustainable fashion in loyalty marketing

🎙️ A must-listen for anyone curious about the impact of loyalty programs on customer engagement and business growth.

Written by:

James Hodges

Director of Client Engagement

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S6 | The Art of Haggling Meets AI: Rosie Bailey on Transforming Digital Commerce

January 7, 2025

What better way to start the new year than by exploring the trends shaping the future of e-commerce? In our first podcast episode of 2025, we’re joined by Rosie Bailey, Co-Founder and CEO of Nibble, to discuss how AI and innovative strategies are transforming the digital commerce landscape.

Rosie shares how Nibble’s negotiation platform is revolutionising online shopping by reintroducing the art of haggling, creating personalised and engaging customer experiences that foster loyalty and deliver tangible financial benefits.

💡 What’s in this episode?

  • The role of generative AI in closing data gaps and tailoring customer interactions
  • How intelligent automation helps businesses avoid over-discounting while boosting conversions
  • Tips for navigating chaotic sales periods like Black Friday without compromising brand identity

🎙️ Rosie also offers a forward-looking perspective on how AI could redefine business negotiations, reducing inefficiencies and creating seamless interactions.

Packed with practical advice and fascinating insights, this episode sets the tone for an exciting year in digital commerce.

Written by:

James Hodges

Director of Client Engagement

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S6 | “Elevating Customer Journeys in Digital Commerce” with Alessandro Desantis

December 29, 2024

In our latest FODcast episode, we sit down with Alessandro De Santis, Partner and Chief Strategist at Nebulab, to explore how brands can transform their digital commerce strategies by enhancing customer experience, activating data effectively, and embracing cutting-edge innovations like AI and Digital Product Passports.

💡 Key Takeaways from This Episode:

  • Customer Experience as a Competitive Advantage:  Why CX isn’t just about the purchase. From post-purchase support to reverse logistics, learn how aligning customer satisfaction with business goals can drive loyalty and performance.
  • Unlocking the Power of Data: We talk about why many brands miss out by focusing on broad data instead of actionable insights.
  • The Future of Digital Product Passport: With upcoming European regulations, DPPs are set to transform retail by providing detailed product information and bridging online and offline experiences. Learn how they can enhance consumer engagement and second-hand market insights.
  • AI’s Role in Retail Innovation: From tools like Shopify’s Sidekick to hyper-personalisation, we dive into how AI is reshaping customer interactions while stressing the need for human oversight to maintain brand integrity.

🎧 Ready to rethink your approach to digital commerce? Tune in now wherever you get your podcasts for expert advice and forward-thinking strategies.

Written by:

James Hodges

Director of Client Engagement

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Industry News & Headlines | December 2024

December 29, 2024

December always feels like a short month, but this time it seemed to pass by even faster. Personally, the downtime over the holidays was a much-needed reset after what felt like a tough and relentless year. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas season and have entered 2025 feeling refreshed and optimistic.

From a business perspective, we ended the year as anticipated, welcoming some fantastic new clients who are already shaping up to keep us busy in Q1. The pipeline for the first quarter looks especially promising, with many conversations in December pointing towards plans to grow teams in the months ahead.

As ever, software engineering remains a key focus for hiring, but we’re also seeing growing demand for roles in sales, partnerships, delivery, and product. Encouragingly, many of these positions are now being signed off, which suggests a broader appetite for growth across the board.

Challenges with direct hiring have been a recurring theme in recent discussions. These often centre on how time-consuming the process can be, but there’s also increasing concern about the shortage of suitable candidates in certain areas.

From an end-customer perspective, we’re expecting continued investment in areas such as sustainability, personalisation, loyalty, and promotions. Additionally, industries like manufacturing are preparing for significant digital transformations. Re-platforming to improve functionality or reduce total cost of ownership (TCO) is also expected to gather momentum as the year progresses.

These trends, combined with a general sense of optimism, mean we’re heading into 2025 with high hopes for a strong year. On top of this, we’ve been focusing on expanding our presence with digital commerce ISVs across Europe. If you’re in this space—whether as a potential candidate or client—we’d love to hear from you.

 

Market Spotlight + Top 5 eCommerce Stories This Month

  • TikTok Shop achieved “record-breaking” sales over Black Friday, with a 179% YoY rise in sales over the Black Friday period, and a 131% annual increase in the number of shoppers driven by live shopping. Best-selling categories spanned beauty, home and living and fashion READ MORE
  • John Lewis Partnership opened six in-store Caffè Nero cafés including Westfield, White City. The cafés complement Waitrose’s free hot drinks programme for loyalty members, with further expansion opportunities planned READ MORE
  • Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS is in talks to take over Ted Baker’s former Regent Street store, marking its first UK physical store READ MORE
  • Accessorize launched on-demand delivery with Deliveroo for over 700 products across London, with orders delivered in 25 minutes or less. This partnership, starting with eight stores, aims to expand UK-wide READ MORE
  • Amazon and Asda launched parcel pickup and label-free returns across 700 UK Asda stores. Customers can combine weekly shopping with parcel services, enhancing convenience and reducing packaging waste READ MORE

Each month we send out the latest industry news and headlines, plus sector insight such as this via our newsletter, The Pulse. This also includes the latest jobs and internal news… click HERE  to subscribe

 

Written by:

James Hodges

Director of Client Engagement

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Wrapping Up The FODcast Season 6: Our Best Season Yet!

December 13, 2024

It’s fair to say that Season 6 of Simply Commerce’s The FODcast: The Future of Digital Commerce has been our most exciting and impactful season to date.

With captivating discussions and expert insights from our stellar lineup of guests, the podcast has gained traction with listeners from across the globe. The numbers speak for themselves—this season has seen impressive engagement and a growing community of digital commerce enthusiasts tuning in for every episode.

If you missed an episode—or simply want to reflect on the highlights—here’s a look back at the conversations that defined this series.


Season Highlights

This season shone a spotlight on how businesses are embracing digital transformation to remain competitive and future-ready.

The future of digital commerce is discussed at length across all of the episodes, but here are just a few highlights from what has been a BUMPER season:

Modernising Clarks for Tomorrow’s Retail Landscape with Meriel Neighbour

  • Key Takeaway: Meriel Neighbour discusses the digital transformation journey at Clarks, focusing on modernising their technology landscape to meet future retail demands.
  • 📽️ Watch HERE 

At the MACH Crossroads: Evolving Expectations in Digital Commerce with Sonja Keerl & Jim Herbert

  • Key Takeaway: Sonja Keerl and Jim Herbert explore the future of digital commerce, emphasizing the importance of MACH (Microservices, API-first, Cloud-native, and Headless) technology in meeting evolving buyer expectations.
  • 📽️ Watch HERE 

Flexibility and Cost-Effectiveness: Fractional Hiring Insights with Adrian Wakefield

  • Key Takeaway: Adrian Wakefield discusses how fractional hiring provides businesses with access to specialized skills and strategic vision without the need for full-time commitments.
  • 📽️ Watch HERE 

Tech Strategies Redefining the Travel Industry with Mike Jones

  • Key Takeaway: Mike Jones shares how Love Holidays transformed its technology landscape, leveraging AI and service-oriented architecture to drive innovation and operational growth.
  • 📽️ Watch HERE 

Mastering Digital Transformation for Successful Business Change with Wendy Isaacs

  • Key Takeaway: Wendy Isaacs shares strategies for successful digital transformation, emphasizing the importance of aligning people, culture, and strategic planning.
  • 📽️ Watch HERE

Builing a Successful eCommerce Business with Nathan Lomax

  • Key Takeaway: Nathan Lomax talks about the challenges and successes of building an eCommerce business, highlighting the importance of resilience, strategic planning, and work-life balance.
  • 📽️ Watch HERE

Final Thoughts

It’s clear from our conversations over the last three years on the FODcast, that the digital commerce sector is experiencing a period of significant evolution, where businesses are increasingly compelled to innovate and adapt to rapidly advancing technologies and changing consumer behaviours.

Digital transformation has become the cornerstone of strategic success, driving businesses to integrate digital technologies across every facet of their operations. It’s not just about enhancing efficiency, but about creating smarter, more personalised customer journeys that foster deeper engagement and loyalty.

Companies must leverage data-driven insights to optimise their offerings, from product recommendations to tailored promotions, and even anticipate customer needs before they arise. This data-first approach is essential to staying competitive, allowing businesses to make informed, real-time decisions that enhance both customer satisfaction and profitability.

Equally important is the emphasis on customer experience, which has become a key differentiator in a crowded marketplace. Today’s consumers expect seamless, consistent, and personalised interactions across multiple channels, whether online or offline. Businesses must meet these expectations by implementing omnichannel strategies that unify customer touchpoints, providing a smooth transition from one channel to another.

Moreover, the role of agility and adaptability cannot be overstated—organisations must be ready to pivot and innovate swiftly in response to market shifts and technological advancements. The adoption of composable architectures enables businesses to create flexible, scalable solutions tailored to their specific needs, although careful planning and integration are required to avoid the complexities and costs that can arise, particularly for mid-market companies.

The digital commerce landscape is ultimately about finding the right balance between technology and the human element—ensuring that digital innovations enhance rather than replace the authentic relationships that businesses must nurture with their customers. Strong leadership, skilled teams, and a customer-centric mindset are indispensable in driving digital transformation.

As the sector continues to evolve, businesses that invest in the right technologies, stay ahead of trends like gamification and personalised rewards, and prioritise a seamless, high-value customer experience will be best positioned to thrive in an increasingly complex and competitive marketplace.


Catch Up on Every Episode

Missed an episode? You can listen to the full season—and previous seasons—on your preferred platform:


Thank You To Our Guests

This season’s lineup featured an exceptional group of experts, each offering unique perspectives on the world of digital commerce.

Here’s a full list of the brilliant minds who joined us:


Join the Conversation

The future of digital commerce is constantly evolving, and The FODcast is here to bring you the latest insights. If you’d like to be a guest on the show and share your expertise, we’d love to hear from you.

Get in touch HERE for an initial chat.

Here’s to more exciting discussions, expert opinions, and innovative ideas. We’ll see you in the next season!

Written by:

James Hodges

Director of Client Engagement

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Industry News & Headlines | November 2024

December 13, 2024

November was a month filled with engaging meetings and productive conversations. While 2024 may not have unfolded as many had hoped, there are promising signs that the market has bottomed out. Encouragingly, the discussions we’re having now are not just more confident but backed by real substance as we look ahead to 2025.

Since early 2023, many businesses in commerce and retail have pressed pause on innovation. However, it’s evident this approach can no longer hold, given the rapid advancements in technology and the rising expectations of customers and stakeholders alike.

Shopify has largely stood apart from market challenges throughout most of this year, continuing to gain significant market share at the SMB level. The company is now setting its sights on dominating the enterprise market—a bold ambition that, while requiring some compromises in the short term, many believe it has the potential to achieve.

As Shopify progresses toward this goal, we can expect a noticeable impact on future hiring trends across the industry.

Podcast discussions throughout Q4 have centred on enhancing customer experience, with a strong focus on personalisation, loyalty, promotions, and returns—crucial priorities for brands during this time of year.

As we wrap up the year, it’s clear that while challenges remain, there is a renewed sense of optimism and momentum building across commerce and retail. With conversations shifting towards meaningful innovation and a focus on delivering exceptional customer experiences, the outlook for Q1 2025 is increasingly positive. Here’s to a year of growth, investment, and exciting opportunities ahead.

 

Market Spotlight + Top 5 eCommerce Stories This Month

  • Retail Economics & Vinted released research this week showing UK shoppers plan to spend a total of £2.05bn on secondhand gifts over this festive season as pre-loved rise in popularity READ MORE
  • Ted Baker relaunched its UK website on 15 November under new operator United Legwear & Apparel Co. (ULAC) READ MORE
  • TikTok for Business forecasts record-breaking festive sales driven by a 64% rise in UK live shopping sessions over the last 12 months, with daily sales rising 93% driven by beauty brands READ MORE
  • Marks and Spencer expanded its beauty takeback scheme to 100 UK stores as part of its sustainability efforts. Customers can now recycle beauty packaging from any retailer, with over 1.6 tonnes of packaging processed since the scheme’s launch READ MORE
  • Ocado Retail will add hundreds of products to its own-brand range next year, including seasonal items. Sales of its own-range items have risen 12% this year, now making up over 10% of customer baskets READ MORE

 

Each month we send out the latest industry news and headlines, plus sector insight such as this via our newsletter, The Pulse. This also includes the latest jobs and internal news… click HERE  to subscribe

 

Written by:

James Hodges

Director of Client Engagement

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S6 | “Revolutionising E-Commerce: The Role of AI and Personalisation ” with Roxy Couse

December 11, 2024

What’s driving the next wave of e-commerce innovation?

In our latest podcast episode, we sit down with Roxy CouseBloomreach’s new Director of Community and Content Marketing, to explore how AI and personalisation are redefining the customer experience.

From seamless shopping journeys to innovative strategies like returnless returns, Roxy shares the tools and techniques brands are using to stay ahead in a competitive digital landscape.

💡 What’s in this episode?

  • Insights into the role of AI in creating tailored customer experiences that build loyalty.
  • Strategies for overcoming omni-channel challenges and unifying business operations.
  • A look at how real-time data and user-friendly tech are transforming the e-commerce landscape.

🎙️ Roxy also reveals how Bloomreach has set the standard in personalisation, enabling brands to guide customers effortlessly to the products they need. Her practical advice on integrating AI strategically offers a roadmap for businesses looking to enhance their digital offering.

🎧 Ready to explore the cutting edge of e-commerce? Tune in now!

Written by:

James Hodges

Director of Client Engagement

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S6 | “Tech Strategies Redefining the Travel Industry” Mike Jones on Transforming loveholidays and Ushering in Innovation

December 9, 2024

Ever wondered how failure can fuel success?

In our latest FODcast episode, we’re joined by Mike Jones, CTO of loveholidays, who takes us on a captivating journey from experiencing nine startup failures in one year to leading two major companies to astounding success.

Mike shares how these setbacks became the foundation for resilience, innovation, and growth, helping Love Holidays become a tech powerhouse in the travel industry.

💡 What’s inside this episode?

  • The tech-driven transformation of Love Holidays, including the shift from monolithic systems to service-oriented architecture.
  • How Generative AI is revolutionising operations, from content creation to customer service.
  • The importance of diverse talent and co-located, cross-functional teams in driving innovation.

🎙️ Mike shares how strategic leadership and the seamless alignment of technology with business goals have propelled a ‘technology company that just happens to be in travel’ to industry frontrunner status. His insights are packed with actionable lessons for anyone navigating the dynamic intersection of business and tech

💬 As Mike puts it best: “You either win or learn.” It’s a mindset that resonates deeply throughout this conversation.

🎧 Ready to be inspired? Tune in now on your favourite platform—links below! 👇

Links as always can be found below – available on multiple platforms, wherever you get your podcasts >>>

 

Written by:

James Hodges

Director of Client Engagement

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