S6 | Episode 5 with Simon Suarez from AbsoluteLabs

October 16, 2024

What are the secrets to revolutionising digital commerce in today’s fast-paced retail landscape?

In Episode 5 of the current season of the FODcast, we welcome Simon Suarez, Director of Enterprise Architecture at AbsoluteLabs, who shares his extensive insights into omni-channel strategies and customer engagement.

With decades of experience spanning luxury retail brands including Gucci, Stella McCartney, and Sweaty Betty, Simon discusses how brands have shifted from isolated operations to a customer-focused approach.

He reveals how the pandemic helped to transform physical stores into omni-fulfillment centres and highlights the impressive success of brands such as John Lewis in creating a seamless customer experience.

Join us as we explore the future of retail engagement and the vital role of techno-functional leaders in driving business growth. Discover the transition from a project-to-product mindset and how agile organisations are adapting to consumer preferences.

In our chat with Simon, we also discuss the importance of a personalised service through clienteling and balancing diverse customer needs within a store environment – and where cutting-edge trends in AI, mobile integration, and gamification also have their part to play.

This episode is packed with valuable insights into the ever-evolving retail industry and covers a wide range of topics, from innovative strategies to actionable advice for those working in, around, and for retail businesses. One not to be missed.

Written by:

James Hodges

Director of Client Engagement

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Industry News & Headlines | September 2024

October 16, 2024

Is it just us, or did September fly by in a blink? It was a jam-packed month of meetings, events, and travel for us, yet somehow we’ve already landed in the final quarter of the year!  As we gear up for what’s next, here are a few key market insights and updates to keep on your radar.

It was interesting to read the latest ManpowerGroup report which indicates a positive +28% Net Employment Outlook—up 8% this quarter. While optimism is rising thanks to easing inflation and lower interest rate expectations, businesses are still cautious. Temporary hiring is up, but permanent roles are growing more slowly as companies prioritise short-term flexibility.

Key updates:

  •  New vacancies fell short of expectations due to project delays and a focus on internal promotions.
  •  Hybrid work remains a hot topic, with Amazon announcing the return of a five day working week in the office. Over half of our conversations touch on hybrid challenges – more on that to come.
  •  AI and Machine Learning still dominate conversations with those in the sector, although the future is still uncertain. One thing we can be sure of is more developments in 2025.

It’s worth saying at this point that, although vacancies dipped in September, conversations are stronger than ever with business leaders and hiring managers. Events like The eCommerce Expo highlighted brands’ focus on modernising tech stacks for 2025, with social commerce expected to grow next year.

 

Market Spotlight + Top 5 eCommerce Stories This Month

  • Boohoo Group PLC is reportedly considering a break-up of its core labels including PrettyLittleThing, Karen Millen and Debenhams, in an attempt to boost its share price following a c.90% decline since its pandemic high READ MORE
  • Tesco is relaunching its online F&F Clothing range on its new marketplace after closing Tesco Direct back in 2018 READ MORE
  • TikTok Shop launched its inaugural week-long Sales event ‘For You Days’ on 23 September. The event features discounts of up to 50% on trending products and live shopping sessions, allowing direct engagement with brands and creators READ MORE
  • Moonpig teamed up with The Entertainer to offer 200 new toy products, including brands like Paw Patrol and Barbie, alongside personalised cards READ MORE
  • Ocado Retail raised its full-year sales guidance after a strong quarter, with retail revenue rising 15.5% to £658m for the 13 weeks to September 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 | Bonus Episode 3 with Michael Barker from Freeman Clarke

October 5, 2024

In our latest BONUS FODcast short, we’re joined by Michael Barker, a leader in fractional executive hiring, to explore why mid-market companies are moving towards fractional roles over full-time hires for C-level expertise.

Michael shares how companies are increasingly tapping into specialised talent for agility and flexibility in the fast-paced digital landscape as we dive into the impact of tech advancements on leadership, the importance of collaborative communication, and how Conway’s Law and Stephen Covey’s principles continue to shape effective system design.

The conversation wraps with an insightful look at the integration and cultural challenges companies face when bringing in fractional leaders, particularly in tech. Michael highlights the growing importance of teaching over doing, sharing real-world scenarios, like managing cyber threats, to illustrate the flexibility and skill required in these roles.

Whether you’re a fractional professional yourself, or a business leader looking to hire one, this episode offers more great insight on how this agile model is reshaping business growth and digital transformation.

Simply Commerce is the leading supplier of talent into digital commerce across technology, digital marketing, product, sales, and leadership.

Written by:

Tim Roedel

CEO

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S6 | Episode 4 with Meriel Neighbour from Clarks

September 26, 2024

What are the future-proof strategies every retailer needs to adopt?

For Episode 4 of the current season of the FODcast, we were joined by multi-award-winning digital commerce leader, Meriel Neighbour, Head of Global Digital Product Delivery and Transformation at Clarks who shared with us the transformational journey of the iconic footwear brand.

With extensive experience from her tenure at Ted Baker, the Post Office, Selfridges, and Matches Fashion, Meriel discusses the critical need for Clarks to modernise its technology landscape.

Discover how the adoption of composable commerce and headless architecture is setting Clarks up for long-term success by providing flexibility and resilience in their digital operations.

Plus, lots more insight as we talk about the brand’s challenges and triumphs as they progressed through this transformative journey, how they are poised for future growth, and ready to meet the evolving demands of the digital commerce landscape.

Written by:

James Hodges

Director of Client Engagement

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Challenges & Opportunities Across Digital Commerce | Q3 2024

September 15, 2024

In the fast-paced world of digital commerce, technological advancements and evolving consumer behaviors are reshaping how businesses operate and compete.

From online platforms and mobile commerce to cloud-based ecosystems, companies must continuously adapt to remain relevant.

This report highlights key insights gathered by the team here at Simply Commerce through surveys and industry discussions, focusing on the challenges businesses face and the opportunities for growth.

Key Takeaways:

  • Increasing Profitability: Nearly 50% of businesses are struggling with competitive pressures and economic uncertainty.
  • Market Conditions: Over a third of respondents highlighted external market dynamics like economic shifts and regulatory changes impacting operations.
  • Technology Adoption: 19.3% find it challenging to keep up with technological advancements and maintain a competitive edge.
  • Talent Acquisition: Hiring skilled professionals is a major hurdle for 22.9% of businesses seeking growth and innovation.

For deeper insights and strategies to navigate these challenges, download the full report below:

DOWNLOAD FULL REPORT TO READ MORE

As always, if you’re keen to explore how Simply Commerce can assist your business in navigating these trends and challenges within the digital commerce sector, please do get in touch. 

Written by:

James Hodges

Director of Client Engagement

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Industry News & Headlines | August 2024

September 15, 2024

August is best summarised as being a ‘steady’ month. It’s no secret that it’s one of the slower months of the year with many taking extended time out of the office and whilst we have also felt processes slow down, we’ve been able to add to our client base and are feeling confident as we move into September.

On that note, it does feel September has the potential to be a huge month for us and the industry with multiple callbacks in the calendar to discuss both new projects kicking off and hiring.

As mentioned in the previous newsletter, historically Sept-Dec has been a good trading period for us and we have no reason to believe it will be any different this year based on the conversations we are having.

This means there should be plenty of new vacancies at all levels – a great time to start putting your feelers out if you’re thinking of a new opportunity.

Product Owners and Managers are a growing area of demand as companies look to transition from a project to product-led environment. This isn’t necessarily a new thing, however, we are now seeing the next wave of companies embark on this change and I believe this will continue over the coming year or two.

Software engineering also continues to be a strong area for us with more than 50% of our new vacancies to date this year sitting here.

 

Market Spotlight + Top 5 eCommerce Stories This Month

  • The LEGO Group hails record profits in the first half of 2024, with revenue up +13% to £3.5bn. This is partly due to Lego ramping up its partnerships with the likes of Fortnite and Nike in a bid to reach more consumers READ MORE
  • The House of Fraser website and app have now been rebranded as Frasers Group, allowing customers to shop from all of Fraser Group’s brands in one place, including Sports Direct, Game, and sofa.com READ MORE
  • SHEIN has filed a lawsuit against rival Temu for what it calls an ‘unlawful enterprise built on ‘counterfeiting, theft of trade secrets, infringement of intellectual property rights, and fraud’        READ MORE
  • Marks and Spencer and Ocado Retail have once again been named the fastest-growing supermarkets in the UK over the last 12 weeks, with sales up 10.7% and 14.3%, respectively. Asda and Aldi UK were the only supermarkets to experience a drop in sales over the 12 weeks, in comparison to the same period a year ago, with sales down 6.4% and 0.7%, respectively READ MORE
  • Tesco’s fashion brand F&F will be introducing ‘digital passports’ across its clothing range amid a ramped-up crackdown on sustainability by the European Union according to reports 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 | Bonus Episode 2 with Adrian Wakefield from The Digital WoW Group

September 3, 2024

In the second of our FODcast ‘shorts’ with CEO, Tim Roedel, we’re excited to bring you another great discussion on the rising trend of fractional hiring with Adrian Wakefield, Co-Founder of The Digital WoW Group.

With over 35 years of experience in delivering technology and digital transformations, Adrian’s journey spans from manufacturing and operations to tech leadership, including his role as CIO of a global tech organisation. Now at the forefront of fractional consulting, Adrian helps businesses leverage high-level expertise on a part-time basis – and was therefore a great guest to feature on the topic.

🔍 Discussion Highlights:

  • Drivers of Fractional Hiring Increase: Learn about the flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and access to specialised skills driving this trend.
  • Organisational Adaptation: Understand how businesses can navigate regulations, adjust roles, and manage operational people matters to integrate fractional leaders.
  • Characteristics of Effective Fractional Leaders: Discover the key traits of successful fractional leaders, including availability, expertise, strategic vision, and strong communication skills.
  • Future Outlook: Explore the long-term benefits of fractional hiring and its potential to become a permanent fixture in the business landscape.

Tune in now to gain a deeper understanding of fractional hiring and its impact on digital transformation and business strategy.

Written by:

Tim Roedel

CEO

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The Move From Monolith to Composable

August 23, 2024

Over the past 5 years we have seen more and more end customers, regardless of sector, look to break down their monolithic platform with composability in mind.

Cost, flexibility, scalability, innovation, and speed are some of the key benefits of doing this however what often goes unspoken are the challenges of undergoing such a transformation and how these can be overcome.

The Simply Commerce podcast, The FOD, has focussed on this exact topic over the last two seasons with insightful conversation that spotlights the experience of guest speakers who are at the top of their game including digital commerce leaders with end customers, agencies, and software vendors who have all been at the very heart of said transformations.

There’s no denying there are many benefits to a part, or fully, de-composed architecture, however, it doesn’t necessarily mean it is the right thing for your business.

First and foremost, it’s vital to understand your business requirements and goals before deciding on the technology you want to proceed with. 

There are currently a handful of options; from part-build/buy components for a bespoke architecture (we’ve been seeing this for some time already) to a fully de-composed eco-system. You also have new platforms being released built on MACH principles as their foundation as well as individual vendors with pre-built connectors to ensure a quick go-to-market timeframe. 

Should you decide on moving forward with a part or fully composable architecture here’s a summary of some of the top tips to ensure a successful implementation and delivery, taken from our guests who have lived, breathed, and worked through them: 

  • Understand your business goals before doing anything. 
  • Speak to industry peers who have undergone the transformation. Ask them, what didn’t go to plan and what would they do differently next time. 
  • Make sure the entire business understands how their roles will be impacted and ensure they are all bought in.  
  • Be meticulous when picking your third parties, delivery partners, and vendors. They are going to be key to your success.  
  • If you aren’t technology mature then consider hiring an experienced Business Analyst and Solution Architect to ensure the business demands are at the forefront.  
  • Start small to see ROI quickly. This will help ensure continued buy-in. Composable transformations aren’t designed to be a big bang, but it is likely business leaders will want to see some short-term gains from the investment. 
  • Ensure communication is a constant throughout the business. Success stories are key to keep everyone engaged but managing expectations will also be vital at key milestones in the project. 

 With 30% of new projects in 2024 having composability in mind, we are already seeing a direct impact on changes to hiring strategies and the search for the right talent and skill set across the whole of the digital commerce ecosystem as businesses review and strengthen their technology teams. Since the start of 2023, we’ve already assisted a number of end customers with a complete review (and re-shape) of their teams as part of their composable journey, including new hires across testing, engineering, leadership, and change management.

We’ve also seen a surge in demand for those working on a contract basis. 

Moving to composable will almost certainly require different skill sets and technical capabilities, so the business must be fully aware of the impact this will have on future needs, as well as on the incumbent team, and the part they will have to play in the transformation.

Even outside of the traditional tech teams, other parts of the business will be impacted too, particularly where new processes or technologies are introduced, so considering the holistic view of your people strategy here is key. Recognising the broader organisational impact beyond just the technical teams is key, as is selecting any external partners – including those best placed to help with the recruitment of new hires.

Ultimately, proactive planning and investment in talent development are essential for businesses to thrive – although that can be said for those moving to Composable, or indeed sticking with their monolithic approach as well.  

What we do know is that companies who have decided to embark on a composable transformation are more likely to require a strong internal technology capability, even if they initially seek external help with delivery or project management.

 

About Simply Commerce 

As a specialist recruiter in the digital commerce space for over a decade, there’s no one better placed to understand the journey you are embarking on, particularly when it comes to sourcing (and securing) the best talent on the market. 

We are perfectly placed to advise on skillset requirements, cost, and availability as well as a go-to-market plan to ensure you’re hiring the best possible professionals all of the time. Skillset cost and availability in particular is something we have found isn’t discussed enough with the vendors, and is of huge value to our existing clients. 

 

For more information and a free consultancy around the availability of resources for your transformation CLICK HERE to start that conversation. 

Written by:

James Hodges

Director of Client Engagement

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S6 | Episode 3 with Lee Pentecost from PureGym

August 20, 2024

Ever wondered how a gym chain can expand from one country to multiple regions using the power of technology? Join us as we sit down for Episode 3 of Season 6 with Lee Pentecost, experienced Tech Leader and currently Group Head of Architecture at PureGym

You’ll hear about Lee’s own career path, from crafting websites in the late ’90s to his current role in driving PureGym’s growth and digital transformation. Plus we touch upon the business’ mobile app and how it’s revolutionising member engagement with functionalities like class bookings and gym access, and imagine an ambitious future where it becomes a full-fledged fitness assistant.

We also consider the future of gym operations with automation and AI…and finding the balance between foundational services and advanced innovations, ensuring PureGym caters to both tech-savvy fitness enthusiasts and the everyday gym-goer.

Written by:

James Hodges

Director of Client Engagement

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Industry News & Headlines | July 2024

August 19, 2024

Finally, it looks as though Summer has arrived. It’s taken until the last week of July but it’s here! And, the positivity continues as Simply Commerce had its best month YTD for new placements.

Following recent surveys and reports from Lloyds Banking Group and Deloitte, it’s clear that both business and consumer confidence are high. We anticipate this optimism will result in new work streams and growth opportunities and, whilst these work streams are likely to remain concentrated in smaller areas where ROI can be quickly tracked, their emergence is nonetheless a positive development. This is especially encouraging for the retail sector, which has been cautious since the start of 2023.

Incoming vacancies across June and July were lower than we would have liked. However, the general sentiment in the market is that more vacancies are available, with companies choosing to exhaust their direct search options before seeking specialist assistance. Notably, there has been a significant uptick in strategic leadership vacancies compared to the previous 12 months, which is a promising sign for the future.

Internally, I’m pleased to confirm the whitepaper we have been working on for the past couple of months, focused on challenges and opportunities within digital commerce, is almost ready for release – you can expect a copy of it in the next week or so. A lot of work has gone into this behind the scenes with multiple surveys taking place at events such as IRX and Retail Tech Show earlier this year, as well as quantitive research we undertook with our network back in Spring.

 

Market Spotlight + Top 5 eCommerce Stories This Month

  • boohoo has launched an online marketplace as it looks to become a ‘one-stop destination for all fashion, beauty, and lifestyle needs’. Customers will be able to shop from 150 brands including Revolution Beauty, L’Oréal Paris, Ray-Ban, Marc Jacobs, and Michael Kors READ MORE
  • IKEA has opened its one-hundredth mobile pick-up point at Tesco, with the Swedish furniture retailer announcing plans to double this number. Almost 40% of Ikea’s UK sales now come from the online channel READ MORE
  • No country in the world has as many internet users shopping online as The Netherlands, according to a new report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The eCommerce penetration rate is 84% and the market worth nearly €35 billion in 2023 READ MORE
  • Waitrose & Partners has grown its market share for the first time in two years as investments into its food range pay off. Kantar’s supermarket share and inflation update showed that spending at the upmarket grocer edged up 3.3%, helping to lift its market share by 0.1 percentage points to 4.5% READ MORE
  • Amazon Prime Day UK consumer spending across two days saw ‘record highs’ totalling £1.3bn, according to the latest data from Adobe Analytics 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

Connect on LinkedIn