Category: FODcast

Expert advice, valuable resources, and the latest news to help you navigate the world of eCommerce - whether you're looking to grow your team, or wanting to further your career in the sector.

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    Outcomes Over Architecture: Why Simplicity Wins in Commerce with Serge El Hachem

    February 5, 2026

    In this episode, James Hodges is joined by Serge El Hachem, Director of Solutions Engineering at Lazer Technologies, to explore what really slows enterprise commerce teams down - and why it’s rarely the licence cost. From invisible overhead and bloated tech stacks to speed, scalability and total cost of ownership, they unpack how global retailers are simplifying their architecture and unlocking growth on Shopify. Cutting through assumptions around AWS, security and complexity, the conversation focuses on practical decisions leaders can make now to move faster, spend smarter, and build platforms that actually scale.

    James Hodges

    Director of Client Engagement

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    Your Cart Is Fine; Your Duties Are Not: Why US Shoppers Panic At Checkout with Jamie Vaughan

    January 7, 2026

    In this episode, Tim Roedel is joined by Jamie Vaughan, former Managing Director at Signifly, to cut through the noise around what’s actually driving results in digital commerce right now. Against a backdrop of US conversion uncertainty, rising costs and AI hype, the conversation focuses on practical priorities — from restoring confidence through clearer landed costs to running smarter, higher-impact experiments. They explore life after cookies, the growing importance of attribution and cohort analysis, and how first-party data can become a genuine growth engine rather than a fallback. It’s a grounded, no-fluff discussion for teams rethinking their funnel, platform or growth strategy for 2025.

    Tim Roedel

    CEO

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    Compliance Is the Floor; Inclusion Is the Strategy with Hilary Stephenson

    December 20, 2025

    In this episode, James Hodges is joined by Hilary Stephenson, Managing Director at Nexer Digital, to explore why accessibility is no longer a niche consideration, but foundational to sustainable digital growth. The conversation looks beyond compliance to examine how inclusive design reduces risk, builds trust, and improves performance across the entire customer journey. From the implications of the European Accessibility Act to lessons drawn from government digital services, they discuss where retail experiences commonly fail and how clearer content, better contrast and simpler interaction design can turn friction into advantage. Grounded in practical steps, the episode offers a clear starting point for teams looking to make accessibility business-critical rather than an afterthought.

    James Hodges

    Director of Client Engagement

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    From Buzzwords To Bottom Line: Unified Commerce, AI, And The Real Costs Of Replatforming with Kim Samuelsen and Max Rolon

    December 10, 2025

    In this episode, Tim Roedel and James Hodges are joined by Kim Samuelsen and Max Rolon from global commerce agency Domaine to explore how Shopify’s native capabilities handle serious complexity across EMEA without the overhead of composable stacks. From European expansion and unified commerce to the data foundations behind AI and CRM, they unpack real-world migrations and launches – and why total cost of ownership should be the signal metric for brands.

    James Hodges

    Director of Client Engagement

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    When AI Takes the Busywork: How Teams May Evolve in the Age of Agents with Rob Goodwin

    November 28, 2025

    In this episode, James Hodges is joined by Rob Goodwin, Chief Data Officer at MSQ Partners, to unpack how AI is reshaping teams, skills and the way customers discover brands online. From AI agents and AIOps to first-party data, personalisation and trust, they cut through the hype to focus on what leaders need to fix now – and why data quality, not shiny tools, remains the real competitive edge.

    James Hodges

    Director of Client Engagement

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    Nerds Who Talk: The Tech Behind Big Brand Migrations with Bob Rockland

    November 12, 2025

    In this episode, we’re joined by Bob Rockland, Co-Founder of Code (now part of Domaine), to explore what really drives enterprise brands to bet everything on Shopify. From revealing the hidden costs behind legacy platforms to explaining why no client they’ve migrated has ever gone back, Bob unpacks how Code became the world’s largest dedicated Shopify partner – and why total cost of ownership is the metric every CFO should be watching.

    Tim Roedel

    CEO

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    Prompts, Products, and Profits: The AI Revolution Nobody Saw Coming with Sander Berlinski

    October 29, 2025

    In this episode, we’re joined by Sander Berlinski, Director of Innovation at valantic, to cut through the hype and explore what’s really driving AI in digital commerce. From automating compliance checks to reshaping creative roles, Sander shows how AI is already delivering value today – and why data foundations, not shiny tools, should be every retailer’s first priority.

    Tim Roedel

    CEO

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    Marketplaces, TikTok, and Dad Dancing: Why Not Every Brand Should Follow the Crowd with Rhea Fox

    October 15, 2025

    In this episode, we’re joined by Rhea Fox, Marketing Director for Gift Experiences at Moonpig Group, to explore how marketplaces and distribution are rewriting the rules of retail. From why not every brand belongs on TikTok to how AI is transforming SEO, creative optimisation, and even reducing returns, Rhea unpacks the shifts brands need to watch. For anyone in marketing, ecommerce, or digital strategy, this is a practical guide to navigating complexity while staying focused on your customer.

    James Hodges

    Director of Client Engagement

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    S7 | The ‘Fan Club’ Effect: Rethinking Retail Loyalty with Erica Sandelin Ekelund

    October 1, 2025

    What makes a customer truly loyal? In this episode, we’re joined by Voyado CEO Erica Sandelin Ekelund to explore why it’s not about points or discounts, but about building genuine connections that turn shoppers into brand advocates - or as Erica calls them, your “fan club.” From why consistency matters more than transactions to how a focused “inch wide, mile deep” strategy outperforms broader platforms, we unpack the insights shaping loyalty today. We also discuss how demographics influence customer journeys, why connecting online and offline experiences is critical, and how user-friendly tech is overtaking heavy enterprise systems. For anyone in retail, marketing, or CX, this is an essential guide to turning loyalty into a true competitive advantage.

    Tim Roedel

    CEO