S7 | The Fatal Flaw: Why Tech-Led Projects Fail with Simon Hamblin

April 30, 2025

We’re excited to announce the launch of Season 7 of The FODcast! This season brings you fresh insights from top industry leaders, innovators, and experts. As always, we’re exploring the latest trends, strategies, and challenges in the digital commerce space.

Our global audience continues to grow, with listeners tuning in from across the UK, the United States, Germany, Brazil, and even places as far afield as Japan and Australia. Whether you’re in retail, tech, or any industry at the intersection of digital transformation, this latest season will have something for you.

New Episode: Simon Hamblin on the Secrets of Successful Digital Transformation

To kick off the new season, we sit down with Simon Hamblin, co-founder of fusefabric, Shopify’s largest enterprise partner in Europe, to discuss why technology-led projects fail so often and what it takes to get digital transformation right.

Simon’s career is nothing short of impressive, with past roles such as scaling ASOS technology during its billion-pound growth phase, leading global technology at Emirates Group, and overseeing 30 travel brands worldwide. He brings invaluable experience from his work in diverse industries, including retail, travel, and finance.

In this episode, Simon explains why business leadership, not technology, must drive transformation. He highlights the importance of aligning technology with business needs and dives into the discovery process that sets successful projects in motion.

Simon also shares how fusefabric’s approach, including the rapid migration of a multi-million-pound business to Shopify in just eight days, challenges conventional thinking and ensures digital transformations succeed where others fail.

Don’t miss this insightful conversation packed with actionable takeaways.

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

Connect on LinkedIn