"Accessibility isn’t a niche feature set; it’s the operating system of a fair and profitable digital world."

On this week’s episode of The FODcast, James sits down with Hilary Stephenson, Managing Director at Nexer Digital, to unpack how inclusive design drives growth, reduces risk, and builds trust across every customer journey.

In our chat, we cover a whole host of things, including:

• The European Accessibility Act - what’s in scope, what deadlines matter, and why compliance is only the floor, not the ceiling
• The biggest friction points in retail journeys - and how to turn them into wins through clear content, contrast, and keyboard-friendly design
• What government digital services get right: co-design, testing with assistive tech, and radical transparency
• How inclusive design and immersive commerce can coexist, and why heavy scripts, pop-ups, and “dark patterns” are just bad UX
• The practical sequence to start today: set a baseline, “fix the six,” publish an honest accessibility statement, and keep testing

With more than 25 years in content, UX and inclusive service design, Hilary brings the experience of someone who’s helped make accessibility business-critical for leading brands and public sector organisations alike.

Tune in, enjoy, and let us know your thoughts!

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

Find our more about our approach and our services within digital commerce recruitment here: https://simply-commerce.co.uk/

AI is not just changing tools, it is changing teams, skills and how customers find you online.

In this week’s episode of The FODcast, host James Hodges sits down with Rob Goodwin, Chief Data Officer at MSQ Partners, to talk about what is moving fast, what is hype, and what leaders should fix now.

We cover:

• AI agents for triage, code generation and repetitive analytics, and what that means for junior and mid-level roles
• The rise of AI Ops to monitor, tune and audit models in production
• Why first-party data quality still beats shiny tools, and how to clean and enrich what you already have
• Practical steps to align clickstream, CRM and purchase data so personalisation actually works
• Trust in an AI world, including QA, transparent citations and brand-owned communities

If your 2025 plan touches AI, data or search, this one is absolutely ESSENTIAL listening.

🎧 Tune in now

#AI #DataStrategy #DigitalCommerce #MarTech #Search #Personalisation #FODcast

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

Find our more about our approach and our services within digital commerce recruitment here: https://simply-commerce.co.uk/

We’ve got an extra special episode of The FODcast dropping this week - not only do we have both Tim Roedel AND James Hodges side by side in the interviewer’s seat once again, but we’re also joined by two guests from global commerce agency Domaine, Kim Samuelsen and Max Rolon.

In this four-way chat, we discuss how Shopify’s native capabilities now handle serious complexity across EMEA without the overhead of composable stacks - and what that means for brands weighing platform choice, expansion, and cost control.

From Markets and meta objects to multilingual storefronts and local payment methods, we explore what’s changed, what still trips brands up, and where the smart money goes when every budget line is under pressure.

The conversation digs into:

• The real barriers of European expansion - compliance, duties, and fulfilment quirks like lockers and pickup points
• When to stick with Shopify Payments versus legacy gateways
• Why clean, centralised data underpins everything from AI personalisation to CRM efficiency
• How unified commerce is replacing brittle omnichannel integrations

You’ll also hear real-world examples; from a Magento-to-Shopify B2B migration that finally brought B2B online to an enterprise furniture launch that hit a 23-week timeline and lifted conversion by 19%.

If you’re weighing platform choice, entering Europe, or tightening spend ahead of Q1, this is your field guide to cutting TCO without cutting ambition.

🎧 Enjoy!

#ShopifyPlus #Ecommerce #DigitalCommerce #UnifiedCommerce #PlatformMigration #FODcast

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

Find our more about our approach and our services within digital commerce recruitment here: https://simply-commerce.co.uk/

What makes a 20-year veteran development team bet everything on Shopify?

According to Bob Rockland, Co-Founder of Code (now part of Domaine), the answer lies in both economics and technology. In the latest episode of The FODcast, Bob takes us inside Code’s journey to becoming the world’s largest dedicated Shopify partner - and why no client they’ve migrated in the last seven years has ever gone back.

We cover:

• The Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) myths CFOs often miss – and why Salesforce can be 35% more expensive than Shopify
• How Code migrated a well-known retail brand from Salesforce to Shopify in just six months
• Why payment service provider (PSP) fees are often the single biggest hidden cost for enterprise merchants
• The three actions every brand should take to reduce platform costs: cut redundant apps, renegotiate regularly, and avoid long-term contracts
• Where AI fits (and doesn’t) in enterprise commerce – and what to expect from Shopify’s rapid B2B roadmap

Bob also shares how Code’s TCO calculator helps brands uncover their true costs with surprising accuracy, giving enterprise teams the clarity they need to make smarter platform decisions.

If you’re exploring a platform migration or want to understand the real economics of Shopify vs. legacy platforms, this episode of The FODcast is a must-listen.

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

Find our more about our approach and our services within digital commerce recruitment here: https://simply-commerce.co.uk/

What’s really driving the AI revolution in digital commerce? According to Sander Berlinski, Director of Innovation at valantic, the answer isn’t chasing futuristic hype, but focusing on what’s working right now.

In this FODcast episode, Sander breaks down how AI is already transforming retail, from automating compliance checks to reshaping creative roles; and why data foundations, not shiny tools, should be every retailer’s first priority.

We explore how his team built an EU Accessibility Act checker that plugs straight into e-commerce systems, turning compliance risks into improvement tickets, and why this kind of focused solution shows AI at its best.

We also cover:

• The roles being most disrupted by AI, from customer service to front-end design
• How platforms like Shopify are democratising creative content through natural language prompts
• Why unglamorous data architecture is the biggest barrier to meaningful AI adoption
• The compliance risks of employees experimenting with generative AI tools like ChatGPT
• Practical advice for mid-market retailers balancing quick wins with long-term preparation
• A glimpse into the near future of hyper-personalised product pages and physical-digital integration

If you’re in retail, digital commerce, or innovation, this is a grounded conversation about separating substance from hype and preparing your business for an AI-enhanced future.

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

Find our more about our approach and our services within digital commerce recruitment here: https://simply-commerce.co.uk/

What’s really shaping the future of digital commerce?

According to Rhea Fox, Marketing Director of Gift Experiences at Moonpig Group, the biggest shift isn’t just technology - it’s how distribution and marketplaces are rewriting the rules of retail.

In this FODcast episode, Rhea draws on senior roles at eBay, Ted Baker, and Monsoon Accessorize to explore how brands are adapting to an increasingly fragmented ecosystem.

From the rise of retailers like Next and John Lewis as marketplace hubs, to the blurred lines between owned and paid channels, she explains why customer-centricity is making a comeback after years of acquisition obsession.

We dive into why not every brand belongs on TikTok, how marketing effectiveness tools are being underused despite huge potential, and where AI is already delivering tangible value - from SEO and creative optimisation to game-changing innovations in reducing apparel returns.

If you’re in marketing, ecommerce, or digital strategy, this is a practical, insightful conversation on navigating complexity while staying focused on what matters most: understanding your customer.

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

Find our more about our approach and our services within digital commerce recruitment here: https://simply-commerce.co.uk/

What makes a customer truly loyal? According to Voyado CEO Erica Sandelin Ekelund, it’s not just points or discounts – it’s about building genuine connections that turn shoppers into passionate brand advocates.

Or, as she calls them, your fan club.

In the latest episode of The FODcast, Erica reveals why the most successful retailers double down on their fan club, crafting tailored, high-impact loyalty strategies instead of relying on one-size-fits-all schemes.

We also cover:

• Why loyalty is about consistent brand promises, not just transactions
• How an “inch wide, mile deep” focus helps Voyado outperform broader platforms
• The demographic insights that shape different customer journeys
• How to connect online and offline retail experiences seamlessly
• Why user-friendly tech is replacing heavy enterprise systems in retail

If you’re in retail, marketing, or customer experience, this is a great insight into how to turn customers into lifelong fans, connect online and in-store journeys, AND build loyalty strategies that deliver real results.

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

Find our more about our approach and our services within digital commerce recruitment here: https://simply-commerce.co.uk/

What really drives the future of retail? According to PMC’s Technology & Solutions Director Elliot Winskill, it’s not about choosing between online and in-store, it’s about mastering the space in between.

In the latest episode of The FODcast, Elliot unpacks how 12 years in retail technology have given him a front-row seat to the industry’s scars, shifts, and breakthroughs - from the flawed “e-commerce versus high street” debate to the rise of unified commerce as a mindset, not just a tech solution.

We also cover:

• Why the biggest barriers to progress aren’t technical, but organisational
• How COVID accelerated a more balanced, blended approach to retail
• The untapped opportunity of impulse purchases across digital + physical channels
• Why unified commerce means mapping every customer touchpoint, not just selling platforms
• How retailers can embrace composable architecture without a costly “rip and replace”

If you’re in retail, technology, or customer experience, this is a powerful conversation on breaking down silos, rethinking digital transformation, and creating the seamless journeys today’s customers expect.

#RetailTech #UnifiedCommerce #CustomerExperience #RetailInnovation #Omnichannel #FODcast

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

Find our more about our approach and our services within digital commerce recruitment here: https://simply-commerce.co.uk/