Inside Commerce: Ecommerce Strategy, CX and Technology Podcast

Paul Rogers and James Gurd

Welcome to Inside Commerce, your independent guide to ecommerce success. Hosted by seasoned consultants James Gurd & Paul Rogers, our weekly podcast delivers clear, unbiased insights backed by decades of industry expertise. Formerly known as Re:platform, Inside Commerce is your go-to resource for navigating the fast-paced world of ecommerce and planning for performance improvements. Get weekly updates to keep pace with the latest trends, expert interviews, and real-world case studies to stay ahead of the curve. At Inside Commerce, we believe informed decisions are the key to lasting success.

  1. 5 days ago

    EP352: Navigating The Future Of Search With Aleyda Solis - GEO, Discovery and AI Visibility

    "You need to invest to try to establish your authority and your presence across the whole customer journey. What matters is the context that you can give around your products.” Tune in for expert advice from Aleyda Solis, an award-winning international SEO and AI search optimisation consultant, author and speaker. What you'll get from this podcast: Understand where GEO and AI search are actually heading.Learn how discovery is changing across channels, not just Google.Practical tactics for improving AI visibility and crawlability.Understand why product feeds and contextual data matter.Get a clearer view of measurement in a zero-click world.Episode summary: This episode explores how GEO is reshaping discovery as consumers move beyond traditional search engines and into fragmented AI-led journeys across platforms like ChatGPT, TikTok, YouTube, Reddit and marketplaces. Aleyda breaks down why this shift is more than hype: AI is changing not just where people search, but how they decide, compare and buy. The discussion covers the key differences between classic SEO and GEO, including the move from deterministic clicks to synthesised answers, recommendation layers and zero-click discovery. Aleyda also explains why GEO is becoming both a performance channel and a branding channel, and why measurement is now one of the biggest challenges in the space. The episode gets practical fast, with advice on technical foundations, crawlability, product feeds, contextual data, UGC, digital PR and why authority-building content like guides and FAQs matters more than ever. About our Pulse Series Pulse is an ecommerce conference designed for ambitious high-growth retailers and brands looking for inspiration and innovation from some of the top speakers in ecommerce and digital marketing. It takes place over 2 days every year in London, UK, with its sister New York event in September. Our Pulse Special episodes feature the hottest content from the 2026 Pulse event, including panel discussions with leading brands and technology vendors. Exclusive to Inside Commerce, these discussions share interesting insights from respected industry practitioners. Visit ⁠insidecommerce.fm⁠ to access the full Pulse panel series.

    22 min

  2. 23 Jun

    EP351: How To Handle Hype Moments In Ecommerce - The Hidden Complexity Of Fast Growth Brands with Fanatics Director of Ecommerce Chris Sheard

    "Scaling ecommerce fast means moving from heroics to systems — otherwise growth just exposes every weakness you’ve been carrying. Once you hit hyper-growth, the small process gaps stop being small. They become the things that break the business.” This episode explores the hidden challenges brands face turning high-pressure moments into commercial opportunity, while also building the operational discipline needed to scale. Our guest is Chris Sheard, Director or Ecommerce at sports brand Fanatics. Chris has an interesting background, having previously been Ecommerce Director for Castore and Head of Ecommerce at CurrentBody during its rapid growth from £5 million online revenue to £50 million plus. We cover three key growth topics: Key learnings from managing hype cycles around major sporting events like World CupsFrom £5m to £100m: what breaks when ecommerce scales & how do you handle this effectively?The ecommerce team nobody sees: how to build an operating rhythm that actually drives revenue.And of course, AI is mentioned 🙂 Fanatics operates a vertical commerce model. By controlling everything from exclusive manufacturing to direct sales, they have transformed from a traditional sports retailer into a multifaceted digital sports empire. They use real-time supply chains to turn sudden sports moments, like championship wins, into merchandise within hours. This "hot market" strategy captures sales at peak emotional engagement and reduces excess inventory risk. We get into the reality of managing hype cycles around big fixtures, finals and player moments; they create huge spikes in demand but not all brands are ready to act fast. Chris explains that when the emotion disappears, the opportunity can vanish in seconds, so success depends on having the right stock, content, approvals and trading actions lined up in advance. Chris was previously Head of Ecommerce at CurrentBody when they went through rapid growth. We discuss the hidden complexity of fast growth, including what breaks as businesses move from £5m to £50m and beyond. Chris highlights why systems, data quality, guardrails and clear decision-making become essential as complexity rises. A major theme is the shift from hero-led growth to repeatable execution: at smaller stages, a few strong individuals can carry the business, but at scale the organisation needs robust processes, strong accountability and a clear operating rhythm. We also delve into managing and maintaining teams through that change by setting transparent KPIs, running focused trading meetings, keeping communication candid and creating a culture where people understand both the numbers and the wider commercial context. The episode also reflects on recruitment and cultural fit, stressing that the right people need to be adaptable, commercially minded and able to thrive in a fast-changing environment. In the obligatory nod to AI, we focus on AI as an enabler of better operations rather than a replacement for people, using it to remove repetitive tasks, improve analysis and help teams focus on higher-value work.

    46 min

  3. 22 Jun

    EP350: Marketing Measurement In The Age of AI - What Shopify Brands Need To Know, With Grind Coffee & Omni

    "Make sure customer touchpoints are cohesive and the data is clean. The average brand has 20+ apps and there's a lot of noise in that data. Removing that noise avoids wasted ad spend and drives more revenue." Episode summary: The major networks including Google & Meta are investing heavily in AI to automate campaign creative and targeting. As the capabilities accelerate, brands need to understand the role AI plays in marketing strategy. In this panel discussion, the CEO of Shopify datalayer specialist Littledata and marketing leaders from the brands using it, discuss the pre-requisites for using AI in marketing. The conversation covers: How to improve the quality of signal you're feeding the algorithms.What data matters most when enabling AI in marketing.Focusing on keeping data clean, reducing the noise from the apps and 3rd parties generating data points.Sensible adoption of AI in marketing, retaining a careful control on quality of execution.The panelists: Edward Upton, CEO at Littledata.Teddy Robinson, Chief of Staff at Grind Coffee.Dan Eales, Head of Growth at Omni.

    21 min

  4. 16 Jun

    EP349: Are Agentic Storefronts The Future of Ecommerce? Manors Golf Co-Founder On Investing In Agentic & The Transformative Impact It Is Having On Customer Experience

    Agentic storefronts attract divided opinions. From early adopters convinced they're an innovative way to service online customers who need a deeper level of assistance, akin to an in-store sales assistant, to cynics who see this as a distraction from fixing your main website. That's why we invited Jojo Regan, co-founder at Manors Golf, to join us and explain how & why they've launched an agentic storefront to complement the main website. As a self-confessed early adopter of technology, Jojo offers an interesting perspective on the role agentic storefronts can play within an ecommerce strategy. In Jojo's opinion, some brands are missing a huge opportunity by sticking to static, traditional ecommerce experiences. We explore how leveraging AI-driven, conversation-based storefronts can transform customer engagement and boost sales. His vision is for a golf apparel brand that lets customers chat, discover and personalise their shopping journey in real-time, without the limitations of static pages. Jojo explains how Manners Golf is pioneering this shift by integrating an agentic storefront powered by large language models (LLMs). He discusses the strategic thinking behind enhancing traditional online stores with dynamic, interactive experiences that mimic walking into a physical shop, where personalised recommendations and discovery happen naturally. Tune in for the following: The way early adoption of innovative tech like agentic storefronts keeps Manors ahead of the curve in ecommerce.The impact of conversational experiences on key metric, such as a 54% reduction in return rate.The future of AI-enabled shopping: personalisedand highly engaging environments that anticipate consumer expectations.Why early investment in these technologies positions brands as industry leaders in the coming AI-driven retail landscape.How Manors Golf employs a team with creative and technical expertise to produce viral content that drives a top-of-funnel strategy without heavy paid marketing.It's still very early days for agentic storefronts, so real-world case studies will help you build your understanding of what is possible, and what is relevant.

    29 min

  5. 11 Jun

    EP348: From Cult Brand To Global Business - Axel Arigato CEO Albin Johansson On The Importance of Authenticity For Building A Brand

    "I think it's very important to stand for something. If I die today or tomorrow, will I be missed? And if the answer is no, what am I doing here? I need to change what I'm doing. I want to be liked. And that's the same for us as a brand." Episode summary Our Pulse Special series features the hottest content from the UK's leading ecommerce event, including panel discussions with respected brands and technology vendors. Exclusive to Inside Commerce, these discussions share interesting insights from respected industry practitioners. In this episode, Axel Arigato’s CEO & co-founder, Albin Johansson, shares the ambitious steps he took to transform a small Swedish label into a worldwide phenomenon, from launching the “drop of the week” strategy to opening stores in London, New York and Dubai. Most brands chase fleeting attention; Axel Arigato’s story proves that a sustained focus on authenticity, community and physical presence can turn a niche brand into a global icon. Discover how they built their brand on the principles of genuine connection and staying true to their roots, despite scaling in a noisy, distracted digital world. We break down the importance of “top of mind” thinking, the power of physical spaces in a digital era, and why authenticity beats superficial trends every time. You’ll learn how Axel Arigato navigated turning a risky brick-and-mortar expansion into a success, and why their deliberate, community-focused approach keeps them relevant, even after more than a decade of growth. If you’re wondering how to stand out without sacrificing your core values, this episode will inspire you to get back to basics. Albin's journey is proof that genuine, purposeful brand building can cut through the noise and create a lasting global footprint. Podcast Highlights Building with Intent: Albin discusses the importance of authenticity and being genuine in brand building, emphasizing the need to own something unique in the market.From Digital to Physical: The transition from a 100% digital brand to opening physical stores, highlighting the importance of meeting customers in person and presenting the brand's universe.Lessons Learned: Albin reflects on the mistakes made during rapid scaling, emphasizing the need to return to the brand's core values and not accept mediocrity.Community and Authenticity: The focus on building and inspiring a community, and the challenges of maintaining authenticity in a crowded market.

    22 min

  6. 10 Jun

    EP347: The Operational Strategies Driving Cross-Border Ecommerce Growth For Rat & Boa + Studio Nicholson

    Our Pulse Special series features the hottest content from the UK's leading ecommerce event, including panel discussions with respected brands and technology vendors. Exclusive to Inside Commerce, these discussions share interesting insights from respected industry practitioners. In this panel, ecommerce leaders discuss the operational capabilities that are critical to global commerce success. Panelists: Alister Hewitt, Director of Technology & Operations at Rat & BoaSara Gomes, Ecommerce Manager at Studio NicholsonRoss Allsop, Global Brand Advisor, Swap Commerce.Key discussion points: Maintaining brand integrity as you expand globally.Managing growth in the US through turbulent times.Strategies to smooth operations for handling returns.How operational inputs can improve the front-end customer experience.Keeping brand control & authenticity across agentic journeys.View all Pulse panels. About Pulse Pulse is an ecommerce conference designed for ambitious high-growth retailers and brands looking for inspiration and innovation from some of the top speakers in ecommerce and digital marketing. It takes place over 2 days every year in London, UK, with its sister New York event in September. FOLLOW US: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inside-commerce/

    21 min

  7. 9 Jun

    EP346: Sportsshoes Doesn't Just Run Promotional Offers; They Make Every One Count with Senior Performance Marketing Manage Sian Wells

    Our Pulse Special episodes feature the hottest content from the 2026 event, including panel discussions with leading brands and technology vendors. Exclusive to Inside Commerce, these discussions share interesting insights from respected industry practitioners. In this panel,  Dan Bond of Revlifter & Sian Wells, Senior Performance Marketing Manager at Sportsshoes, explain the challenges of using promotions strategically to drive positive results and minimise unnecessary margin erosion. Key discussion points: Understanding the damage promotions can have on brandsKnowing when a promotion should be used & whyUsing data to improve targetingPersonalisation in performance marketing - using promotions more effectivelyVisit insidecommerce.fm to access the full Pulse panel series. About Pulse Pulse is an ecommerce conference designed for ambitious high-growth retailers and brands looking for inspiration and innovation from some of the top speakers in ecommerce and digital marketing. It takes place over 2 days every year in London, UK, with its sister New York event in September.

    18 min

  8. 5 Jun

    EP345: What Gymshark's Ex CEO Learned About The Economics Of Scale Going From £5m to £500m+

    Our Pulse Special episodes feature the hottest content from the 2026 event, including panel discussions with leading brands and technology vendors.Exclusive to Inside Commerce, these discussions share interesting insights from respected industry practitioners.In this panel, ex Gymshark CEO Steve Hewitt, now founder of Whanau Advisory, talks about the economics of scale. Steve joined Gymshark when it was at £5 million revenue, and oversaw its rapid growth to £500 million +, leading the business through investment and a £1 billion+ valuation. He talks about their four buckets for success:1. What's the brand's purpose?2. Who does it exist for?3. What is the brand's value set?4. What is the business model and how scalable is it?He explores the dynamics of investment and how investors evaluate the investment potential for ecommerce brands.It's an incredible opportunity to get expert advice from a seasoned ecommerce executive who understands the commercial dynamics of growth and investment.About PulsePulse is an ecommerce conference designed for ambitious high-growth retailers and brands looking for inspiration and innovation from some of the top speakers in ecommerce and digital marketing.It takes place over 2 days every year in London, UK, with it sister New York event in September.

    21 min
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About

Welcome to Inside Commerce, your independent guide to ecommerce success. Hosted by seasoned consultants James Gurd & Paul Rogers, our weekly podcast delivers clear, unbiased insights backed by decades of industry expertise. Formerly known as Re:platform, Inside Commerce is your go-to resource for navigating the fast-paced world of ecommerce and planning for performance improvements. Get weekly updates to keep pace with the latest trends, expert interviews, and real-world case studies to stay ahead of the curve. At Inside Commerce, we believe informed decisions are the key to lasting success.

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