Shifting Gears: Key eCommerce Updates & Optimism for 2025
James Hodges
Your #digitalcommerce recruitment partner || ??? The FOD future of #digitalcommerce || Fitness enthusiast ??? ??
November was a month filled with engaging meetings and productive conversations. While 2024 may not have unfolded as many had hoped, there are promising signs that the market has bottomed out. Encouragingly, the discussions we’re having now are not just more confident but backed by real substance as we look ahead to 2025.
Since early 2023, many businesses in commerce and retail have pressed pause on innovation. However, it's evident this approach can no longer hold, given the rapid advancements in technology and the rising expectations of customers and stakeholders alike.
Shopify has largely stood apart from market challenges throughout most of this year, continuing to gain significant market share at the SMB level. The company is now setting its sights on dominating the enterprise market—a bold ambition that, while requiring some compromises in the short term, many believe it has the potential to achieve. As Shopify progresses toward this goal, we can expect a noticeable impact on future hiring trends across the industry.
Podcast discussions throughout Q4 have centred on enhancing customer experience, with a strong focus on personalisation, loyalty, promotions, and returns—crucial priorities for brands during this time of year.
As we wrap up the year, it’s clear that while challenges remain, there is a renewed sense of optimism and momentum building across commerce and retail. With conversations shifting towards meaningful innovation and a focus on delivering exceptional customer experiences, the outlook for Q1 2025 is increasingly positive. Here’s to a year of growth, investment, and exciting opportunities ahead.
I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you a very Merry Christmas, and a happy, and prosperous, New Year. Thanks for the support as always.
Market Spotlight + Top 5 eCommerce Stories Last Month
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The FODcast has gone from strength to strength this year and at the start of Q4 we made the decision to move to weekly releases.
We recorded our first head-to-head with digital commerce powerhouses Jim Herbert (CEO of Patchworks) & Sonja Keerl (Consultant and Co-Founder of the MACH Alliance).?Together, they tackle a critical question: What does the future of digital commerce look like as we approach 2025, especially with MACH at a key inflection point? Click HERE to view the episode
Other episodes released over the last few weeks include our interview with Abbie Ross & Kathryn Roberts from Lean Tree which focused on the importance of business change through transformations and how to do it properly. Catch that episode HERE
Finally, Mike Jones, CTO for loveholiday joined us for an in-depth discussion on technology. Together, we explored the intricacies of their technology stack and delved into the ever-evolving world of AI. Loveholidays are doing some really cool stuff, and this was definitely up there with one of my favourite recordings this year Click HERE to view.
?News from SC:HQ
Simply Commerce celebrated Christmas early this year with our party in late November. It’s been a challenging year for those working in and around digital commerce, but spirits were high, and a good evening was had by all.
We also made sure that we continued to support the Giving Tree Appeal once again - a fantastic initiative that helps to make sure that no child in the borough goes without a present on Christmas Day.