The FODcast

Hosted by Tim Roedel and James Hodges

BusinessInterviews guests

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Episodes

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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EN-GB

About the show

In the FODcast (The Future of #DigitalCommerce) we explore the real career stories of the people who have made it to the very top of the sector and those who are working at the cutting edge of innovation and change right now. Listeners to the podcast gain insight into the journeys industry leaders have taken to be where they are today, the challenges they are facing now and their aims for the future.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

September 9, 2026Episode 956 min

Is CRO Really About Conversion Rate? with Adam Pearce, Blend Commerce

Is CRO really about conversion rate, or are too many brands looking at the wrong thing? On the latest episode of The FODcast , James sits down with Adam Pearce , Co-founder of Blend Commerce , to unpack what CRO actually means in ecommerce. Adam breaks it down through three simple levers: buy now, buy more and buy again. The conversation covers: Why CRO is often misunderstood Why data needs to challenge opinion, not just support it The role of customer behaviour in shaping better buying journeys Why site search is still massively underutilised The difference between improving conversion and improving profitability Why founders sometimes need to step back and let the data lead There are also some really practical insights around upselling, product discovery, customer retention and how brands should think about CRO at different stages of growth. A really useful listen for ecommerce teams thinking about revenue, profitability and customer experience. Listen | Share | Comment #FODcast #CRO #Ecommerce #ConversionRateOptimisation #DigitalCommerce #CustomerExperience #Retail 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/

August 13, 2026Episode 748 min

The Balancing Act Behind Food Waste, Availability and Smarter Stores with Alex Considine Tong, Retail Insight

Food waste is not just a sustainability issue. It is an operational one too. In this latest episode of The FODcast , James sits down with Alex Considine Tong , Chief Product Officer at Retail Insight , to discuss how retailers are tackling food waste, on-shelf availability and smarter store operations. It’s an insightful chat that covers a lot of ground, including: Why food waste remains such a significant issue for grocery retailers The balance between availability, abundance and waste reduction How better data can help retailers make more precise decisions Why in-store operations are now a major area of opportunity The role of AI, electronic shelf labels and emerging retail technology How retailers can reduce waste while protecting margin and customer experience There is also a really interesting discussion around donation, store colleague productivity and how technology can free people up to focus on higher-value customer interactions. A great listen for anyone interested in grocery, retail operations, sustainability, data or the future of smarter stores. Listen | Share | Comment #FODcast #Retail #FoodWaste #RetailTechnology #Sustainability #GroceryRetail #DigitalCommerce 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/

July 28, 2026Episode 648 min

Why Storytelling Is Becoming a Go-To-Market Advantage with Angeley Mullins, Aetheris Ventures

Are product features enough to stand out anymore? On this week’s episode of The FODcast , Tim is joined by Angeley Mullins , Founder & CEO of Aetheris Ventures , to explore how founder-led branding, storytelling and AI are reshaping go-to-market strategy. From the rise of AI-generated content, through to changing buyer expectations and the growing demand for authenticity, this is a really interesting conversation about how businesses build trust in an increasingly noisy market. We also discuss: Why founder-led branding is becoming more important How storytelling is shifting from “nice to have” to strategic advantage Why audiences are tired of purely feature-led messaging How AI is changing sales, marketing and customer success roles Why creativity, critical thinking and prompting are becoming key skills A really useful listen for founders, CEOs, marketers and growth leaders thinking about how to differentiate in a market where products and content can be replicated faster than ever. Listen | Share | Comment 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/

July 14, 2026Episode 552 min

Retail Media, In-Store Screens and the Fight for Attention - with Dean Harris, Co-op and Anders Henricson, Grassfish

There’s a fine line between smart retail media and too much noise. On this episode of The FODcast , Tim is joined by Dean Harris , from Co-op Media Network , and Anders Henricson , from Grassfish , to unpack what that balance looks like in practice. The conversation gets into the commercial opportunity behind retail media, but also the customer experience risk if retailers allow short-term revenue to override shopper needs. From in-store screens and attention metrics, through to data, customer journeys and commercial layout, this is a really interesting conversation about how retailers can unlock new media revenue without compromising the shopping experience. We cover a whole host of topics including: Why retail media has become such an important growth opportunity The risk of communication overload in-store How Co-op approaches campaign governance and customer experience Why attention may matter more than impressions How connected screens can support, rather than disrupt, the customer journey A strong listen for retailers, brands and anyone thinking about the future of in-store media, customer attention and connected retail experiences. Listen | Share | Comment 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/

June 23, 2026Episode 41 hr 4 min

Is Delivery Ecommerce’s Most Overlooked Growth Lever? with André Sikborn Erixon, Ingrid

Is delivery still being treated too much like logistics, and not enough like customer experience? On the latest episode of The FODcast , James sits down with André Sikborn Erixon , VP of Growth at Ingrid , to explore why delivery has become one of the most important and misunderstood parts of modern commerce. From checkout accuracy and customer preference, through to lockers, omnichannel fulfilment and agentic commerce, this is a really interesting conversation about how delivery now shapes trust, loyalty and repeat purchase. We discuss: Why delivery experience starts long before the parcel arrives How customer expectations vary depending on context Why speed and price are not the only delivery variables that matter The role of lockers, pickup points and sustainable delivery options How shipping can become a revenue opportunity, not just a cost centre Why delivery accuracy will matter even more in an AI-led commerce journey A strong listen for anyone thinking about customer experience, fulfilment, ecommerce strategy or the future of delivery. Listen | Share | Comment #FODcast #DeliveryExperience #DigitalCommerce #eCommerce #CustomerExperience #RetailTech #Omnichannel 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/

June 16, 2026Episode 31 hr 0 min

Why Product Data Is the New AI Battleground with Romain Fouache, Akeneo

Most businesses know AI is changing commerce. The bigger question is whether their product data is actually ready for it. In this episode of The FODcast , Tim speaks with Romain Fouache , CEO at Akeneo , about conversational AI, agentic commerce and why structured product information is becoming such an important topic for brands and retailers. The conversation covers: Why AI changes how products are discovered The growing importance of attributes and enrichment Why “good enough” product data may no longer be enough How marketplaces and ecommerce journeys could evolve from here One line from Romain that really stuck with us: “Your product data strategy is your go-to-market strategy.” It’s a great listen...enjoy. Listen | Share | Comment #AI #DigitalCommerce #RetailTech #ProductData #ConversationalAI #Akeneo 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/

May 21, 2026Episode 253 min

Shopify, Headless & The Real Cost of Ecommerce Growth - with Marina Milojkovic, Grebban

Are brands looking far enough ahead when evaluating ecommerce platforms? On the latest episode of The FODcast , James sits down with Marina Milojkovic , VP UK at Grebban , to unpack why total cost of ownership in ecommerce is often far more complex than brands initially expect. From app sprawl and operational complexity, through to team structure, ownership and long-term scalability, the conversation explores why platform decisions cannot just be evaluated on implementation cost alone. We cover a whole host of topics including: Why Shopify doesn’t always mean lower TCO long term The hidden cost of apps, integrations and operational complexity Why brands need to look at years three and four, not just implementation How regular TCO audits can help keep tech stacks lean Why TCO, AI, brand experience and UX are increasingly part of the same ecommerce investment conversation A really practical discussion for brands reviewing their ecommerce setup, planning a replatform, or simply trying to understand where complexity and cost actually come from. Listen | Share | Comment #FODcast #DigitalCommerce #eCommerce #Shopify #Centra #RetailTech 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/

April 27, 2026Episode 144 min

Pricing Isn’t Broken - it’s Blind, with Meghan Stabler

Pricing in retail still isn’t where it needs to be. In this episode of The FODcast (and the launch of Season 8), we sit down with Meghan Stabler (Co-Founder and CMO at AI-driven, contextual pricing platform alentr ) to explore why pricing remains one of the most complex and underdeveloped areas in digital commerce. Drawing on her experience as former SVP of Global Marketing at BigCommerce where she helped scale the business through to IPO, Meghan shares a clear and practical perspective on the gap between performance metrics and pricing strategy - and what businesses need to rethink. We cover: Margin vs conversion - why strong performance doesn’t always mean pricing is right The reality of discounting - easy to implement, harder to sustain AI in pricing - where it adds value and where it still falls short Static vs dynamic models - why many businesses remain reactive Pricing guardrails - protecting margin while staying competitive If pricing is still being treated as a periodic review rather than an active, strategic lever, this is a conversation worth your time. 🎧 Listen | Comment | Share #FODcast #DigitalCommerce #Retail #PricingStrategy #AI #eCommerce 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/

March 11, 202654 min

B2B Commerce Isn’t Broken - It’s Complicated with Tom Williams, UNRVLD

B2B commerce complexity isn’t just technical. It’s organisational, behavioural and cultural. On this week’s episode of The FODcast , James sits down with Tom Williams , Head of Commerce at UNRVLD to unpack why B2B transformations stall…and what actually gets them moving. We cover a whole host of topics including: Complex pricing + org structures: different users, permissions and hierarchies; and why it needs uncovering early Legacy order channels (email, punchout, OCR and more): you often can’t “switch it off” even if it’s inefficient Customer-first vs tech-first: most businesses start with a feature tick list, not customer behaviour Digital maturity reality checks: why teams think they’re further along than they are Integration first: a robust middleware approach that lets you change systems without breaking everything else If you’re modernising B2B, this is a practical conversation: start with the “as is”, map the “to be”, then make progress iteratively - without forcing a big bang. 🎧 Listen | Comment | Share 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/

February 25, 202657 min

Using Technology With Purpose in a Post-Hype World with Jim Tattersall and Andy Jackson

“People sleepwalk without intent.” That’s how Jim Tattersall , Founder & CTO at Rotate° , describes one of the most common causes of failed commerce transformations. In the latest episode of The FODcast , Jim and Andy Jackson ( Rotate’s Chief Creative Officer) unpack why brands often reach for tools, platforms and architectures before they’ve properly defined the problem they’re trying to solve. They discuss: How hype cycles push teams into reactive decisions Why over-reliance on third-party tools creeps in unnoticed The risk of building teams around technology rather than outcomes Why intent matters more than architecture The message is measured but clear: progress comes from clarity, not momentum. This really was a great 3-way conversation with our Director of Client Engagement, James…and really frames some of the background and points raised in Rotate’s recent Tech Report . #DigitalCommerce #TechnologyStrategy #Leadership #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/