What industry trends are you looking forward to seeing at this year’s eCommerce Expo and Technology for Marketing?
 

Retail media is one I’m keeping a close eye on. Things are shifting and it could even compete with TV in global ad spend. Retail media has been around in one form or another for years, but as more digital channels come into play, it’s absolutely exploded. The challenge is that it’s grown so quickly the tech behind it hasn’t really caught up. A lot of businesses are still relying on manual systems to manage huge inventories across multiple platforms, which just isn’t sustainable at scale. That’s why we’re seeing incredible growth for monday Work Management and our AI solutions in this sector.
 

What are the biggest challenges facing eCommerce retailers heading into Q4 and peak season?

The biggest challenge is scale. Businesses are now juggling multiple platforms, more campaigns, and higher volumes of work. But they don’t suddenly have three times the people to manage it all. Without the right systems and processes, it’s almost impossible to stay on top of it.

The other big pressure point is timing. In eCommerce, once an opportunity is gone you can’t get it back. If inventory runs out or deadlines slip, that’s lost revenue. And because the margins can be so strong, even small amounts of inefficiency or “slippage” have an immediate impact on profits. Heading into peak season where every week counts, that risk is amplified.

What is most exciting to you about the eCommerce and digital marketing industry right now?

For me, it’s the sheer scale of the opportunity and the role AI is starting to play. We’re moving towards AI not being a separate tool you dip in and out of, but something embedded directly into workflows. Think about AI agents working within your processes. It’s handling procurement, researching vendors, building shortlists, even drafting RFPs, with a human signing off at the final stage. It speeds up the legwork, reduces risks around timelines, and frees people up to focus on the creative, high-value parts of their job.

I’ve always believed it’s not processes that are the enemy but bad processes. If AI can automate the time drains like calls, admin, and repetitive tasks, then you suddenly get time back to think, to be creative, and to focus on the work that really moves the needle.

Why is it important to bring the industry together at events like eCommerce Expo and Technology for Marketing?

Events like this are invaluable because they give us the chance to learn from each other. I love hearing about the real challenges people are facing because if you know the problem, you can start thinking about solutions. A lot of what I do is helping businesses work faster, smarter, and better, so these conversations are hugely valuable.

It’s also about inspiration. Talking to peers and customers sparks new ideas, and often I’ll leave an event with something fresh to think about or test out. That exchange of knowledge and energy is something you can’t really replicate online.

What’s the best piece of advice you would give to new people joining the industry?

Embrace AI. It’s empowering people instead of replacing them. And the people who don’t adopt it will get left behind. I see AI as a creative partner. Coming from a radio background, I think of it like a brainstorm. First you throw everything out there, then you refine it. Generative AI can help structure and polish your ideas, but it’s still your tone of voice and your gut feel that makes it work.

The brilliant thing is how much time it saves. What used to take 20 minutes might now take 20 seconds. It could be generating images, pulling together ideas, or shaping content. AI helps you spend less time on admin and more time on the parts of the job you actually love.

But remember, we’re still in the “dial-up phase” of AI. There’s so much more to come, so my advice would be to get hands-on with it now, keep experimenting, and learn as it grows.

If you got the chance to reboot any ‘90s or 2000s brand for 2025 eCommerce, which one are you bringing back and how are you marketing it?

I’d bring back the Virgin Megastore. For me, it was more than just a record shop and more like a true retail experience. You’d walk in and there was music everywhere, instruments downstairs, even in-store radio that ended up being a training ground for people who wanted to break into broadcasting. It felt exciting, creative, and a little bit cooler than anywhere else.

For 2025, I’d reimagine it as an online and physical hybrid. A space where music, culture, and technology come together. Think streaming, live events, exclusive content drops, and community-driven experiences. That feeling of discovery and excitement that you used to get walking into the store is what I’d want to recreate. But bring it back for a new digital generation.