Physical Retail's Vital Pulse: Why In-Store Experiences Still Matter With James O'Hare The FODcast podcast

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Physical Retail's Vital Pulse: Why In-Store Experiences Still Matter with James O'Hare

about a year ago 1:01:51

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Content provided by Tim Roedel and James Hodges, Tim Roedel, and James Hodges. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Tim Roedel and James Hodges, Tim Roedel, and James Hodges or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.

The death of the high street? Not quite.

In this episode of The FODcast, we’re joined by James O’Hare - Area VP UK at Sitoo – to explore why physical retail isn’t dying, it’s evolving.

From in-store gyms and juice bars to immersive tent villages, retailers creating memorable, experience-led spaces are thriving. And behind it all? A shift from disconnected systems to unified commerce, where real-time data powers seamless, personalised shopping.

We cover a LOT in this episode, including:

Why in-person shopping still accounts for 75–80% of retail sales
The admin load facing store staff (and how tech is changing that)
What unified commerce really means (and why it’s more than just omnichannel)
Surprising data gaps between UK and Swedish retail
How smarter POS systems are freeing staff to serve customers

James brings sharp insight and real-world examples that every retail leader should hear.

Take a walk, grab a coffee, and tune in.

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/

… continue reading

Chapters

1. Welcome to Season 7 (00:00:00)

2. Introduction to C2 and Unified Commerce (00:00:51)

3. Post-Pandemic Retail Transformation (00:03:40)

4. Creating Reasons to Shop Physically (00:06:39)

5. Understanding Unified Commerce (00:09:11)

6. Mindset vs Technology in Retail (00:16:28)

7. Making Composable Commerce Work (00:26:22)

8. The Future of Omnichannel (00:32:12)

9. AI's Role in Modern Retail (00:36:31)

10. UK vs Sweden: Retail Differences (00:48:35)

11. The Value of London to Global Retailers (00:55:17)

74 episodes

#Business #Tim Roedel and James Hodges #Tim Roedel #Tech #MBA #James Hodge #Technology #ECommerce #DigitalCommerce

The FODcast podcast artwork

Physical Retail's Vital Pulse: Why In-Store Experiences Still Matter with James O'Hare

published about a year ago

Share

MP3•Episode home

Content provided by Tim Roedel and James Hodges, Tim Roedel, and James Hodges. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Tim Roedel and James Hodges, Tim Roedel, and James Hodges or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.

The death of the high street? Not quite.

In this episode of The FODcast, we’re joined by James O’Hare - Area VP UK at Sitoo – to explore why physical retail isn’t dying, it’s evolving.

From in-store gyms and juice bars to immersive tent villages, retailers creating memorable, experience-led spaces are thriving. And behind it all? A shift from disconnected systems to unified commerce, where real-time data powers seamless, personalised shopping.

We cover a LOT in this episode, including:

Why in-person shopping still accounts for 75–80% of retail sales
The admin load facing store staff (and how tech is changing that)
What unified commerce really means (and why it’s more than just omnichannel)
Surprising data gaps between UK and Swedish retail
How smarter POS systems are freeing staff to serve customers

James brings sharp insight and real-world examples that every retail leader should hear.

Take a walk, grab a coffee, and tune in.

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/

… continue reading

Chapters

1. Welcome to Season 7 (00:00:00)

2. Introduction to C2 and Unified Commerce (00:00:51)

3. Post-Pandemic Retail Transformation (00:03:40)

4. Creating Reasons to Shop Physically (00:06:39)

5. Understanding Unified Commerce (00:09:11)

6. Mindset vs Technology in Retail (00:16:28)

7. Making Composable Commerce Work (00:26:22)

8. The Future of Omnichannel (00:32:12)

9. AI's Role in Modern Retail (00:36:31)

10. UK vs Sweden: Retail Differences (00:48:35)

11. The Value of London to Global Retailers (00:55:17)

74 episodes

#Business #Tim Roedel and James Hodges #Tim Roedel #Tech #MBA #James Hodge #Technology #ECommerce #DigitalCommerce

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Physical Retail's Vital Pulse: Why In-Store Experiences Still Matter with James O'Hare 1:01:51

9 weeks ago1:01:51

1:01:51

The death of the high street? Not quite. In this episode of The FODcast , we’re joined by James O’Hare - Area VP UK at Sitoo – to explore why physical retail isn’t dying, it’s evolving. From in-store gyms and juice bars to immersive tent villages, retailers creating memorable, experience-led spaces are thriving. And behind it all? A shift from disconnected systems to unified commerce, where real-time data powers seamless, personalised shopping. We cover a LOT in this episode, including: Why in-person shopping still accounts for 75–80% of retail sales The admin load facing store staff (and how tech is changing that) What unified commerce really means (and why it’s more than just omnichannel) Surprising data gaps between UK and Swedish retail How smarter POS systems are freeing staff to serve customers James brings sharp insight and real-world examples that every retail leader should hear. Take a walk, grab a coffee, and tune in. 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/…

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17 weeks ago52:12

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19 weeks ago59:14

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Before Season 7 lands... we're taking one last dive into the FODcast archives. For our final re-run, we’re revisiting a conversation that happens to be our most viewed episode of all time on our YouTube channel . Originally recorded and published in November 2024, this episode with Wendy Isaacs , Executive Director of Commerce and Experience Delivery at Valtech , still hits all the right notes for anyone navigating transformation in 2025. Wendy’s journey - from the early days of CompuServe to leading cutting-edge digital strategy - offers powerful insights into change leadership. In this episode, she shares how successful transformation comes down to balancing people, culture, and strategic planning. She also unpacks the difference between incremental and revolutionary change - an area that’s only grown more relevant with the rapid adoption of generative AI, evolving team structures, and the increasing pressure for businesses to adapt at speed. Whether you’re a programme leader, a digital product owner, or someone driving culture change across your organisation, Wendy’s advice on strong programme management, effective product ownership, and building meaningful business partnerships remains essential listening. #TheFODcast #FutureOfDigitalCommerce #ComposableCommerce #DigitalTransformation #ThrowbackThursday #Podcast 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/…

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RE-RUN: Fractional Leadership: Luxury or Necessity in Today's Digital Transformation? 33:21

20 weeks ago33:21

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As we continue our brief pause before the launch of Season 7, we're rewinding ever so slightly to bring you our most downloaded episode of all time! This episode, recorded in September of last year, explores the fascinating rise of fractional hiring in digital commerce with guest Adrian Wakefield , co-founder of Digital Wow Group, who has over 35 years of experience in technology and digital transformations. Adrian provides compelling insights into why businesses - especially in the mid-market - are increasingly turning to fractional C-level executives. Unlike traditional contracting, fractional leadership offers specialised expertise at critical junctures, making it a flexible and cost-effective solution. As Adrian puts it, "My definition of fractional is making yourself available at the point it's needed.” In this episode, we explore how organisations can adapt their structures to accommodate fractional leadership, addressing challenges around line management while maximising the value of functional expertise. Adrian also argues that fractional hiring represents a fundamental shift in how organisations access talent - a trend that will continue to reshape executive talent acquisition in digital commerce, even as economic conditions improve. Whether you're considering fractional leadership for your business or exploring it as a career path, this episode is a must-listen for valuable perspectives on this growing trend. 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/…

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RE-RUN: Are You Ready for Composable? Hard Lessons from the Frontlines 38:50

21 weeks ago38:50

38:50

For our latest dig into the FODcast archives whilst we gear up for Season 7, we’re revisiting some of our most popular episodes and a topic of conversation that is still as relevant now as it was back in November 2023 when it was recorded. This re-run episode features a candid conversation with David Hardiman , former Head of Software Development at Wiggle, about his experience leading a major retailer through a two-and-a-half-year transformation from a 20-year-old legacy system to a modern composable architecture. This episode sheds light on the complexities of composable commerce that often go unspoken. David pulls back the curtain on what happens when the nine-month transformation you were promised stretches into years of challenges, unexpected hurdles, and hard-earned lessons. He discusses managing 150 different integration points, selecting the right components and partners, and the crucial importance of understanding the problems you're trying to solve before committing to a composable approach. Since this episode aired, the landscape of digital transformation has continued to evolve. David's insights remain incredibly relevant, especially as the future of eCommerce is increasingly shaped by AI and large language models. If you’re navigating digital transformation, rethinking your tech stack, or simply looking for expert perspectives on the realities of composable commerce, this episode 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/…

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RE-RUN: The Future of MACH and Digital Commerce 1:08:05

22 weeks ago1:08:05

1:08:05

As we continue our look back at some of our most popular episodes, we’re revisiting another must-listen discussion - this time with two industry heavyweights: Sonja Keerl , co-founder of the MACH Alliance , and Jim Herbert , CEO of Patchworks. Recorded in November last year, this episode explored a pivotal moment for MACH technology as businesses demanded more flexibility, speed, and scalability from their digital commerce solutions. Fast forward to today, and those conversations are more relevant than ever - especially as AI reshapes commerce, and enterprise buyers push vendors to adapt faster. 🔍 Discussion Highlights: MACH at a Crossroads – Are vendors keeping pace with evolving buyer expectations? AI’s Expanding Role – How AI is simplifying commerce and integrating into MACH frameworks. Tech-Savvy Buyers – Digital-native enterprises are reshaping how tech is adopted and implemented. Platform Evolution – Can Shopify and other platforms meet enterprise needs while staying MACH-compliant? New Frontiers for MACH – How industries like healthcare and financial services are embracing composable tech. The Vendor Challenge – Why adaptability is key in a fast-changing landscape. If you missed this episode the first time around - or want a refresher - now’s the perfect time to tune in. 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/…

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RE-RUN: The Future of Composable Commerce with SCAYLE 48:16

23 weeks ago48:16

48:16

As we take a short pause to gear up for Season 7, we’re revisiting some of our most popular episodes from the archives. Today's rewind episode was recorded nearly 12 months ago, yet this conversation with Craig Smith and Rico Adler from SCAYLE remains as relevant as ever. In our chat, Craig and Rico explored the evolving expectations of digital consumers, the growing complexity of modern commerce, and the key challenges brands face when adopting a composable approach. They also shared real-world insights on why some digital transformations succeed while others fall short - covering everything from organisational mindset to the role of flexible commerce architecture. Since this conversation, SCAYLE has continued to gain industry recognition. They were named once again in the 2024 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ report, based on its 'Completeness of Vision and Ability to Execute' reflecting their momentum in the market. They’ve also become the official eCommerce platform provider for Manchester United and, more recently, powered Harrods’ new online shopping experience. Their growth underscores the importance of adaptability in a rapidly shifting retail landscape - one of the very themes discussed in this episode. If you’re navigating digital transformation, rethinking your tech stack, or simply looking for expert perspectives on the future of eCommerce, this episode is well worth a 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/…

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The Future of E-Commerce: Gen Z, AI, and the Rise of Unified Retail with James Brooke 52:49

24 weeks ago52:49

52:49

The latest episode of The FODcast is here, and this time we’re joined by James Brooke , CEO of MAPP Digital , and a true industry veteran with over 31 years of experience in digital commerce. Having witnessed the sector’s transformation first-hand, James shares his insights into where digital commerce is headed next, what businesses must do to stay ahead, plus a deeper dive into: Gen Z who are rewriting the rules of online shopping, meaning traditional strategies no longer cut it. Social media is now the first stop on their buying journey, and brands that fail to bridge the gap between platforms and e-commerce sites risk being left behind. What makes this generation tick, why authenticity and social proof are now non-negotiable, and how brands can craft seamless, engaging experiences that keep customers coming back. The inevitable rise of AI-driven personalisation - from boosting customer engagement to building trust in an era of growing data privacy concerns. The shift towards ‘unified retail’ as digital and physical retail continue to merge, where every touchpoint is connected for a frictionless shopping experience. 🎙️ This isn’t just a conversation about where e-commerce stands today—it’s an essential look at the trends set to shape its future. Don’t miss it. 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/…

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