Ecommerce Masterplan: Interviews And Advice To Help Build Your Online Retail Business Faster

Rich Chapple was previously the CMO at Gymshark and the CEO at THG Ingenuity, part of The Hut Group, scaling both companies to unicorn valuations. He is now the co-founder at The Growth Foundation, helping eCommerce and DTC brands grow the right way.  In this What Would You Do episode, Rich shares exactly what he’d do in his first 90 days as the new CEO of an 8-figure fashion brand. From finding the real “truth” in the numbers to sharpening strategy, building the right team, and focusing on profitable growth, this conversation is packed with practical guidance for any eCommerce leader looking to scale with clarity and control.  Hit PLAY to hear: The exact first 90-day plan for a new CEO stepping into an 8-figure eCommerce brand How to find the real “truth” in your numbers (and the costly mistakes most brands miss) The simple Where to Play / How to Win framework to cut complexity and drive growth Why most 8-figure brands are structured for survival, not scale — and how to fix it The hidden growth opportunity i

Ed Hamilton is the Head of Growth at Seep, a certified B Corp selling eco house cleaning tools. Founded in 2020 they are now on target for £10million in sales this year, via their Shopify store, Amazon and wholesale.  In this episode, Ed shares how Seep is turning a surge of awareness into sustainable, long-term growth. We explore the strategies behind scaling acquisition, improving retention, diversifying beyond Meta, and building a growth engine designed for lasting success—not just short-term wins.  Hit PLAY to hear: How Seep turned a Dragons’ Den spike into a £10M growth engine

James Gurd is The Digital Juggler, and host of the Inside Commerce Podcast. He has over 20 years’ experience helping B2C and B2B brands deliver eCommerce growth, primarily through tech stack optimisation. From agency and tech selection through to team training and project leadership.  In this WWYD episode, James dives deep into what it really takes to replatform successfully in 2026 — from building the right business case and aligning your leadership team, to navigating Shopify decisions, managing friction, and avoiding expensive mistakes.  If a replatform is on your horizon, this episode is packed with practical advice you won’t want to miss.  Hit PLAY to hear: Why replatforming without a business case is a costly mistake

A quick update from Chloe on what’s happening for episode 300 on our sister show Keep Optimising, AND how you can be involved.Get involved >> https://keepopt.com/300--- Download our ebook... https://ecmp.info/ebook 500 Tips to Increase Your Profits Get all the links and resources we mention and join our email list at https://ecmp.info Love the show? Chloe would love your feedback - leave a review here: https://ecmp.info/review or reply to the episode QandA on Spotify. Interested in being a Sponsor? go here: https://ecmp.info/sponsorAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Amy Knight is the Founder at Must Have Ideas, a UK based eCommerce brands that sells problem solving household products. Must Have Ideas is a bootstrapped business, started with just £3,000 in 2018 that are now on track for £80million in 2026 via their custom in-house website.  In this episode, Amy shares how obsessive cash-flow control, customer-first thinking, and owning their tech stack helped Must Have Ideas scale at speed without outside funding. It’s a candid, practical conversation packed with lessons for eCommerce founders looking to grow sustainably, stay in control, and stand out in a crowded market.  Hit PLAY to hear: 

Gareth Cummings is the CEO at eDesk, the AI powered customer support helpdesk for eCommerce. Used by eCommerce stores around the world, their client CarParts.com has just been named in USA Today’s list of America’s Best Customer Service 2026. In this episode, Gareth explains how eCommerce brands can use customer service, AI, and automation to increase conversion rates, improve retention, and turn support teams into profit-driving growth engines. Hit PLAY to hear: How faster replies can lift conversion rates by 50–60% ⚡ Why 30–40% of customer service queries happen before checkout

Melissa Moore is “The Retail Advisor”, and the host of The Retail Tea Break Podcast. She’s an expert in all things retail with over 25 years working with national brands, and she’s been a Rethink Retail Top Retail Expert for the last 3 years AND Named in Retail Technology Innovation Hub's Top 100 Retail Technology Influencers List for 2025.  In this What Would You Do episode, Melissa shares practical strategies to grow physical store sales in 2026, combining real-world retail experience with fresh insights from NRF in New York.  Hit PLAY to hear: Why physical retail needs to become a destination, not just a transaction

In this special episode of the eCommerce MasterPlan Podcast, Chloe Thomas shares a panel discussion from a live webinar focused on one big question: what’s really going to move the needle for eCommerce brands in 2026? Chloe is joined by three expert voices from very different corners of eCommerce – growth, consumer behaviour, and AI – to unpack what’s working, what’s not, and where brands should be focusing their time, energy, and budgets this year. From TikTok growth and AI-powered customer experience to brand trust, tech stacks, and surviving economic pressure, this is a practical, wide-ranging conversation designed to help you grow smarter in 2026.  Hit PLAY to hear: Why TikTok is still the fastest growth lever for eCommerce (even without TikTok Shop)

Roman Petrochenkov is the Head of Growth & Media Analytics at Carwow, so yes we’re going to be getting DEEP into tracking, attribution and all that juicy stuff. Carwow has grown from a review site, to be a one-stop shop for changing your car – offering customers the ability to a buy a new or used car, or sell their existing vehicle. Founded in 2013 they now operate in the UK, Germany and Spain. In 2024 they grew 50% with nearly £3 billion worth of cars bought on the site, and £1.8 billion of cars listed for sale through the Sell My Car service.  Roman shares how top analytics teams work behind the scenes — and the smarter, faster ways to use data to fuel eCommerce growth.  Hit PLAY to hear: 

Miracle Inameti-Archibong is an online marketer who’s been deep in SEO since 2010. Now working at a very large UK retailer, after stints in other verticals and agency side.  In this WWYD episode, Miracle tackles one of the biggest questions facing eCommerce right now: what would you do as AI search reshapes visibility, traffic, and growth? She shares a clear, practical view on where brands should focus, what still works, and how to move forward with confidence.  Hit PLAY to hear: Why good SEO still wins in an AI-search world

Steven Sashen is the co-founder and Chief Barefoot Officer of Xero Shoes. Selling via their international Shopify stores, Amazon, and wholesale. They launched in November 2009 and in 2024 did just under $68 million.  Steven returns to the show to reveal how Xero Shoes jumped to nearly $68M — and the real decisions behind that growth.  Hit PLAY to hear: How Xero Shoes leapt from $6M to $68M — and why it still feels like a startup

Carter Eve is the founder and designer at Carter Eve Jewelry, a brand committed to sustainability and ethical practices creating delicate fine jewelry and distinctive designs. Founded in 2020 they now have annual sales of $1.2M with a 25% year-over-year growth rate. Selling exclusively via their Shopify site.  In this episode, Carter reveals how she scaled her luxury jewelry brand to $1.2M using a made-to-order model, high-touch service, and smart offline pop-ups. A must-listen for anyone selling high-value products online.  Hit PLAY to hear: ⭐ How Carter scaled a $1.2M luxury jewelry brand with zero full-time staff. 

Caleb Slater is the managing director at Cards2Cash a platform enabling customers to sell unwanted gift cards. Founded in 2022 (when Caleb was just 16) it operates on a custom website, has recently expanded into Ireland, and has already grown to over £500k in annual sales.  In this episode, Caleb reveals how he scaled Cards2Cash with smart SEO, clever payment optimisation, and a huge focus on trust and customer experience. It’s a fast, practical conversation full of insights any eCommerce brand can apply right away.  Hit PLAY to hear: 

Hilary Large is the owner at Wardrobe at The Cross, a women’s fashion boutique. Launched in 2023, they sell via their physical high street store, and via their Shopify website and have already built to 100s of orders a week.  In this episode, Hilary shares how she’s blending the best of in-store service with online scale — from personally calling first-time customers to building a brand rooted in trust, experience, and genuine connection.  Hit PLAY to hear:  

Davies Roberts is co-CEO and co-founder of Flare Audio, the sound technology company who retail headphones, earplugs, and ear tools. Founded in 2010 they now sell globally via their Shopify store, Amazon, and a few retail partners, and are achieving around £5million in sales a year.Back on the show for the third time, Davies shares the biggest challenges and breakthroughs Flare Audio has faced — from Meta ad chaos to game-changing sound innovation. A fast-paced episode packed with sharp lessons on resilience, product focus, and scaling a standout eCommerce brand.Hit PLAY to hear: ·      

Ben Boughton-White is the Operations Director at Dorwest, experts in herbal pet care since 1948. Selling globally via wholesale, marketplaces, Crufts! and their own Shopify store, they now do over 50,000 order a year, and were recently named Online Business of the Year at the Pet Industry Federation Awards.  Ben shares how Dorwest — a 75-year-old family-run pet care brand — brought its heritage into the digital age. From a smart Shopify migration to building efficient systems and strong partnerships, he reveals how they’ve kept quality, trust, and growth at the heart of their eCommerce success.  Hit PLAY to hear:  

Julie Macken is the Deputy Queen Bee of Neve’s Bees a family business turning the produce of their bee hives and local beekeepers into products that are now certified 100% natural. Founded in 2017, they switched focus to eCommerce in 2021. They now sell via their WooCommerce store, wholesale, and a couple of events, and have now reached £100,000 a year and have just sold their 80,000th product. She shares how focusing on what truly works — and saying no to what doesn’t — helped her turn a local gifting brand into a six-figure sustainable skincare business. Hear how she refined her eCommerce strategy, built a lean but powerful team, and is now leading a mission to make the skincare industry more honest and eco-friendly. It’s always a treat when a past guest returns, and Julie’s comeback episode is packed with even more insights you can apply immediately to grow smarter and operate more sustainably.Hit PLAY to hear: 

In this WWYD episode, eCommerce Director Jaime Hill – whose career spans Monsoon, FatFace, Jack Wills, Oak Furnitureland, Hurtigruten, and more – joins host Chloe Thomas to share how she’d approach one of the biggest challenges facing eCommerce leaders today.   Jaime dives into where to start, how to prioritise quick wins vs. long-term impact, and why real efficiency begins with your people, not your processes.   Expect practical ideas, real-world examples, and plenty of inspiration for anyone trying to do more with less.  Hit PLAY to hear:  

Chris Forbes is the co-founder at Cheeky Panda, leading the bamboo revolution selling toilet paper, period products, kitchen roll and more. Founded in 2016 they now sell via multiple international Shopify sites, and a plethora of wholesale and marketplace locations. Turnover is now £15,000,000 a year, and did I mention they’re a B Corp?  In this episode, Chris Forbes reveals how The Cheeky Panda turned a bold eco idea into a £15M brand loved by customers and retailers alike. From smart scaling moves to making sustainability fun, Chris shares the mindset and marketing strategies behind their incredible growth.  Hit PLAY to hear:  

Isobel Ridley is the founder at Lavender Hill, a women’s fashion brand focused on ethically made luxurious staples. Founded in 2013 then now sell exclusively via their Shopify store, turning over around £500,000 a year.  In this episode, Isobel shares how she built a profitable, sustainable fashion brand by focusing on what works—core products, smart use of AI, and old-school PR that still delivers.  Hit PLAY to hear: