International Operations

Abhishek Chandra reveals how Asian e-commerce brands achieve 20% cart recovery through WhatsApp versus the UK's 5% email average, sharing lessons from sending 2 billion messages that generated £2 billion in sales. The GoKwik co-founder, who helped kick PayPal out of India, explains why conversational commerce is the future and how UK brands can gain first-mover advantage by meeting customers where they actually are - in messaging apps, not their inbox.

Host Matt Edmundson's fascinating conversation with digital strategy expert Björn Ognibeni reveals the stark differences between Western and Chinese e-commerce approaches. Björn explains how Western e-commerce has remained largely unchanged for decades, focusing primarily on convenience and efficiency, while Chinese platforms evolved to prioritize experience and social connection. The discussion highlights how Western companies like Amazon abandoned the social aspects of shopping that made physical retail experiences memorable, while Chinese platforms like Taobao and Xiaohongshu (Red Node) have integrated these elements into their digital offerings. Matt and Björn explore how different competitive landscapes and business goals have shaped these divergent approaches, with Western platforms optimizing for measurable KPIs while Chinese companies continuously innovate under intense competition.

China sourcing remains viable and profitable post-COVID, but success requires ditching middlemen for direct factory relationships. John Kyle Beaton reveals how to cut costs by 20-40% whilst maintaining ethical standards through proper IP protection, factory audits, and cultural communication strategies. The key insight: transparency and ethics often reduce costs rather than increase them when you build genuine partnerships with manufacturers.

Paul Rafelson transforms the typical seller-platform relationship by teaching eCommerce businesses to leverage government pressure and regulatory frameworks strategically. From facilitating over £500 million in exits to becoming the most cited source in Amazon antitrust investigations, he reveals how proper legal preparation and regulatory understanding create competitive advantages that traditional marketing approaches cannot match.

Sebastian Herz reveals how global sourcing strategies can save eCommerce businesses millions whilst building premium brands. Learn his proven framework for finding quality suppliers worldwide, escaping the China-only trap, and avoiding the race to the bottom through strategic product differentiation and niche targeting that commands higher prices.

Most e-commerce websites treat every visitor identically, missing massive conversion opportunities. Eric Melchor reveals how micro engagements—small, helpful interactions that build trust gradually—can triple conversion rates without requiring technical expertise. Discover the no-code personalisation strategies that help small businesses compete with enterprise brands by creating meaningful connections through simple questions, geo-targeting, and conversational pop-ups that transform ordinary websites into irresistible sales platforms.

Discover why expanding to multiple online marketplaces could transform your eCommerce business. Jesse Wragg from eCommeleon reveals how marketplaces provide captured audiences, reduce customer acquisition costs, and diversify revenue streams. Learn the five essential elements needed before marketplace expansion succeeds, how to find the right marketplaces for your products, and why even £5,000 monthly from alternative channels matters more than most businesses realise. Stop fighting for attention and start showing up where your buyers already shop

Discover how strategic warehouse decisions can save tens of thousands monthly whilst positioning your eCommerce business for scalable growth. Justin Smith, who's guided hundreds of CEOs through 1,000+ warehouse transactions, reveals the three critical questions every founder must answer, why six months is the sweet spot for planning, and how warehouse automation is becoming accessible for mid-sized operations. From navigating the 3% availability crisis to understanding the three stages of eCommerce warehousing, learn how operational excellence creates durable competitive advantages.

Discover how beekeeper Simon Cavill transformed a hobby into BeGood, an international skincare brand stocked in Waitrose and distributed worldwide. From making lip balms using 18th-century recipes to raising £250,000 in crowdfunding within seven days, Simon shares practical lessons about international expansion, navigating tax regulations, leveraging marketplaces, and the stubborn persistence required to build an eCommerce business from absolute scratch.