The Space Bar: Ecommerce Podcast by Space 48

#75: Why Accessibility in eCommerce Can’t Wait (feat. RNIB)

In this episode, Pete Robertshaw is joined by Robin Spinks and Kat Stoner from the RNIB to discuss why digital accessibility needs to be top of mind for every online retailer in 2025.They share the inside story of RNIB’s new Shopify site, detailing how they balanced beautiful design with world-class accessibility, and what other brands can learn from their journey. Expect practical advice, real-world examples, and a look at the game-changing impact of the European Accessibility Act.

#74: The Biggest Reveals from the BigCommerce Summit in London

In this special edition episode, the Space Bar podcast team recaps the BigCommerce EMEA summit held in London. Andrew Barber, Engineering Manager at Space48, joins leading eCommerce consultant Pete Robertshaw to discuss the latest updates from the BigCommerce event, including exciting developments and the brand's future direction.This episode dives into the key takeaways, including the evolving leadership under new CEO Travis Hess and how BigCommerce is shifting its focus towards B2B and composable commerce. We also explore BigCommerce’s commitment to the future, addressing product innovations, partner integration, and their evolving SaaS offerings. Episode highlights: BigCommerce’s new leadership: A conversation about new CEO Travis HessThe shift in focus: BigCommerce prioritising B2B and composable commerceThe product roadmap: Exciting updates like Catalyst and checkout extensionsThe future of complex eCommerce: BigCommerce's approach to customisationKey takeaways for partners and developers: The impact of open SaaS and integration toolsThe value of change management when integrating new eCommerce platforms

#73: How Technical SEO is Evolving in the Age of AI

Pete Robertshaw is joined by Chris Lever, Head of Tech SEO at Bring Digital and co-founder of the TechSEO North community, to see how organic search has evolved since Pete’s early career foray into SEO. Chris talks about his introduction to SEO and how the field is adapting to the rapid rise of AI in search. He speaks in-depth about the benefits and drawbacks of working with headless CMS builds, why brands can’t rely solely on paid media to fuel their search growth, and debates that age-old question: is SEO dead?Pete unpacks with Chris the most crucial mistakes that eCommerce brands are making in their technical SEO implementations today, including the most common site migration disasters you can easily avoid. Don’t miss it!In this episode:The ‘early days’ of technical SEOHow SEO has evolved over the past decadeWhy strong technical website foundations are more influential in search performance than ever beforeWhy investing in paid search at the expense of SEO puts your brand at serious riskThe benefits and challenges of optimising a site on a headless CMSThe common web migration mistakes brands make that harm their SEOHow tech SEO decisions differ between B2B and B2C sitesKey SEO voices eCommerce leaders should be followingHow SEOs are leveraging AI to keep up with AIHow tools like GPTSearch are fundamentally changing SEOPete Robertshaw is host of the Space Bar Podcast and Head of eCommerce Consultancy at Space 48.

#72 Man vs Machine: Can AI Predict the Biggest eCommerce Trends of 2025?

In the first episode of 2025, the Space Bar podcast team review the big eCommerce stories of the past 12 months before looking ahead to what 2025 will bring. Guest host Jonny Taylor, Head of Marketing at Dark Matter Commerce, pits two experts — leading eCommerce consultant, Pete Robertshaw, and Dark Matter Commerce CEO, Jon Woodall — against the ‘all-knowing’ AI to answer the question: who is better at predicting the future? Pete and Jon discuss the fast-emerging trends changing digital commerce today, from the unstoppable rise of social commerce (despite TikTok’s potential US ban) to the B2B ‘explosion’ that’s being championed by B2C best practices. Episode highlights: Introducing this week’s guests 2024 in review The rules of the ‘prediction’ game Prediction 1: B2B eCommerce ‘explodes’ in 2025 Prediction 2: Social commerce will win over older demographics Prediction 3: AI-assisted online shopping will become the norm Prediction 4: Sustainability will become table stakes for eCom brands AI vs human experts: the verdict Closing remarks

#71. PIM-Possible: Cracking the Code of Product Data with Start with Data

In this episode of The Space Bar Podcast, Peter Robertshaw chats with Ben and Clare Adams, co-founders of Start with Data. Together, they unravel the complex world of product data, enrichment, and Product Information Management (PIM) to help businesses thrive in today’s digital economy. From understanding key data terminology to knowing when it’s time to invest in a PIM, Ben and Clare provide actionable insights for businesses of all sizes. Whether you’re struggling with messy processes, limited data, or choosing the right platform, they’ve got you covered. In this episode: What pain points are businesses facing today with their product data? How do product data challenges differ for small vs. large businesses? The basics: Breaking down PIM and data enrichment. Is it a process problem, or do you need a PIM? How to choose the right PIM platform for your business. Building a strong business case for PIM implementation. Why do some PIMs fail, and how can you make them a success? Enhancing limited data and how AI is transforming the data landscape. A glimpse into the future of product data and PIM innovation. Hosted by Pete Robertshaw, Head of Commerce Consulting at Space 48.