From changing consumer behaviours and scaling digital operations to modernising tech and embracing AI, the series – in partnership with Commerce – will explore the trends, opportunities and decisions defining digital retail today.
It will also examine how ecommerce leadership, skillsets and career paths are evolving, with fresh perspectives from across the industry.
Each instalment will feature candid conversations with those driving transformation – from founders and C-suite leaders to digital directors and the next generation of up-and-coming digital talent.
In partnership with Commerce, expect practical insights, honest reflections and actionable strategies from the people tackling fashion’s biggest digital challenges.
Wednesday 16 September, 1pm – register here
Fresh perspectives: digital leaders on agentic AI, the future of ecomm and new career paths
The first panel in Drapers’ Inside Ecommerce series will bring together up and coming digital leaders to discuss fresh perspectives on what’s next for fashion online, sharing their views on the trends and challenges shaping retail today – from agentic AI, paid media, search, social and beyond.
In partnership with Commerce, we will be joined by Boden, the digital-led lifestyle brand that is on a successful turnaround mission.
Panel:
– Jack Flood, senior paid media manager, Boden
– Moe Dhanji, agentic director, Commerce
Tuesday 22 September, 1pm – register here
The decision makers: digital directors debate the state of ecommerce, including Urban Outfitters, Crew & Clothing and more
Which ecommerce trends deserve investment? And which are simply hype? This panel of digital directors from across the fashion and retail industry will explore the trends and technologies worth investing in, the opportunities for online growth and the strategies driving success in today’s turbulent market.
From AI strategies – ignore or invest? – to the customer behaviours shaping digital decisions, from agentic to search and social, our panellists will share what is working, what isn’t and where they believe brands and retailers should focus next.
Expect candid views on the decisions digital leaders are making now, the challenges they face and what they believe will shape the future of fashion retail.
Panel:
– Ian Smith, ecommerce and marketing director, Urban Outfitters
– Raine Peake, ecommerce director, Seasalt
– Stephen Langford, ex online and omnichannel director, Marks & Spencer
Wednesday 30 September, 1pm – register here
The ecommerce disruptor: meet the entrepreneurial co-founder behind the rise of Rise & Fall
What digital rulebook? This session will be a lesson in digital done a different way.
Rise & Fall is a London-based pure-play, direct-to-consumer fashion and homeware brand taking a fresh approach to online retail.
We will be joined by the brand’s entrepreneurial co-founder, Jed Coleman, founder of the successful Caravan chain of restaurants and coffee roasters in London, to find out how his and his co-founders’ outsiders’ perspectives are helping drive innovation – and success – in online fashion retail.
We will discuss the digital trends to know, the consumer behaviours to watch and career advice from a successful business founder.
Panellist:
– Jed Coleman, co-founder, Rise & Fall
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Facts Only
* The series explores trends, opportunities, and decisions in digital retail driven by changing consumer behaviors and scaling digital operations.
* The content examines the evolution of e-commerce leadership, skillsets, and career paths through industry perspectives.
* Installment one is scheduled for Wednesday, September 16th at 1 pm.
* Installment two is scheduled for Tuesday, September 22nd at 1 pm.
* Installment three is scheduled for Wednesday, September 30th at 1 pm.
* The first panel discusses digital leaders on agentic AI, the future of e-commerce, and new career paths.
* A panel includes Jack Flood (senior paid media manager, Boden) and Moe Dhanji (agentic director, Commerce).
* The second panel involves digital directors debating investment in e-commerce trends, technologies, and growth strategies.
* The second panel features Ian Smith (ecommerce and marketing director, Urban Outfitters), Raine Peake (ecommerce director, Seasalt), and Stephen Langford (ex online and omnichannel director, Marks & Spencer).
* The third session features Jed Coleman (co-founder, Rise & Fall).
Executive Summary
The series explores the trends, opportunities, and decisions currently defining digital retail by examining shifts in consumer behavior, scaling digital operations, technological modernization, and the integration of AI. The content will feature candid discussions with leaders across the industry, including founders, C-suite executives, digital directors, and emerging talent, focusing on evolving leadership, skillsets, and career paths in e-commerce.
The event schedule includes three installments: one on September 16th focusing on digital leaders' perspectives on agentic AI and the future of e-commerce; another on September 22nd featuring digital directors debating investment in e-commerce trends; and a final session on September 30th introducing an entrepreneur from Rise & Fall to discuss the digital rulebook, consumer behavior, and career advice.
In partnership with Commerce, the discussions will provide practical insights and actionable strategies regarding fashion's digital challenges, incorporating perspectives from established players like Boden and industry leaders such as Urban Outfitters, Seasalt, and Marks & Spencer.
Full Take
The structure of the event moves from future-forward perspectives on emerging technology (agentic AI) to strategic investment debates among decision-makers, culminating in a ground-level view from an entrepreneur navigating direct-to-consumer success. This progression suggests a narrative arc moving from abstract technological possibility to concrete, actionable strategy and lived experience.
The juxtaposition of high-level discussions on agentic AI and paid media with the practical insights offered by the Rise & Fall co-founder highlights a tension between theoretical digital evolution and the operational reality of executing fashion retail strategies. The central theme appears to be bridging the gap between high-level trends (what is possible) and implementation realities (what works).
A key pattern observed is the framing of innovation through specific stakeholder groups—from C-suite strategy to frontline execution—suggesting an implicit demand for holistic understanding rather than siloed expertise. The focus on "agentic AI" signals a tension between the promise of autonomous systems and the need for human-led strategic direction, which requires grappling with inherent uncertainties regarding investment and future positioning.
What assumptions underpin the expectation that these perspectives will yield actionable strategies? What mechanisms are implicitly set up to move participants from candid reflection into committed behavioral change? Is the partnership with Commerce intended to facilitate consensus or simply amplify diverse viewpoints?