Manchester Digital’s annual Ecommerce Conference took place on Thursday 24th April 2025 for a day dedicated to the innovators, builders and decision-makers shaping the future of online commerce.
Held at Sister in Manchester and supported by our brilliant sponsors Peckish, CyberLab, PushON and Sister, the event welcomed ecommerce leaders, professionals and experts from across the region to hear from speakers, take part in thought-provoking discussions and connect with others working across the ecommerce space.
Here’s a look back at the day’s key moments.
Accelerating Ecommerce Growth in the North West
Kicking off the conference was a big-picture conversation about the opportunities for ecommerce in the region. Chaired by Manchester Digital’s Managing Director Katie Gallagher OBE, and joined by David Edmundson-Bird, Principal Lecturer in Digital Marketing, Faculty Lead for AI & Digital Enhanced Learning at Manchester Metropolitan University Business School and Jordan Sullivan Head of Economic Policy, the Startup Coalition, the panel explored what’s needed to drive further growth and innovation in the North West.
The panel discussed how the region has the skills, ambition and heritage to lead – but needs the right government backing to scale. From tax breaks to targeted policy support, the session touched on everything from digital adoption to the need for a UK-born ecommerce platform that supports smaller businesses.
Ecommerce is the real-world application of emerging tech, and it deserves a central place in the UK’s growth plans.
Keynotes: Patagonia & Peckish
Our keynote talks bookended up the Conference, and were delivered by Rich Statham, Country Sales Manager UK & Ireland, Patagonia and Grace Wilkinson, Managing Director, Peckish.
Patagonia challenged attendees to rethink their relationship with the word “sustainable” , preferring instead to talk about being responsible. Their mission to save our home planet was a call to arms for businesses to act now, take accountability, and consider every impact they make. They encouraged attendees to explore initiatives like 1% for the Planet, B Corp certification and the Carbon Literacy Project.
Meanwhile, Peckish, the new delivery app from the Co-op, brought a fresh perspective from a 180-year-old grocer that’s embracing circular innovation. MD Grace Wilkinson shared how the app was born and its mission to support local retailers - who struggle to make an impact on other established delivery apps.
Panel: Closing The Loop
Chaired by Dr Vikas Shah MBE DL, this panel brought together Emily Oliver-King, Head of Digital Product & UX, musicMagpie; Ryan Atkins, Co-Founder & CEO, Supercycle; Will Kinghorn, Technology Adoption Specialist, Made Smarter and Riikka Olli, Head of Circularity, Madeby; for a lively conversation about the role of technology in building more transparent, efficient and sustainable ecommerce models.
From AI-powered product grading to traceability tools and new circular business models, the panellists shared examples of how tech is being used to reduce waste, lower impact and scale responsibly.
There was also a clear challenge to cut through greenwashing and focus on action over messaging, with panellists urging businesses to make sustainability part of their boardroom conversations and product decisions.
Under Siege – Live Hack Demo with CyberLab
Another eye opening session came courtesy of CyberLab, who delivered a live hack demonstration that walked attendees through a simulated cyberattack on a typical ecommerce website. Adam and Chris showcased, in real time, how common coding flaws can leave businesses exposed. The session didn’t just demonstrate how breaches happen but served as a stark reminder of what’s at stake: stolen customer data, defaced websites, and full system compromise. Their message was clear: “Defence in depth isn’t just a buzzword, it’s your safety net when one control fails.” For any e-commerce business handling customer data, it was a powerful call to prioritise cyber resilience now, not later.
Panel: Beyond The Basket
In a session exploring how brands are bridging the gap between online and offline, chair Mark Leach, Founder of Centre Channel; was joined by Sinead Flood, Founder of July Child; Mina Baghkalayeh, Software Developer at Beauty Bay; and Georgia King, Ecommerce Lead at Fox Group International; to discuss what today’s customers really expect.
Whether it’s high-converting TikTok Lives, carefully curated unboxing experiences or deeply personalised customer journeys, one thing was clear – trust, transparency and care are key.
Panellists shared how customer feedback, smart use of tech (like Klaviyo and bespoke platforms), and attention to detail are helping them stand out in a crowded market. And as Sinead put it: customers want to feel like they’re buying from people – not just businesses.
Other sessions
Elsewhere across the day, Voxelo.ai shared their mission to democratise 3D for commerce. With 82% of shoppers viewing products in 3D if available, but uptake low, now is time to experiment in this exciting and ever evolving tech.
PushON invited guests from Adobe Commerce and WDS Components to share insights on using B2B tech that will delight clients, whilst a panel with experts from McCann, novi.digital, Nexer Digital, Haier Europe, GBG Loqate and Pets at Home discussed the evolving customer experience – and the technologies driving it.
Final Thoughts
From circular commerce to AI-driven personalisation, the day was packed with ideas, insights and inspiration for the future of ecommerce.
A huge thank you once more to our sponsors, Peckish, CyberLab, PushON and Sister, and to all of our speakers and attendees for making the 2025 Ecommerce Conference a standout event.
Manchester Digital has developed a proposal calling on the Government to explore the creation of a National Centre of Ecommerce Excellence, in partnership with The Manchester Metropolitan University and UKTCG. The initiative aims to future-proof the sector, create jobs and ensure the UK remains competitive in the global digital economy.
Read more about that here: https://www.manchesterdigital.com/post/manchester-digital/manchester-digital-calls-for-national-centre-of-ecommerce-excellence-to-secure-uk-s-global-leadership
