Yesterday I had the pleasure of speaking at Ecommerce Scotland 2026 at the Glasgow Science Centre, what a brilliant day it was.
Around 350 ecommerce professionals gathered overlooking the Clyde, brought together by Laura Blair and Dr John McSloy of Indez, for a packed day of talks, panels and discussions about the future of digital commerce.
The speaker line-up was impressive, with brands such as Dash, Mollie and Gorgias sharing insights, alongside a room full of founders, marketers and retail leaders.
After a ten-year break from speaking on a stage like that, I was suddenly back in the hot seat.
Ten Years Since My Last Stage
If I’m honest, most of the day I felt a bit apprehensive - I wasn't on until 4.20
It’s been about a decade since I last spoke at a conference of that scale. The anticipation builds as the day goes on. You know the moment is coming, you know you’ll be mic’d up and in front of a few hundred people, and your brain starts running through all the possible scenarios.
But the funny thing is, the moment I actually sat down on the panel chair, everything settled.
I remember thinking, this is going to be alright. This is fun.
The microphone went on, the lights were up, and the familiar buzz kicked in. That rush of adrenaline you only really get when you’re speaking live.
I absolutely loved it.
The Panel: Retail’s Secret Weapon
The panel I joined was titled:
“Retail’s Secret Weapon: Integrating High Street Soul with Omnichannel Scale.”
I was in excellent company alongside:
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Ashley Farr, Digital Trading Manager at Tiso
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Michelle Gunn, Head of Digital Trading & UX at Schuh
The session was a Q&A discussion, covering the future of omnichannel retail, how physical stores and ecommerce work together, and what retailers need to be thinking about next.
What I really enjoyed was bringing a slightly different perspective to the conversation.
Much of the ecommerce world focuses on large brands and scale. My experience has largely been working with independent retailers and smaller ecommerce businesses, helping them compete with smart strategy rather than massive budgets. As well as running my own boutique for 10 years.
So naturally, I brought the indie retailer lens to the discussion.
And yes, my Shopify obsession probably came up more than once.
My main point was: “One thing I’d say to independent retailers is don’t underestimate your advantage. You can move faster, experiment quicker and know your customers better than most big brands ever will.”
What Everyone Was Talking About
Across the whole conference, two themes kept surfacing again and again.
AI and Agentic Retail
Unsurprisingly, AI was everywhere in the conversation.
But the more interesting discussion centred around agentic retail. The idea that AI tools will increasingly act as decision-makers, assistants and shopping agents for consumers.
It’s a fascinating shift that could fundamentally change how ecommerce journeys work.
The challenge for brands will be understanding how to design experiences that work not just for human customers, but for AI intermediaries as well.
Making Tech Interesting
One of my favourite talks of the day came from Charlie Marchant from Exposure Ninja.
Charlie has that rare skill of making complex technology feel understandable, relevant and genuinely interesting. Her session was engaging, sharp and full of practical insight.
It’s a good reminder that great speakers don’t just share information. They translate it.
The Best Part of the Day
After the panel finished, several people from the audience came over to chat.
That’s always my favourite part of events like this. A few people said they enjoyed the high street perspective I brought to the panel, and were curious about the work I do with independent retailers and smaller ecommerce brands.
For me, that’s where some of the most interesting retail thinking is happening.
Indies often have to innovate faster, work smarter and create stronger customer relationships because they simply don’t have the luxury of massive budgets.
When they get it right, they can be incredibly powerful businesses.
Why Marketers Should Say Yes to Speaking Opportunities
If there’s one takeaway from the day for me personally, it’s this.
Say yes to the stage.
It’s easy to talk yourself out of speaking opportunities. You convince yourself you’re too busy, not ready, or that someone else is more qualified.
But standing on that stage yesterday reminded me how valuable it can be.
Speaking forces you to sharpen your thinking, articulate your ideas and share your perspective with people who might never otherwise come across your work.
If you’re lucky, it also reminds you how much you enjoy it.
After ten years away from the conference stage, I can safely say the bug is back.
The adrenaline, the conversation, the energy in the room. It’s addictive.
So watch this space.
Next time, maybe an even bigger stage.
About the Author
Steph Briggs is a UK-based ecommerce marketing strategist and copywriter who specialises in helping retailers grow through smarter digital strategy, SEO and content. With over 30 years in retail, Steph works with independent shops, ecommerce brands and retail organisations to bridge the gap between high street experience and online growth.
She is the Ecom lead for Retail Champion Business Consultants, working alongside retail strategist Clare Bailey to support businesses across the UK retail sector.
Steph is also a regular speaker on ecommerce, retail strategy and omnichannel marketing, bringing practical insights from the frontline of independent retail and digital commerce.
If you're looking for a speaker for a retail or ecommerce event, or need support with Shopify, ecommerce strategy or SEO content, you can connect with Steph at Steph Briggs Marketing.