Ecommerce Live 2023 | A digital industry muse

If you're looking for an industry-related buzz, then a day spent at the Leaderex Ecommerce Live event at Sandton Convention Centre will have you rubbing shoulders with and learning from business leaders, thought leaders and entrepreneurs.

Where do you go if you need a break from the office? Let me suggest that immersing yourself for a day at the JSE Leaderex Ecommerce Live event at the Sandton Convention Centre is just what the doctor ordered. It happened this past week so you have unfortunately missed out this year, but go ahead and pencil it in for 2024.

In the meantime, here are a few teasers as to why you should make this annual event a priority:

#1 A networking mecca

The future of digital and ecommerce is dynamic and fluid. Making industry contacts is key to navigating the changes and future trends, and staying in the game.

Networking is one of the pillars of the Ecommerce Live event. You get to see and be seen - all in one place. Actual hardcopy business cards are exchanged, relaxed conversations happen and connections are made. As a freelance content writer - and not a natural networker - I floated around drawn to visually striking booths and friendly faces.

Speaking of friendly faces, I do need to give a shout out to Tristan from Bob shop, (the new name for Bidorbuy), Cindy from Enveloop (a pioneering eco-friendly packaging alternative for the courier industry), and Des and Toby from TouchbasePro (email marketing experts).

#2 A knowledge hub

If you, like me, are a free webinar junkie, then Ecommerce Live is a realtime wonderland of knowledge sharers, specialists and thought leaders. This is the reason I go: to sit at the feet and be exposed to those who magnanimously impart their on-the-ground industry experience and knowledge.

From 10h00 till 17h00, you get to attend as many free talks and workshops as you are able. We’re talking CEOs, directors, entrepreneurs and researchers taking part in panel discussions or giving TED-like talks. And then there are the demos and workshops.

It’s energising, stimulating and motivating.

Here’s a sampling of what I attended:

• Key marketing trends for a new era of ecommerce by Kirsty Bisset, the Managing Director of Have You Heard Agency

• 5 Surprising facts about SA grocery shoppers by Nicola Allen is a senior analyst at Trade Intelligence

• How to design an effective digital marketing strategy by Jenna Bloch from Loot and Prof Doug de Villiers, the CEO of Fastrack

• How to improve your ecommerce site by Melissa Rowlston, founder and director of Maverick Marketing

• 5 Reasons you should optimise for mobile by Rob Maclean, Managing Director at App Developer Studio

• Email marketing workshop by Des Brown from TouchbasePro

#3 An accessible space

One of the coolest aspects about Leaderex and Ecommerce Live is that anyone is welcome (as long as you have purchased a ticket @ R200). This is not a ‘by invitation only’ event and no RSVPs are required. (Thanks to Warren Kearns and Insaka, I received a free ticket because I had done his ‘How to set up a shopify store’ course last year).

Ecommerce Live facilitates a meeting of all minds where you get to rub shoulders with professionals, entrepreneurs, CEOs, directors, marketing managers and the odd freelancer. There is something for everyone - from startups to fully fledged SMEs and large enterprises.

This was my second time attending this event. The programme will leave you exhausted, but empowered and inspired. The conversations, the learning, the sharing, the exposure, the networking and the coffee (last year it was Truth coffee, this year it was Mugg and Bean), make it a really great day away from the office.

Hope to see you there next year!

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