Meet the ecommerce experts

Gordon Black

Gordon founded Black ID in 1995, when the internet was relatively new. His agency started building first generation websites for clients like Royal Bank of Scotland, Standard Life, Bacardi and Burger King. They won multiple awards for industry leading web design and digital marketing work.

In 2010 Gordon was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Social 360, an affiliate marketing business based in Dubai. He then moved over to Clicksco, the parent business, to help with the development of an online financial services business in 2012.

More recently his book, “Why you’re not selling on Shopify” was published on Amazon in seven different countries. He now works exclusively with ecommerce business owners in retail and manufacturing sectors helping them to grow their online traffic and increase profitable revenue using platforms like Shopify and Big Commerce.

Buy the book here

Rakesh Davda

Rakesh has been working in the ecommerce for the last 15 years. He has a background in programming for public sector, private sector and agencies. Today he spends most of his time working with clients on ecommerce websites on platforms like Shopify and Squarespace.

After completing his formal education in computer science, Rakesh decided to venture into the world of technical consulting. Recognising the need for guidance and support in the ecommerce space, Rakesh began organising workshops and mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs. His workshops and mentorship programs became highly sought after, attracting participants from various backgrounds and industries.

Today, Rakesh Davda is a renowned figure in the ecommerce industry and continues to innovate and evolve his offerings, ensuring that his program remains at the forefront of ecommerce education and support.

Gary Ennis

Gary is a qualified trainer, coach and Chartered Marketer, with more than twenty five years experience in the field of Digital Marketing and Social Media. He is also the founder and Managing Director of NSDesign, an award winning digital training consultancy. Gary’s main business focus and passion is delivering consultancy and training to public and private sector organisations across the UK. Working in partnership with the likes of Scottish Enterprise, Business Gateway, Skills Development Scotland, and the Scottish Chambers of Commerce.

Gary is a former ‘CEO Of The Year’ at the Scottish Digital Technology Awards, been twice shortlisted for "Digital Professional of the year" at the Herald Digital Business Awards, and has recently been awarded Fellow status at the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Mark Hunter

Mark is the producer of all video and audio production at Learn Ecommerce. As the co-founder and co-owner of Podcast Studio Glasgow, the country’s most experienced podcast studio, Mark brings a wealth of expertise to every project.

With a deep understanding of content creation and digital strategy, Mark helps businesses harness the power of impactful content across multiple digital channels. From developing successful campaigns for multi-million-pound ecommerce brands to managing social media strategies for public and private sector clients, Mark’s work consistently delivers results.

Having personally run e-commerce businesses, Mark is well-versed in platforms like Shopify, Squarespace, and BigCommerce. His passion lies in empowering high street and online business owners to unlock the potential of their digital presence and maximise their reach.

Rene Looper

Rene Looper joined Learn Ecommerce in December 2024. Rene has long been recognised as a leading authority in Scotland for social media consultancy, training, and digital transformation. An experienced and inspiring speaker, coach, strategist, and trainer, Rene combines his extensive knowledge of social media with a strong focus on AI and Automation, helping businesses unlock their full potential in the digital age.

Brian Tait

Brian works with Learn Ecommerce as a contributor covering digital marketing and data analytics. A specialist in Google Ads and Google Analytics, Brian has worked as an independent digital marketing consultant for more than twenty years. Over the years he has worked for public and private sector clients on everything from SEO to paid media advertising. Recently Brian’s agency has been working with ecommerce businesses helping to drive traffic to their websites and increase sales conversions.

Karen Riddick

Karen works with Learn Ecommerce consulting on marketplace selling, inventory management and ecommerce logistics. She is the owner of Second Nature Online, an ecommerce business selling ethically sourced home furnishing products. Initially she set-up a side hustle on Ebay and then moved to Amazon Marketplace. She eventually left her full-time salaried job working for a government agency and made the bold decision to focus exclusively on ecommerce. Today she runs a Shopify shop and manages multiple marketplaces like Amazon, Wayfair and Ebay. Karen has built up her expertise over the years, and is now a regular ecommerce conference contributor.