In this episode of 'Within WordPress,' I talk to James Kemp, the new Core Product Manager for WooCommerce. James shares his journey from founding IconicWP to joining WooCommerce, detailing his previous roles and responsibilities.

We discuss the future direction of WooCommerce, focusing on the 'More in Core' initiative aimed at integrating essential plugins into the core product. James elaborates on the decision-making process behind adding new features, handling community feedback, and maintaining the balance between extensibility and basic functionality.

He also emphasizes WooCommerce's ongoing efforts to enhance performance and user experience, making 2025 a promising year for Woo merchants and developers alike.

00:00 Introduction
00:17 Meet James Kemp: WooCommerce Core Product Manager
01:09 James Kemp's Career Journey
03:24 Building WooCommerce Plugins
06:12 Magento and WordPress Integration
07:37 Transition to WooCommerce
12:43 Role and Responsibilities at WooCommerce
13:24 Core Experience vs. Core Platform
15:48 Order Management and Fulfillment
20:54 Deciding Features for WooCommerce Core
23:24 Premium Plugins and Core Integration
28:35 WooCommerce Plugin Strategy
30:10 Comparing WooCommerce and Shopify
33:28 User Feedback and Core Features
35:26 Challenges of Integrating Plugins into Core
37:11 Future Plans for WooCommerce Core
40:09 Balancing Core Features and Plugin Ecosystem
44:39 Extensibility and Community Feedback
59:00 Looking Ahead to 2025

Join us in a fun conversation with plenty of learnings for everyone with Rytis Lauris, co-founder and CEO of Omnisend.

In this episode of 'Within WordPress,' Rytis shares insights into Omnisend's journey from a digital marketing agency to a leading marketing automation platform.

We discuss the importance of focusing on solving problems rather than pushing marketing speak, effective use of automation in marketing, and the nuances of integrating with WordPress and WooCommerce. Learn about Rytis' vision for the future of WordPress in competing with DIY site editors, the challenges and opportunities of UX, and the essential components of a successful marketing strategy.

Whether you're a developer, marketer, or WordPress enthusiast, this episode offers valuable takeaways on business growth, customer engagement, and the evolving landscape of WordPress.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:09 Setting the Conversation Tone
04:15 Introduction to Rytis and Omnisend
06:44 Omnisend's Journey and WordPress Integration
08:52 Company Culture and Team Dynamics
12:08 Goal Setting and Achievements
15:08 Community Engagement and Learning
29:51 WordPress Community Insights
35:23 Business Mindset in WordPress Community
36:19 WordCamp Experiences: US vs Europe
38:23 Navigating Market Specializations
41:35 Cultural Differences in SMS Adoption
49:51 The Power of Marketing Automation
01:06:07 Challenges in WordPress Integration
01:09:06 Future of WordPress and WooCommerce
01:12:15 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Join us in this comprehensive Within WordPress episode as we explore the journey behind NitroPack with co-founder Mihail Stoichev. We talk about NitroPack's evolution from its beginnings in 2013 to its significant leap into WordPress optimization in 2019.

We delve into NitroPack's core philosophy, the importance of user-friendly design, sustainability, and its commitment to open source. We talk about the exceptional customer support and lessons learned from experiences in both open-source and closed systems like WordPress and Shopify.

Mihail also shares notable experiences with high-profile clients, best practices for user-centric design, and the strategic growth that led NitroPack to industry leadership, including its successful exit and the exciting launch of UXify.

This episode is packed with entrepreneurial insights, strategic planning tips, and the continual push for innovation and improvement within the WordPress ecosystem.

00:00 Introduction and Sound Check
00:38 Meet Mihail Stoichev from NitroPack
01:02 The Origins of NitroPack
02:38 Early Challenges and Solutions
04:28 Naming and Branding NitroPack
06:10 Launching NitroPack for WordPress
12:38 The SaaS Approach and Customer Support
24:31 Lessons from Shopify and SMS Bump
35:56 A Proud Soccer Enthusiast's Encounter
36:54 Working with Blackboard: A Different Kind of Rockstar
37:52 The Joy of Working with Big Brands
38:30 Building a Global Business from Bulgaria
39:14 The Importance of Community and Learning
40:29 Continuous Improvement in Software Development
41:55 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
46:19 The Journey of Exiting a Company
49:39 Transforming NitroPack and Strategic Growth
53:13 Developing NitroPack OneClick
57:36 The Second Exit and New Beginnings
01:00:15 Introducing UXify and Future Plans
01:06:01 Closing Thoughts and Gratitude