In our latest BusinessLeague interview, we sat down with David Sima, e-commerce expert and Account Executive at Vevol Media, to discuss what growth looks like in 2025, what Romanian e-shops still get wrong, and why affiliate marketing is underestimated — especially when going international.
💬 "In 2018 we were building stores. Now we’re building performance machines."
That’s how David sums up Vevol’s evolution. From its roots in Shopify setup services to working side-by-side with Shopify itself, Vevol’s trajectory shows what’s possible when a team stops outsourcing growth and starts owning it.
🧠 E-commerce in 2025: The Specialist as a Connector
David defines today’s e-commerce specialist not by how much they know about a single channel, but by their ability to bridge multiple disciplines: SEO, email, ads, UX, CRO, and strategy.
“You don’t have to be an expert in everything, but you need to make the parts work together. Otherwise, growth doesn’t happen.”
Too many e-shops still operate in silos — SEO chasing one KPI, email another, PPC somewhere else — with no one aligning efforts around revenue. In Vevol’s model, the specialist is the orchestrator.
🌍 Beyond Borders — And Why Most Fail to Scale
Cross-border commerce sounds sexy, but David breaks down why many Romanian stores flop when entering new markets:
They translate, run some Meta ads, and… that’s it.
They fail to localize UX, payment methods, or storytelling.
They export existing conversion problems into new countries.
📉 “You’re just exporting your bottlenecks,” he says.
🤝 Affiliate Marketing: Still Underused, Still a Game Changer
David praises platforms like 2Performant and BusinessLeague for enabling growth through cost-per-sale partnerships, especially for stores with international ambition.
“Affiliate can be a huge acquisition tool — if you treat it seriously. But many still expect results without putting in the budget, tracking, or product feeds.”
Vevol has seen brands expand beyond Romania profitably thanks to affiliates who know the terrain — and who only get paid when they deliver.
🛠️ Projects to Watch: Vevol Themes & Shopify Meetups
David shared exciting developments including:
Vevol Themes: Building official Shopify themes, funded 70% by their own customers — a massive vote of trust.
Shopify Meetups in Romania & CEE: Bringing Shopify to Bucharest officially for the first time and creating a regional hub for real growth.
🔮 Looking Ahead
“We’re no longer just store builders — we’re helping shape the Shopify ecosystem itself.”
From collaborating directly with Shopify on payments, apps, and ecosystem development, to setting sights on European-level meetups, Vevol is positioning itself as more than an agency — it’s a platform builder.
Follow David Sima on LinkedIn and explore Vevol’s site to learn more about their work.
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