Dallas, TX — January 5, 2026 — ShopIQ, the Shopify-integrated commerce platform built for direct selling and community-driven commerce models, today announced that Rodger Smith has joined the company as President and CEO, effective December 1, 2025.
Smith brings more than two decades of experience at the intersection of direct selling, affiliate marketing, and platform technology. He has built large-scale distributor organizations, advised executive teams across the industry, and led the modernization of commerce platforms used by some of the most recognizable brands in direct selling.
ShopIQ exists to solve a growing challenge facing the industry: how to combine the speed, conversion performance, and global trust of Shopify with the architectural and operational realities of direct selling. Smith’s appointment marks a significant step forward as more companies look to modernize on Shopify without introducing long-term risk or instability.
“I’ve spent most of my career working with direct selling companies that want to grow without losing their identity,” said Rodger Smith, President and CEO of ShopIQ. “One thing has become unmistakably clear. Shopify is the future of ecommerce. Direct selling companies need a modern, stable foundation so they can stop worrying about infrastructure and focus on delivering great products, empowering their field, and building real trust with customers.
The hard part has never been vision. It’s been architecture. That’s why I’m excited about what we’re building at ShopIQ. This intersection is where the future of direct selling will be built, and it’s where I’m spending the next chapter of my career.”
Smith’s background includes building a large independent distributor organization at Xango early in his career, co-founding DirectScale in 2012, leading the company through multiple funding rounds, and helping guide it to a successful acquisition by Exigo in 2022. He has since worked closely with executives, founders, and investors to modernize platforms, reduce operational complexity, and support sustainable growth at scale.
Connor Hester, CEO of ShapeTech Solutions and a longtime partner in Shopify-based direct selling implementations, emphasized the importance of Smith’s leadership at this moment in the market.
“Rodger brings a rare combination of field experience, executive perspective, and platform fluency,” said Connor Hester, CEO of ShapeTech Solutions. “He understands where direct selling breaks down when ecommerce systems aren’t designed intentionally, and he knows how to bridge that gap. We’re excited to continue working in close partnership with Rodger and the ShopIQ team as the industry moves toward a more modern, Shopify-based future.”
As President and CEO, Smith will focus on shaping ShopIQ’s platform strategy, strengthening partner relationships, and helping direct selling organizations modernize ecommerce effectively—preserving velocity, reducing risk, and delivering consistent experiences the field can trust.
About ShopIQ
ShopIQ is Shopify for direct selling.
ShopIQ enables direct selling companies to run on Shopify with the speed, flexibility, and performance Shopify is known for—without introducing architectural risk, operational drag, or field instability as the business grows.
Designed for modern direct selling, affiliate, and other community-driven commerce models, ShopIQ supports businesses where attribution, enrollment, commissions, and field experience directly impact growth, trust, and retention.
By resolving the tension between Shopify’s speed and the complexity of direct selling, ShopIQ helps companies launch ecommerce solutions faster today without paying for it later.
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