Riga Comm 2026 was a great opportunity for the Magebit team to connect with merchants, meet industry professionals, explore potential partnerships, and get a better understanding of the Latvian e-commerce market.
Over two days at Ķīpsala, we had plenty of interesting conversations, discovered potential business opportunities, and gathered valuable insights into the challenges local merchants are facing. The Magebit team attending the event included me, Jurijs, and Liva.
Day 1: Exploring the e-commerce community
We started the first day by meeting at the office to collect everything we needed for the event before heading to Ķīpsala, where Riga Comm was taking place. After setting up our stand, we were ready to welcome visitors and represent Magebit at one of Latvia’s major technology and business events.
Magebit stand at Riga Comm 2026
The first day was relatively calm for our team. We had several interesting conversations with merchants, received a lot of partnership suggestions, and had the opportunity to connect with people from across the industry. However, much of the activity around the expo seemed to revolve around speeches, panel discussions, and presentations taking place across the different stages.
We also took some time to explore the other exhibitors and see what companies were showcasing. We noticed that many exhibitors focused on payment solutions, security services and products, and artificial intelligence. It was interesting to see how these areas were represented at the event and how they fit into the broader digital business landscape.
During the day, we also bumped into Berat Canpolat, who was exploring the latest industry developments, and Rūta Branta, who was checking in on how the expo was going for LATEKA members. We also had a chance to reconnect with familiar faces from the Latvian e-commerce community.
Jurijs, Berat and Liva at the Magebit stand (left), Ksenija and Rūta at the main Riga Comm stand (right)
Overall, the first day felt smaller than we had initially expected and seemed to place a stronger emphasis on networking and partnership building than on direct service discovery. Nevertheless, it was a good opportunity to exchange ideas, reconnect with existing contacts, and represent Magebit within the local e-commerce community.
While some of us wrapped up the day, Jurijs and Rūta continued networking at the after-party organized by Manago AI, making the most of the opportunity to connect with industry professionals in a more relaxed setting.
Day 2: More merchant conversations and business opportunities
The second and final day started even more quietly than the first. We arrived at Ķīpsala in the morning, but the number of visitors around the expo initially remained relatively low.
Things changed around lunchtime, when we noticed a significant increase in visitors at our stand, particularly merchants. We had the opportunity to speak with representatives from companies of different sizes, learn more about their business needs, and discuss potential collaboration opportunities.
These conversations resulted in several interesting leads that we hope will develop into future client relationships for Magebit. More importantly, they gave us a clearer picture of what local e-commerce businesses are currently looking for and where we might be able to help.
The Magebit team next to the stand
An interesting insight: merchants want new partners, but trust takes time
One of the most interesting takeaways from the event was hearing how previous experiences with digital agencies can influence merchants’ decisions today.
Several merchants mentioned that they had experienced difficulties or disappointment when working with agencies in the past. As a result, they have become more cautious about choosing new partners and are more careful about whom they trust with their business. Interestingly, this caution does not mean they no longer see the value of working with agencies. Quite the opposite: some are still actively looking for new partners because they understand the importance of external expertise and the role it can play in developing their businesses.
This creates an interesting challenge for agencies. Finding potential clients is only one part of the process, but building confidence, understanding a merchant’s expectations, and demonstrating a genuine commitment to their success are just as important.
For Magebit, these conversations were a useful reminder that strong partnerships are built through trust, transparency, and a clear understanding of the client’s needs, rather than simply presenting services and solutions.
Another recurring theme throughout the event was interest in e-commerce platform migrations and digital marketing. These two topics came up in multiple conversations, suggesting that many merchants are thinking about how to improve their existing e-commerce infrastructure while also attracting more customers and strengthening their online presence.
Platform migration discussions highlighted the importance of having the right technical foundation for future growth. At the same time, interest in digital marketing showed that merchants are also looking for ways to increase visibility, reach new audiences, and get more value from their online stores.
Although our conversations do not represent the entire Latvian market, the repeated interest in these areas provides a useful indication of the priorities and challenges some local e-commerce businesses are facing.
For Magebit, this creates opportunities to have more targeted conversations with merchants, understand their current setups, and explore how our technical expertise and e-commerce services could support their next steps.
Wrapping up Riga Comm 2026
As the second day came to an end, we packed up our stand, collected the remaining merchandise and banners, and headed back to the office. After two days of conversations, networking, and exploring potential business opportunities, it was time to wrap things up and reflect on the experience.
Although Riga Comm was relatively calm compared with some larger industry events, it still gave us valuable opportunities to meet merchants, reconnect with familiar faces, and learn more about the Latvian e-commerce landscape.
The conversations also reminded us that successful partnerships require more than technical expertise. Understanding merchants’ previous experiences, earning their trust, and addressing their actual business needs are essential when building long-term relationships.
A big thank you to everyone who stopped by our stand and took the time to speak with us! It was great meeting you, and we look forward to continuing the conversations and seeing where these new connections lead.
Key takeaways
- Trust is essential for long-term partnerships: Some merchants’ negative experiences with previous agencies have made them more cautious, reinforcing the importance of transparency, communication, and reliability.
- Migration and digital marketing are recurring interests: These topics featured in multiple conversations, highlighting potential opportunities to support merchants with both technical improvements and business growth.
- Events create opportunities beyond immediate sales: Even a relatively calm expo can help generate leads, build relationships, and uncover potential collaborations.
- Understanding the local market matters: Speaking directly with merchants provides valuable insight into their challenges, priorities, and expectations.
- Every conversation can be a starting point: The most valuable outcomes may continue long after the event, as initial discussions develop into future partnerships and projects.
