When it comes to luxury, the ability to speak to customer directly is essential and something people have come to expect when in store. It’s why 

 added an iMessage function to its iOS app, enabling direct customer conversation and encouraging a seamless shopping experience to the 

 of people that say that having a personal relationship with a brand factors into their loyalty.

Designed to replicate the hyper-personalised experience of shopping at Paris-based department store Le Bon Marché, 

 is an e-commerce venture from LVMH. One-to-one video consultations with Parisian stylists are available, and they let shoppers simultaneously browse stock and chat through the app. The brand also hopes to attract customers with online-exclusive collections – which should appeal to the 

 as a key factor when buying luxury fashion.

While in China, marketplace JD.com is hoping to complement its extravagant products with a delivery service that makes the online buying experience seem truly luxurious. 

 delivered via a suited and booted courier driving an electric car.

For over 160 years, well-heeled shoppers have wandered down the Rue de Sèvres in Paris to visit the iconic department store Le Bon Marché. Now, parent company LVMH is bringing the experience of browsing elegant boutiques online with 24 Sèvres. But do people really want to buy luxury over the web?

24 Sèvres: bringing Parisian luxury into the digital age

Luxury means different things to different people. For some, a product simply needs to have a prestigious brand name, but others may demand hyper-exclusivity or the use of exotic materials. Canvas8 spoke with 20 Britons to discover how they define luxury in terms of clothes and accessories.

How do Britons define ‘luxury’ fashion?

Despite slowing sales of global luxury brands in South Korea, the online luxury resale market is continuing to grow even amid an economic slump. As consumers turn to second-hand to purchase luxury goods for more affordable prices, platforms can build consumer trust further through verification. 



Luxury resale market continues to grow in South Korea

Southeast Asia (SEA) is home to millions of Muslims, making Ramadan one of the major holidays in the region. This largely religious season has also become a time for shopping and social gatherings, allowing brands to tap into a modernising (yet devout) community that likes to mix old and new.

How Southeast Asian Muslims celebrate Ramadan today

Despite the post-COVID financial squeeze, people in the US are veering toward premium alcoholic drinks, with a growing preference for finer offerings, and quality over quantity. What explains this paradox, and how can brands navigate the evolving landscape of premiumization?

How premium alcohol became a mainstay among US drinkers

Inspired by the outlandish health regimes of tech CEOs, more wealthy Americans are thinking about ways to enhance their health. But they’re not just thinking about how they feel today – the goal of new treatments and supplements is to ensure healthy lives for as long as possible.

How HNWIs are health hacking their way to immortality

Xydrobe has announced Harrods as the first retail partner for its multi-sensory VR cinema, providing a diverse program of tactile, immersive experiences. With audience expectations around experiential shopping increasing, digital integrations can enhance storytelling and community engagement.

Harrods to offer multisensory VR experience for shoppers

Michelin has introduced a new ranking system for luxury hotels to combat broad standardisation in the industry. The Michelin Keys reflect a renewed emphasis on uniqueness and local culture in luxury, offering smaller hotels an opportunity to stand out in a crowded market.

Michelin Keys revolutionise luxury hotels ranking

Timepieces have evolved from utility to self-expression, fuelling major growth in the luxury watch market led by younger consumers. The industry is being reshaped by Gen Z and Y buyers who prioritise individuality and sustainability. How can watchmakers merge tradition with consumer demands?

How will consumer trends affect timepieces in 2024?

A growing number of young Chinese people are investing in gold charms and jewellery in an effort to safely store their money amid economic volatility. As people grapple with uncertainty and a lack of trust, many are searching for decentralised approaches outside the mainstream to feel secure.

Chinese Gen Z turn to gold investments for security

In an ageing country with fewer kids per capita than ever, South Korean adults are willing to spend money on the kids that do exist in their lives, driving a booming childrenswear industry. What’s shaping Gen Alpha’s fashion choices in their formative years, and what should brands watch out for?

Why are so many South Korean Gen Alphas wearing luxury clothes?

Lab-diamond fine jewellery brand Kimai has seen waves of success – from being spotted on Megan Markle to winning a £250,000 investment on the BBC’s Dragons Den. Even as a newcomer, its ethically conscious jewellery paired with a stylish aesthetic has made it a leading brand in the sector.

How Kimai makes fine jewellery guilt-free

India’s discerning high net worth individuals (HNWIs) are increasingly reviving traditions and connecting past and present in their fashion. Many now place high value on timelessness, especially among well-heeled urban globetrotters. What can others learn from this shift back to roots?

Why India's HNWIs are bringing back traditional designs

The number of millionaires and billionaires is rising in Southeast Asia, marking the region as a centre for wealth creation and economic boom for locals and international visitors alike. What trends and behaviours are unfolding with the influx into this new high-earning market?

Why are HNWIs flocking to Southeast Asia?

Barbour, the iconic British brand, leverages its 130-year heritage to connect with modern consumers across generations. But in an increasingly saturated market, how have new collaborations and a sustainability focus propelled the brand to new heights with trendsetting Gen Zers and beyond?

How Barbour remains a beacon of British multi-age luxury

High-net-worth Indians are bearing witness to a unique convergence of spirituality and luxury, as affluent individuals prioritise spiritual fulfilment over materialistic pursuits. This reflects a changing priority among the affluent class seeking a deeper connection to personal growth and wellbeing.

How is spirituality influencing luxury travel among high-net-worth Indians?

Coach is expanding its offering in Southeast Asia with the launch of a restaurant and coffee shop in Jakarta. Both dining experiences will feature New York-inspired twists and flavours on its menu offerings at a time when young people are looking for unique and immersive food experiences.

Coach offers New York dining experience in Jakarta

In a first for the brand, MCM has launched a Ramadan-themed capsule collection. While Eid and Ramadan will continue to be important moments for luxury brands to show up, the growing buying power of Muslim shoppers means they’ll be expecting localisation to be the norm rather than a novelty.

MCM debuts Ramadan capsule collection 

While budget concerns are seeing luxury buyers turn to pre-owned items, challenges persist as they seek foolproof authentication to verify the hidden gems they’ve discovered. Canvas8 spoke to seven Britons to explore their affinity towards resale platforms for high-end goods.

Why are Britons buying pre-owned luxury?

Resale platforms are a staple of the contemporary shopping experience, but do people trust them enough to splurge on luxury goods? Canvas8 spoke to five Americans about the pros and cons of buying high-end items second-hand, and whether they’d ever switch back to buying new from a brand.

Why are Americans buying pre-owned luxury?

Despite changes in principles, traditions are still a living part of Indian culture, especially through material memory. This is why the jewellery brand Aurus crafts artisanal pieces that appeal to family-oriented and autonomous women, preserving Indian tradition through highly visual storytelling.

Why Aurus crafts visual heirlooms for modern Indian women

Is luxury really recession-proof? What’s behind the success of luxury collaborations? How did quiet luxury give rise to the new look of sustainable upmarket goods? How are the fine jewellery and Swiss watch markets being disrupted? And what drives people to luxury resale?

Luxury Sector Snapshot: March 2024

Luxury has long transcended the boundaries of simply buying goods; now, it's a lifestyle that permeates multiple sectors and spheres of life. Due to the cost of living crisis, luxury is expanding to areas previously seen as too ‘everyman’ in search of a broader audience and a way to appeal to younger generations.

Creative Collabs

Although the luxury sector has long been more about excess and exclusivity than ethics and the environment, there’s an increasing movement towards more sustainable behaviour. As prices rise and purchases become more considered, consumers pay more attention to quality, durability, craftsmanship, and how brands treat the planet.

Sustainable Splendour

Jewellery has long been associated with old-fashioned ideas of luxury, but people are embracing a refreshed, more disruptive aesthetic and novel ways to own it. Against the backdrop of the cost of living crisis, a diverse range of buying incentives is emerging, with many looking at jewellery as an investment.

Jewellery Reset 

A culture of reselling and second-hand shopping is challenging established luxury norms. Once immune to the allure of bargain-hunting and budget-pleasing purchases, resale platforms are changing how people interact with luxury brands and make purchasing decisions.

Pre-owned Priorities

New York pet brand LUNGE transforms everyday pet accessories into playful and stylish designs, capturing the aesthetics of NY dog walkers. The luxury pet economy is booming, while birth rates are declining – instead of spoiling their kids, young Americans are splurging on pets.

LUNGE makes pet ownership high fashion in NYC

SSENSE has grown into one of the biggest names in fashion retail and a favoured destination for Gen Y and Z designer label enthusiasts. As young consumers enter the world of luxury shopping, how does the brand’s cultural appeal align with their shopping needs and desires?

How SSENSE improves young people’s access to luxe fashion

In India's thriving luxury beauty sector, Bollywood biggie Deepika Padukone's skincare venture, 82°E, aims to seize attention. Despite facing pricing and communication challenges, star power and a focus on sustainability have boosted visibility, but the question remains – is it enough for success?

How 82°E associates Indian skincare with celebrity status

Despite being the largest producer of milk in the world, India has traditionally never been associated with cheese production. But things are rapidly changing, with a slew of artisanal cheese companies mushrooming around the country due to a rising economy and a desire for novelty and globalisation.

Experience-hunting audiences are driving a dairy boom in India

Gen Y and Gen Z are discovering watch-collecting as a way to signal and flex status, and they’re elevating their game to take advantage. Against this backdrop, British watchmaker Christopher Ward has catapulted to the top of the mid-range pile, winning admirers from across the globe – but how?

How Christopher Ward bucked watch-collector expectations

Jil Sander, the sleek, sophisticated brand with a storied history, is often lauded for its minimalism, but its creative efforts demonstrate how luxury can be so much more than quiet. In doing so, it is attracting younger consumers who are looking to add individualism into the mix.

How Jil Sander’s anti-nostalgia approach taps Gen Zers

The market for engagement rings for men is booming as people look to more expansive models of masculinity. This trend speaks to a wider challenge to the traditionally gendered roles assigned within heterosexual partnerships, as well as eroding expectations of rigidly masculine style choices.

The sales of men-focused engagement rings are booming

Festival season is a buyer’s market for fashion-forward Indian consumers, with much of the spending on textiles, garments, and jewellry. International brands are taking notice of the growing appetite of India’s affluent classes for luxury and responding with collections to satisfy their tastes.

For affluent Indians, festival season is an excuse to spend more on luxury

Clothing brand PH5 is turning heads with its experimental knitwear designs and commitment to ethical fashion. In a world increasingly seeking luxury and sustainability in equal measure, that might be just the ticket to set it apart and elevate China’s worldwide fashion profile.

How PH5 stitches lasting luxury into ‘Made in China’ labels

Paris 2024 and Chaumet have unveiled medals for the Olympic and Paralympic games, featuring metal taken from the Eiffel Tower replaced during refurbishments. Luxury brands are increasingly entering the sports arena, with both sectors finding opportunities to reach new audiences.

Chaumet brings Paris 2024 Olympics into the luxury world

Fashion brand Pipatchara has a dream – to be a fashion brand that empowers local artisans and entices fashionistas into sustainability. As Thai consumers seek out local brands to support, Pipatchara steps up, offering elegance and modernity, making it one of Thailand’s most promising brands.

Why Pipatchara makes Thai eco-weaving a fashion must-have

Canada Goose has partnered with New York-based streetwear brand KidSuper for a collection spotlighting the innocence of childlike wonder and artistic value. The capsule collection merges functionality and art, giving maximalism meaning – all while showcasing the importance of hyper-local narratives.

Canada Goose champions cultural heritage expression

Disneyland Paris has reopened a hotel after a two-year transformation with a focus on providing guests with an immersive Disney experience. As people look to TV and film for travel inspiration, there is an opportunity for brands to offer fans real-life experiences of their favourite storylines.

Disneyland Hotel offers fans an immersive royal stay

Chanel is leading the efforts to enhance traceability across the beauty industry. As consumers increasingly demand transparent and genuine action when it comes to supply chain sustainability, brands that show leadership in transparency efforts will gain trust among eco-shoppers.

Chanel initiates beauty industry traceability efforts

Italian luxury brand Dolce & Gabbana spotlights the value of artisanry 'fatto a mano' in a unique exhibition in Milan that spotlights the life of its creators. As prices continue to rise, luxury brands that lead with exceptional craftsmanship and heritage could help convince cautious consumers.

Dolce & Gabbana spotlights uniqueness of its artisans

A human rights-focused report has warned that luxury fashion is falling behind in the fight against forced labour. As consumers prioritize transparency, luxury brands must provide supply chain transparency and openly address allegations to appeal to increasingly ethically conscious customers.

Luxury fashion can't commit to ethical supply chains

Prada has released a Chinese New Year campaign that harks back to the olden days of Shanghai. With visual references to Wong Kar-wai, the ad is capitalising on people’s renewed interest in Shanghainese history while also speaking to luxury brands' growing efforts to court cinephiles.

Prada revives Old Shanghai in Chinese New Year campaign

Cocktail maker Barsys has linked up with premium alcohol e-commerce platform ReserveBar to launch an AI-powered cocktail subscription service. With interest in home drinking going strong, brands can lean into tech to automate and replicate indulgent experiences in the comfort of people’s homes.

Barsys enhances home drinking experiences with AI

Compared to its beauty industry counterparts, the oral care industry has fallen behind in innovation and transformation. But a renewed laser focus on dental wellbeing means the sector is full of potential, with luxury brands like Selahatin looking to capitalise by elevating everyday routines.

Why Selahatin brings artisanal oral care to luxe consumers

Following efforts to champion Chinese ceramics, Loewe's Lunar New Year 2024 campaign pays homage to the ancient art of jade carving. Tapping into 'guochao' sentiments, it demonstrates how to nail cultural appreciation at a time when people have grown tired of trite attempts at localising luxury.

Loewe spotlights Chinese jade carvers for Lunar New Year

Veuve Clicquot and Belmond have teamed up to curate a selection of exclusive train journeys across three continents aimed at HNWIs. Amid an economic crisis, the collaboration highlights how brands are catering to a subset of the luxury demographic via unique and sustainable travel experiences.

Veuve Clicquot and Belmond cater to luxury eco-travel

NB44 is expanding its invite-only, $12,000-per-year clothing subscription service to a broader audience. Luxury consumers are increasingly looking for hyper-personalized services and greater exclusivity, signaling their identity and status by consuming carefully curated offerings.

NB44 expands personalised luxury clothing subscriptions

When HNWIs have the wealth to enjoy all earthly delights available on the planet, the only next logical step is to look beyond it. Why are the ultra-wealthy taking extreme risks to travel to the final frontiers, and how can brands tap into this appetite for exploring the limits of human experience?

How HNWIs are taking extreme tourism to the next level

Thailand's T-Wave, driven by BL series and T-pop, has pushed far beyond the walls of the country and Southeast Asia into hearts across the globe. Transnational fandoms amplify Thailand's global impact, offering luxury brands a lucrative market among its superfans by exploring localised branding.

Everything you need to know about Thailand's T-Wave

Fendi has unveiled a collaboration with Hiroshi Fujiwara’s streetwear label Fragment and Pokémon to celebrate the upcoming Year of the Dragon. These limited-edition, NFT-accompanied collabs offer consumers ever-expanding ways to signal status and exclusivity while remaining culturally relevant.




Fendi drops Pokémon collab for the Year of the Dragon

The story of Indian Gen Y and Gen Z changing the face of weddings is also a story of self-awareness, finding a voice, and clarity of thought. All stakeholders of India’s multibillion-dollar wedding industry have realised that they can’t take young brides for granted and must cater to their desires.

How are Gen Z and Y Indian brides reshaping the wedding industry?

Why do Korean young adults spend on luxury items and experiences they can’t afford? How does their desire for personal freedom – including their disinterest in marriage and children – reconcile with the country’s traditional collectivist culture? This Cultural Snapshot uses local stats to explore the behavioural norms shared by people in South Korea in 2024.

A Cultural Snapshot of South Korea: 2024

Indian-based Ayurveda brands have been transcending beyond their traditional medical sphere and venturing into beauty and personal care. With a growing appetite for Ayurvedic beauty, Kama Ayurveda has been positioning itself as the luxury brand to go to both inside and outside India.

How Kama Ayurveda makes luxury beauty from Indian roots

Global travel drives fashion shopping trends, with 80% of tourists shopping while travelling – something set to continue in 2024. Brands like Chanel and Louis Vuitton are opening pop-ups in novel destinations, reflecting a post-pandemic desire for unique, personalised travel and luxury experiences.

Luxury shopping increasingly determines travel choices

Chanel hosted its Métiers d'Art fashion show in Manchester's Northern Quarter, celebrating the city's rich arts and cultural history. The event signifies a shift towards hyper-local activations, which allow brands to connect with consumers and instil a sense of local pride.

Chanel fuses global and local in Manchester fashion show

From scoring partnerships with Dyson and Aveeno to being featured in British Vogue and The Times, Melissa Holdbrook-Akposoe has cornered the luxury influencer market – a space that rarely puts Black creators front and centre. What is it about her personality that keeps her fans and brands engaged?

How Melissa Holdbrook-Akposoe bolsters Black luxury

KAI's premium confinement hotel offers a blend of hospitality and wellness for new parents looking for curated care for their newborns and themselves. It leans into the increasing push for maternal care support and the ways people are prioritising luxury wellness experiences.

KAI brings luxury postpartum stays to Singaporeans

A downturn in the luxury watch market reflects broader shifts in consumer priorities. Post-pandemic over-consumption is giving way to demand for authentic, sustainable purchases in the luxury sector. This trend signifies a move towards more meaningful consumption, asking for more from brands.

Luxury watch market downturn signals shifting priorities

L'Oreal and the Perfume Shop have joined forces to introduce the UK's first multi-brand fragrance refill station. With fragrances high in demand, the innovation seeks to build brand loyalty by offering cost savings for repeat buyers and prioritising sustainable shopping options.

L'Oréal x Perfume Shop courts sustainable scent shoppers

Luxury watches have been a globally appreciated status symbol for decades. Amid advances in smartwatch technology, the rise of Gen Z, and macroeconomic conditions, what are the challenges and hopes for the future of the market? We spoke to luxury watch expert Ariel Adams to find out.

Ariel Adams on the future of the luxury watch market

Research has revealed that most APAC luxury consumers would reduce their support for brands that neglect environmental sustainability. These findings emphasise the need for brands to prioritise communicating their sustainability efforts to meet the expectations of APAC luxury consumers.

APAC luxury shoppers are boycotting unethical brands

Demi-fine jewellery brands have increased in popularity over recent years by offering quality and innovative designs at affordable prices. By combining in-store services such as piercing and welding with effective loyalty and sustainability schemes, Astrid & Miyu has acquired an engaged audience.

How Astrid & Miyu courts demi-fine jewellery fans

Thanks to social media trends and pop culture moments, ‘quiet luxury’ and ‘stealth wealth’ aesthetics are making a fashionable comeback. Brands such as Rowing Blazers are reimagining these style codes for younger, nostalgic Gen Zers, making aspirational wealth more accessible in fashion.

Why Rowing Blazers is rethinking luxury shopping

Silversea is using hyper-personalisation to enhance immersive experiences grounded in local culture. As appetite swells for hyper-customised escapism that supports communities and the planet, Silversea demonstrates how niche offerings can attract travellers seeking engaged and responsible discovery.

Silversea brings immersive travel to HNWI cruisers

Ralph Lauren has announced a limited-edition collab with one of China’s most influential online fashion figures, Mr.Bags. The global luxury brand is aiming to build long-lasting connections with Chinese consumers by adapting to the market nuances and partnering with a local influencer.

Ralph Lauren x Mr.Bags launches local-focused collab

A WWF sustainability study revealed that brands Patek Philippe, Rolex, Audemars Piguet, and Chopard lag behind the luxury watch and jewellery industry for sustainability. With some consumers targeting watches for investment, sustainability could be a long-term play for companies.

Swiss watchmakers lagging in transparent sustainability

Luxury

Furniture company Dowel Jones champions Australian-made furniture and embraces authenticity amid new market dynamics. The brand’s pillars of durability, timeless design, and emotional resonance effectively negotiate what it means to do functional design in the modern day.

How Dowel Jones puts fun in functional Aussie furniture

eBay has launched an AI 'shop the look' feature within its iOS mobile app based on customer shopping history, aiming to help users build outfits that seamlessly fit into their wardrobes. Brands are looking for unique ways to leverage data as AI raises the bar for personalization.

eBay uses AI to offer increased personalization

Naver, South Korea’s biggest search engine, has created interactive shopping experiences and a thriving online community. Through its combination of group-buying, live e-commerce, and AI-generated ads, it continues to make exciting improvements that keep it at the top of the game in South Korea.

How Naver decodes Korean shoppers’ online lifestyles

‘Budol’ culture is a phenomenon that influences Filipinos to shop online impulsively because of social media trends and recommendations from friends. While this can promote a sense of community among buyers with the same preferences, it can also lead to overspending and mindless purchases.

How ‘budol’ culture makes Filipinos overspend

Research has revealed that unfavorable return policies are impacting consumers' purchasing decisions. As consumers tighten their budgets amid inflation and rising prices, they seek brands that can offer value beyond a price point and enhance the online shopping experience and convenience.

Return policies can sway consumer shopping habits

With over 20 million active shoppers, same-day delivery, and recent expansion into the luxury market, Coupang is South Korea’s answer to consumers’ hyperconnected demands. As online shopping overtakes traditional shopping, speed becomes the currency for the satisfaction of Korean shoppers.

How Coupang delivers Korean demands at lightning speed

A study from Shopee found that Gen Z in Southeast Asia considers e-commerce platforms to be a key entry point for their shopping decisions. As well as highlighting the influence these platforms hold, the findings show how people are prioritising value and convenience to ensure they're spending wisely.

Southeast Asian Gen Z prioritise e-commerce platforms

Digital wardrobe app LehLah has enlisted Athiya Shetty to give its users insider access to the Bollywood actress’ personal closet. The campaign is speaking to Indian fashionistas who are looking for more peer-influenced-curation when it comes to product discovery and recommendations.

LehLah brings community intimacy to style discovery

As US lawmakers look to ban TikTok, creators fear their livelihoods will be disrupted, and millions of users have decried the move. Frustrated with Big Tech and governments' control of their digital lives, people may continue engaging with the platform through inventive and even elusive ways.

US creators lobby and innovate around looming TikTok ban

The fashion platform's Eid short showcases sisterly love to celebrate its holiday collection. With a focus on family and wholesome traditions, the ad leans into people's desire for emotional understanding from brands, as well as a celebration of their heritage and culture.

Zalora focuses on family fashion in Eid film

YOOX Net-A-Porter has launched a virtual try-on system, mirroring shoppers' measurements using a virtual avatar to help give a better idea of size and fit. Shoppers are looking to be more conscious with their purchases, leading brands to innovate the try-on process to minimise returns.

Net-A-Porter offers certainty via virtual try-on

Recent data revealed that Gen Xers and Boomers are behind Temu’s rapid success. Young adults are taking this to TikTok, mocking their mums for buying questionable gadgets on the platform. Albeit ironically, this trend highlights the implications of Temu’s aggressive marketing for older consumers.

Gen Zers bring their moms’ Temu addiction to TikTok

Alo Yoga has debuted its shopping app for Apple's first Vision Pro headset, focusing on 3D shopping experiences and immersive mindfulness experiences. People are looking for captivating shopping experiences, and brands are betting on new technology innovations to provide them.

Alo Yoga unveils immersive AR shopping experience

E-commerce giant Meituan has launched an in-app feature that helps customers avoid last-minute shopping during Chinese New Year. As super apps become ubiquitous, there’s an opportunity to help ease customers’ mental load and enable them to stay present in the everyday occasions that truly matter.

Meituan makes Chinese New Year a stress-free celebration

Since its launch in 2022, Temu has become popular among online shoppers in the US. However, the platform’s gamified shopping experience could be taking advantage of its most committed patrons, Gen Xers and Boomers. Already distrustful, people expect brands to provide equitable customer service.

Temu’s gamified shopping can confuse older users

As the Year of the Dragon approaches, sales of dragon-themed products have seen explosive growth on e-commerce platforms in China. The traditional cultural symbol of good luck and prosperity is resonating particularly with young consumers, who are driving the country's guochao movement.

Chinese buyers drive sales of dragon-related products 

Global e-commerce marketplace Etsy has launched Gift Mode, an AI-powered tool that provides personalised recommendations for gift purchases within the platform. As consumer expectations of online retail experiences grow, both shoppers and retailers are using AI to enhance customer journeys. 

Etsy's AI-powered tool personalises gift giving

In an unprecedented move, one of China’s most popular livestream sellers is pivoting away from Douyin. As cross-border content and product discovery become more porous than ever, there’s an opportunity to cater to anti-gatekeeping desires and facilitate intercultural experiences online.

Chinese livestreamers look beyond Douyin to expand reach

Year-on-year growth of TikTok’s monthly active users slowed markedly in December 2023, and some commentators are suggesting TikTok Shop could be to blame. Users are frustrated by an overload of advertising content when they value TikTok for its ability to facilitate community.

TikTok users frustrated by overload of shopping content

OpenAI has launched a marketplace for paid ChatGPT subscribers to buy and sell specialised chatbot agents created from the company’s language models. People expect conversational AI to be more personalised than ever, and the chatbot-ification of everyday life will only accelerate from here on.

OpenAI launches marketplace for tailored chatbots

Filson’s Unfailing resale program sees the brand embrace responsible consumption. Circular practices are increasingly common among fashion’s heavyweights, but Filson shows how brands with a legacy focus on durability have a legitimate leg up when entering the crowded world of resale channels.

Filson leverages longevity to court the eco-conscious

Walmart has launched a campaign featuring a shoppable rom-com, wherein everything from the clothes worn to the set dressing is available for purchase. Americans’ social media shopping behavior has grown, and big-box retailers are learning how to adapt to new modes of discovery.

Walmart's shoppable rom-com nudges social shoppers 

Against the backdrop of the cost of living crisis and holiday spending, Amazon is launching an initiative to give shoppers an opportunity to make more budget-friendly purchases. It speaks to the growing need for affordability and financial reassurance during periods of heightened spending.

Amazon helps shoppers save with in-person store

For Black Friday 2023, Kai Collective shook things up – rather than succumbing to the usual discount frenzy, it introduced a Mystery Box. The move looks to transform what Black Friday means for Kai Collective customers, turning the usual frenzy of spending into a moment of surprise and anticipation.

Kai Collective mystery boxes fulfil desires for surprise

A flagship partnership will see buyers in the US be able to purchase Hyundai cars via Amazon as of 2024. With online research already a key part of people’s car purchase journeys, this partnership speaks to an anticipated shift in digital-first shopping for big-ticket items.

Amazon and Hyundai ramp up DTC auto options

Micheal's online marketplace allows people to buy and sell handmade goods with lower barriers to entry and expand their craft community. As people explore hobbies as a means of comfort and even a source of income, platforms like these show how brands can support small businesses and crafts.

Micheals champions craft with online creator marketplace

Deft is an online search tool that aims to make it easier than ever to find a product online thanks to its uses of AI and visual search. As convenience and immediacy become ever-entwined in all aspects of life, people expect to get what they want as quickly as possible, and not a moment later.

Deft uses AI and visual search to find anything online

Sainsbury's has extended its hyper-personalised Nectar price deals online after previously only offering them in-store. As the cost of living crisis rumbles on, supermarket loyalty schemes and deals have become essential as people's loyalty is tested amid financial hardship.

Sainsbury’s extends personalised Nectar deals to online

Luxury resale platform Vestiaire Collective has partnered with Burberry to promote the circular economy. As budgets are stretched and eco-concerns rise, how people buy fashion is changing. They're seeking out quality pieces that will deliver value via both secondhand purchasing and resale.

Vestiaire Collective x Burberry launch resale platform

Resale and online marketplaces

Shoppers want e-commerce as luxurious as it is IRL