Many consumers are turning to businesses to provide shopping that’s both sustainable and affordable. In the UK, 

 campaign allows tech-savvy consumers to exchange their e-waste for cash, helping save hardware from landfills and giving people welcome extra funds. Its head of brand, Corin Mills explains that: “We know that despite rising inflation, people still have items hoarded at home they could exchange for monetary incentives.” For fashion-forward Gen Zers, 

 provide sustainable and unique retail experiences that contrast with fast fashion. Elsewhere, 

 collaborated on equipment that helps food stay fresh for longer, helping people save on supermarket bills and reduce waste.

According to Canvas8 research, 56% of Britons agree that caring about local communities is an important factor they consider from brands. 

 support communities by providing low-priced foods that would otherwise be thrown away, combining assistance for the food insecure with a way to combat food waste. Similarly, 

 tackles food inequality with local charities to redistribute surplus products, helping the nine in ten people across the UK that are struggling to make ends meet due to rising prices and combatting supermarket waste. In Canada, 

 provides workshops on eco-awareness as part of local community efforts, tapping into the 

 who expect CEOs to reduce carbon emissions and create more sustainable supply chains while empowering people to tackle climate change.

 to find the best value for the lowest price, with 38% of Britons opting for low-priced alternatives. One way to help people make the right decisions that retain a sense of sustainable values is via 

 that indicate the ethical stance of products. “There’s a lot of opportunity for brands here, especially with younger, 18- to 20-year-old consumers who push companies to do better,” says Amy Sellers, chief marketing officer for TomboyX. Price matching also appeals to those searching for convenient, time-saving solutions that are still ethical. 

campaign outlines its competitive prices, reducing decision-making fatigue, while Aldi’s 

 provides a one-stop-shop for affordable green purchasing, eliminating the struggle between eco and non-eco choices.

of Britons agree that brands and businesses should have ‘a lot’ or ‘some’ responsibility for protecting the future of the planet

As the cost of living crisis adds pressure to families' finances across the UK, people are looking to cut back on expenses and only spend on essential items. But these altered spending habits threaten sustainable shopping and eco-friendly behaviours as people opt for the cheapest options.

Inflation is threatening sustainable shopping habits

Community access to quality food by retailers is increasing healthy eating habits

Caboodle, an online platform designed to tackle food waste, was recently released in a partnership between the Co-op Group and Microsoft. As food inequality and the cost of living crisis heats up in many parts of the world, what role can brands play in redistributing surplus food to people in need?

Caboodle: connecting with communities to share food

How can brands help people fulfil their ambitions of sustainability?

As the growing trend of conscious consumption encourages shoppers to make more sustainable choices, they are weighing new eco-attitudes up against other factors before making purchase decisions. Canvas8 spoke to Giulia Granato about the compromises people are willing to make for sustainable products.

Is it worth it? The science of sustainable choices

Costco has begun selling an apocalypse-ready emergency bucket stocked with meals that last over two decades in preparation for emergencies. As the future becomes more uncertain amid heightened social tensions, people are looking for tools to give them feelings of long-term security.

Costco's doomsday buckets signal desire for preparedness

Gucci's cultural initiative aims to pay tribute to the heritage of Korean culture by spotlighting the work of those who have brought local arts to a global stage. Luxury brands are localising their strategies, appealing to a growing group of shoppers in the world's largest luxury market.

Gucci’s New Cultural Project to celebrate Korean Arts

Lululemon is being taken to court as part of a class action lawsuit that claims the brand is greenwashing. This case highlights not only the expectation for brands to contribute positively to the climate crisis but also for these efforts to be transparent and authentic.

Lululemon taken to court in greenwashing case

The White Company has become one of Britain's go-to concept stores thanks to its curated minimalist aesthetic and clear messaging. By harnessing the power of off- and online marketing, it’s become the brand of choice for lifestyle shoppers who favour simplicity and a strong brand identity.

How The White Company is building on lifestyle branding

TikTokers are embracing #underconsumptioncore, a trend that challenges consumerist habits by advocating the use of fewer products. Building on de-influencing, frugality trends are gaining popularity as people seek ways to cope with the ongoing cost of living crisis and environmental concerns.

Frugality TikTok trend encourages underconsumption

South Korean Gen Y and Gen Z – known in the country as Gen MZ – prefer online shopping, but offline pop-ups are more popular than ever. What makes these IRL experiences so attractive to younger shoppers, and what does this say about the retail landscape in a place that's usually dominated by tech?

Why pop-ups are Korea’s go-to marketing strategy for Gen Y and Z

Liu Yexi is your favourite AI influencer’s favourite AI influencer. With her trademark blend of traditional Chinese elements and modern design sensibilities, the country’s most popular avatar might pave the way for virtual influencers to take over Singles Day, Asia’s biggest online shopping event.

How Liu Yexi humanises AI influencers for social shoppers

Sales of physical music have increased for the first time in 20 years, driven by big releases from popular worldwide artists such as Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish. As digital-first consumption becomes the norm, collecting physical copies of media is growing in its importance for fans.

Physical music sales increase for first time in 20 years

Ongoing inflationary pressures are set to dampen back-to-school spending in the US as parents take a restrained approach to consumption ahead of the new school year. Families are prioritizing value, and they look to brands that can help ease the pressure of back-to-school spending.

Financial strain squeezes US back-to-school spending

Indian families are dipping into their savings and taking loans to maintain their lifestyle while the youth are finding it tough to get jobs. What do these economic changes mean for the festival where spending traditionally peaks, and how will they reshape the experience of Diwali celebrations?

Economic challenges are changing India’s Diwali festival

Balenciaga is immersing fashion lovers in futuristic mixed reality with an app for the Apple Vision Pro. With this move, the brand is seeking to cement its status as a visionary pioneer while giving the world a taste of what a new era of so-called ‘spatial commerce’ might be like.

Balenciaga presents spatial commerce on Apple Vision Pro

Christmas in China is a secular holiday, focusing on entertainment and colourful décor over gift exchanges and religious carols. Moreover, it has become a time for socialising and romance among young Chinese people, presenting opportunities for luxury brands to connect with holiday revellers.

What does Christmas look like in China?

Co-op has become the first UK retailer to publish a report on its socioeconomic pay gap. The company’s decision to go public with its pay gap reporting is likely to resonate well with customers who are increasingly expecting brands to provide transparency on DE&I.

Co-op report spotlights socioeconomic pay gap

IKEA has partnered with Save the Children, setting up installations in its stores to encourage Australian shoppers to imagine the lived realities of homeless women and children. With audiences experiencing digital fatigue, the IRL installation sensitively engages viewers with complex topics. 

IKEA prompts Aussie shoppers to rethink homelessness

As Singles’ Day gradually loses its allure for value-driven shoppers, how is this annual shopping event reinventing itself through new strategies? Many brands are enhancing their entertainment appeal to lure reluctant audiences back and combat shoppers’ fatigue.

How Singles’ Day is fighting shopper fatigue

Deliveroo may be known as a brand of choice for Britons who want to get their food fixes quickly, but the delivery giant is entering the hardware arena with a Screwfix partnership. As local on-demand services win over consumers, brands are stepping up their game to give them what they’re after.

Why Deliveroo and Screwfix provide on-demand hardware

Etsy is implementing new product labels to clarify sellers' involvement, aiming to address concerns about marketplace infiltration by AI artists and resellers. However, the continued allowance of mass-produced items has led to scrutiny of the policy and Etsy's artisanal identity.

Etsy replaces its ‘handmade’ and ‘vintage’ labels

Etsy is banning the sale of sex toys and other adult materials, causing sellers to express their frustration with what has long been a safe place for artisanal, handmade products and free expression. The reaction to the ban showcases people's shifting attitudes towards sexuality and self-expression.

Etsy bans the sale of sex toys sparking seller outrage

Gen Zers are driving membership in big-box stores like the Walmart-owned Sam’s Club, pointing to changing money-saving behaviors among young Americans. As belts continue to tighten, young people are investing in cost-cutting memberships to afford daily indulgences.




Cost-conscious Gen Zers flock to Sam's Club

In partnership with Snapchat, Selfridges has launched an augmented reality locker room in its Oxford Street store. As consumers' expectations around experiential shopping continue to grow, brands have the opportunity to merge fandom and technology to enhance storytelling and community engagement.

Selfridges x Snapchat entices experiential shoppers

TikTok is investing in resources to help small businesses grow on TikTok Shop. The accelerator programme, which is geared towards women and LGBTQ+-owned businesses, is the latest in the company's struggle to gain favour in the US market as regulators prepare to ban the platform.

TikTok launches small business accelerator in US

Young Koreans are coping with burnout, a poor job economy, and loneliness by adopting dogs and – increasingly – cats. They’re also spending lots of money on them, creating a growing pet service industry in South Korea. The trend highlights what they value – independence, relaxation, and alone time.

South Koreans are curing their loneliness by spoiling their pets

Loewe has paid tribute to Chinese culture, heritage, and craftsmanship with the launch of its latest retail space in Chengdu. The move reflects a growing expectation for nuanced global strategies and a desire for hyper-local offerings that reflect specific cultural identities.

Loewe taps local artists for Chinese store opening

Luxury spending in China is on a post-pandemic rebound, but shoppers may not be where you think. Instead of travelling overseas, citizens are choosing to fly domestically. What does this mean for the future of luxury shopping in the country, and what can brands learn from this post-pandemic shift?

Chinese shoppers fly domestic for luxury spending

In an attempt to beat ‘shrinkflation’ and restore consumer confidence in supermarket retailers, the French government has introduced compulsory ‘shrinkflation’ labels. As brand loyalty takes a hit amid rising prices and faltering trust, transparency is one way of restoring faith.

Shrinkflation labels encourage supermarket transparency

‘Nomad aesthetics’, which blend cultural tradition with contemporary styles, are resonating with Chinese youth. In a bid to escape from ongoing financial pressures, young people are finding solace in slow living and reconnecting with ethnic heritage as a source of re-invigoration.

Chinese Gen Zers embrace nomadic aesthetics

Luxury consumption is slowing down in China as middle-class shoppers curb their spending and wealthier consumers turn away from flaunting their purchases. In this context, many brands are divided between maintaining exclusivity and broadening their appeal to attract new demographics.

Chinese clampdown on 'money worship' sees luxury drop off

As luxury giants like LVMH and Kerring report stalled or negative sales elsewhere in the world, they’re experiencing up to double-digit growth in Japan. With this continuing boost in tourism, the Japanese government is seeking different ways to spread spending from inbound travellers.

Luxury tourists cause a flood in the Japanese bargain market

Stripes Beauty is back in business after being acquired by L Catterton. As conversations around menopause and its effects enter the mainstream, demand is surging for more specialized and supportive offerings for this stage of life, highlighting a growing market for emerging brands to enter.

Stripes Beauty acquisition spotlights menopause 

With monthly sale days embedded into China’s e-commerce scene, brands might run out of ways to keep buyers interested. However, for its very own 618 shopping festival day, JD.com pulls out all the stops, changing its sales strategies and empowering customers through the latest technology.

How JD.com finds ways to elevate celebratory shopping

Gen Alphas were born into an already-digitized world and are expected to spend more time online than any generation before them. As they gear up to go back to school amid ongoing cost of living pressures, what factors are likely to influence the types of stationery they buy?

What do Gen Alphas want from the stationery they buy?

Target is launching an AI-enabled chatbot for employees, evidencing the ways AI is shifting customer service expectations. However, as technology continues to impact daily life, mixing artificial intelligence with human knowledge ensures that shoppers still have a human-centric experience.

Target launches AI tool to help workers on the job

Online meat marketplace Licious is making Indians ‘born to eat meat’ – to some extent. The brand attempts to organise a heavily unorganised meat sector, eat up the premium meat market, and fight social stigma. Already on the IPO route, how did Licious become a success in a not-so-vegetarian society?

How Licious repackages India’s meat-loving culture

Chinese livestream platform Tencent has banned AI hosts, citing concerns around deepfakes as the technology becomes more easily available. As low-quality AI content floods the internet, retailers and entertainment platforms alike are taking steps to regulate the technology.

Tencent bans AI hosts from livestreaming 

Data has revealed that people see generative AI as a huge value-add for their online shopping experiences. In a competitive online retail marketplace, they're increasingly looking for AI to provide guidance in the discovery phase of shopping to better brick-and-mortar experiences.

Online shoppers are looking for more gen AI

India's PM Narendra Modi won a third term, but his party lost an outright majority. Luxury spending rises, but the class divide grows. Tech innovations loom but also spread misinformation. Why? This Cultural Snapshot uses local stats to explore behavioural norms shared by people in India in 2024.

A Cultural Snapshot of India: 2024

Social media platform Lemon8 has seen rising popularity in the United States among people seeking algorithmic, carefully curated lifestyle content. But is the app performing based on its appeal, or a broader push by its owner to be a TikTok alternative in the wake of the social media crackdowns?

How Lemon8 is challenging the social media landscape

China has enthusiastically embraced AI, leading to an explosion of new tech. Specifically, it has strengthened the Chinese economy and enhanced e-commerce platforms. AI-generated personal shoppers regularly engage with customers, showing how the latest tech can boost communication and trust.

How is AI changing personal shopping in China?

An ageing population and declining birth rates are poised to significantly impact shopping trends in Japan’s booming luxury market. Luxury brands seem to be expanding their reach to include older generations with disposable income and wealth and younger generations who prioritise mindful spending.

How Japan's different generations are changing luxury consumption

With gamified experiences, celebrity collaborations, and a strong omnichannel presence, Bombay Closet Cleanse is transforming the thrifting scene in India. See how their approach fuels the perception of circular fashion as cool and accessible to India's young, fashion-conscious population.

Why Bombay Closet Cleanse makes thrifting exclusive

What began as revenge spending post-pandemic has now become par for the course, with Indians splurging on sprawling residences, lavish holidays, fashion, tech, and more. Simultaneously, however, India’s income inequality and unemployment numbers are soaring through the roof.

How luxury spending in India thrives amid a turbulent economy

As the cost of living crisis increases brand switching, brands are seeking ways to boost customer loyalty through initiatives like loyalty programs. Canvas8 spoke to Francois A. Carrillat to understand whether loyalty programs actually work and what kinds are the most effective.

I'm platinum gold!? The science of loyalty programs

In Australia, two supermarket chains dominate the industry – Coles and Woolworths. They’ve been authorities for years, influencing products, pricing, and tech. This duopoly has impacted smaller retailers, many of whom struggle to compete, and has caused a shift in the shopping mindsets of Aussies.

Trouble in store: Aussies are tired of the supermarket duopoly

Lush has given independent bookshop The Poetry Pharmacy a permanent home at its Oxford Street store. Tapping a boom in literary interest, the move reinvents Lush’s flagship store as a cultural sanctuary centred around personal wellbeing, meeting fresh expectations for experiential retail.

Lush brings poetic remedies to London’s Oxford Street

A survey has shown that America's view on tipping culture is changing, with three in five Americans now viewing tipping negatively. As people continue to operate with a heightened sense of value in a cost of living crisis, brands will face increased pressure to prove their equitable offerings.

Americans are viewing tipping differently

Pressed for time, people are prioritising convenience when it comes to shopping, favouring one-stop shops for everything they need. Tapping into this, Tesco is rolling out an online marketplace selling a range of third-party items – from garden and homeware to toys – alongside its groceries.

Tesco’s one-stop shop woos convenience seekers

As nationalistic pride soars in China, along with more disposable income, aspiration, and a need for novelty, people are hyper-tuned into traditional romantic festivals like 520 Day and the shopping that comes with it. International luxury brands want in, but can they compete with domestic ones?

What is 520 Day, and why do Chinese shoppers love to spend for it?

By prioritising affordability, convenience, and entertainment, the Japanese discount chain Don Quijote has netted record profits for the 14th year in a row. Popular among tourists, thanks to late hours and rows of souvenirs, it creates a uniquely Japanese experience that puts fun back into shopping.

Why Don Quijote turns Japanese stores into adventures

COVID-19 spurred on Gen Zers’ obsession with restaurant merchandise – a trend that has seen small businesses, and now some of the UK’s biggest high street chains, release their own clothing lines. What’s behind this loyalty and how can brands appeal to this generation’s desire for foodie merch?

Why are Gen Z Britons obsessed with restaurant merch?

India's booming youth demographic is propelling a surge in demand for homegrown beauty products, emphasising transparency and a fusion of age-old rituals with modern science. This marks a significant departure from the previous generation’s reliance on home remedies and global brands.

Why are young Indians leaning into homegrown beauty?

DoorDash has launched a partnership with Ulta Beauty to offer shoppers on-demand beauty product delivery across 50 U.S. states. This comes at a time when social shopping is on the rise, and people are searching for brands that can offer ease and convenience at a premium value.

DoorDash and Ulta Beauty cater to social shoppers

China’s local fast-fashion brands are flourishing and outperforming international competitors thanks to a rising preference for homegrown products. From respect and transparency to immersive experiences, what notes can other labels take to win over the powerhouse that is the Chinese shopper?

Why are Chinese shoppers progressing to homegrown fast fashion?

Boomers are an attractive demographic for telco brands with almost one in four Americans set to be over 65 by 2050. But how should telco brands adjust their plans to suit the evolving lifestyles and the need for connectivity of older people, as well as the features they require?

How American Boomers are choosing their cellphone plans

South Koreans celebrate their ‘Chuseok’ holidays with a mix of traditional and modern practices, reflecting the nation’s economic fluctuations and wealth disparities. How are these factors influencing gift-giving habits, and what strategies can brands adopt to cater to people’s diverse needs?

The economic crisis is changing how Koreans celebrate Chuseok

The 2024 Generational Snapshot of Gen Alpha in the APAC region looks into how the youngest generation values accelerated satisfaction, the role of representation and corporate responsibility in technological innovations, and finding solace in virtual worlds through gaming.

2024 APAC Gen Alpha Snapshot

Coachtopia is an offshoot of the luxury fashion brand Coach, aiming to redefine luxury fashion’s relationship with the planet. Coach’s APAC expansion targets young shoppers through circular fashion, collaborative creativity, and localisation, positioning the brand as a pioneer in sustainable luxury.

Why Coachtopia harnesses eco-luxury for APAC fashionistas

SustainabilityTracker.com's app provides customers with sustainability information on the products they buy, helping them make more informed choices. The tracker also drives brand loyalty by giving businesses the tools to increase transparency around their eco-credentials.

Sustainability tracker facilitates eco transparency

Chinese Gen Zers’ financial concerns are changing where and how they shop on social channels. From deal hunting to virtual influence, what do brands need to know about the new realities of social commerce in the country – and where do the biggest opportunities for innovation lie?

Gen Zers’ thrifty mindsets are changing social shopping in China

Enter noodle paradise at Hongdae’s Ramyun Library! As South Koreans and international tourists seek alternative gastronomic experiences, the ramen-themed convenience store created by CU is becoming the hottest destination, offering high-quality goods and ‘control’ in enjoying the iconic Korean dish.

How Ramyun Library warms up tourists in Korean convenience stores

Car buying is becoming increasingly unaffordable for Gen Zers, particularly for those without help from the bank of Mum and Dad. As this group grows disenfranchised, there is fertile scope for brands to serve the needs of this group, inviting them back into the conversation.

What Gen Zers want from their car shopping experience

IKEA’s new Bangkok store marks its first city-center location in Southeast Asia. Its central location strategically fits into the Thai people’s busy urban lives, and they are now more encouraged to benefit from the brand’s convenience, affordability, and unique offerings.

Why IKEA centres city-life creativity inside Bangkok homes

Retailers are turning to scent marketing to create immersive, multi-sensory experiences that draw customers in and boost sales. Scent marketing firms are helping brands craft unique fragrances, aiming to leverage the powerful role smell plays in customer behavior and creating lasting impressions.

Stores are using scents to enhance shopping experiences

By remaining attuned to niche desires and social conversations around second-hand clothing, luxury shop Sign of the Times is setting the standard for sustainable style. As fashionistas increasingly adopt pre-owned aesthetics, they’re turning to trusted curators in search of vintage hidden gems.

How Sign of the Times became a sustainable style pioneer

While 2023 saw meat consumption in the UK hit the lowest level since records began in the 1970s, sales of much-hyped meat substitutes are falling. What role is the cost of living crisis playing in people’s vegan and vegetarian choices? Will they stick to their new habits as food inflation decreases?

How the cost of living crisis impacts meat-free Britons

Hallyu is not stopping anytime soon, and neither is K-beauty. By supporting and fostering the growth of local beauty brands while also catering to the rapidly growing foreign market interested in K-beauty, Olive Young has solidified its position as the leader of the Korean beauty market.

How Olive Young globalises the quality of local K-beauty

Shopping

People are pivoting to cheaper sustainability

The cost of living crisis poses a serious threat to consumers’ sustainable shopping ambitions. With money tight, going the extra mile for eco purchasing is harder than ever, and the perception that green equals more expensive is having a direct effect on the spending of shoppers looking to save. But the desire to shop eco remains, and it means people are getting creative in how they buy and use products sustainably – they want brands to help them in their mission.