Superdrug has launched a third-party health and beauty marketplace to make it easier for people to support small businesses. As inflation makes it more difficult for people to support lesser-known brands, larger companies can use their platforms to elevate local products.

With the pandemic having sparked a rise in localism, German denim brand Closed has launched an online market for ‘Made in Europe’ products. The move is tapping into people's desires to shop in ways that reaffirm their identity as global citizens while letting them signal regional solidarity.

Launched in 2021, Jendaya is opening up conversations about the underserved luxury market in Africa. Through its e-commerce platform, it’s making international labels more accessible to shoppers on the continent while shedding a much-needed spotlight on home-grown brands.

The closure of non-essential retail due to COVID-19 saw shopping become a mostly digital affair for many Britons. Yet while the future of the high street may be in jeopardy, people remain eager to connect with brands. How can pop-up experiences fulfil this desire in the post-pandemic landscape?