Speed and convenience have become the consumer norm. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, when people worldwide were introduced to instant access to goods and services via apps and digital platforms, the supply and demand considerably grew and splintered. The 'I need it now' culture shows no signs of slowing down, ye...

When author Kyle Chayka explored 2010s minimalism in Longing for Less, a very different world existed. Today, a polycrisis-ridden and digitally saturated society finds people yearning for more. Whether you chalk it up to post-pandemic release or a general sense of impending doom, people are now looking for a...

Once a signifier of luxury or novelty, custom products and services are now within reach of the everyday consumer, thanks to the rise of artificial intelligence, algorithm-led platforms, and the COVID-era digitisation boom. Today, everyone wants to be the main character of their brand experience.

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.

Since the pandemic, social shopping has soared in popularity, threatening brick-and-mortar stores and e-tailers alike. Given that people’s trust in influencers is on the wane, why is buying via video-based content apps so alluring? How does shopping this way meet people’s evolving needs and desires?

Cultural shifts and economic challenges are driving a change in spending for holidays, milestones, and cultural moments. People are becoming more sceptical of occasions and promotions that are seen as purely for profit or outdated in terms of cultural attitudes. The appeal of coming together to celebrate, however, remains evergreen.