This isn’t just about aesthetics; people want to see their values and lifestyle choices reflected in what they buy. It’s what’s led to the boom in 

 – the butchers and barbers that people go to are being used as a form of self-expression. ‘Craft’, ‘local’, and ‘artisan’ are buzzwords through which people carve out niche identities – whether that’s taking pride in their origins by buying locally brewed beer or expressing their values by choosing a sustainable butcher. Even make-up now says as much about a person’s beliefs as it does about their image, with brands like 

 say they’d pay extra for a brand that reflects the image they want to convey about themselves. But in the pursuit of identity affirmation, people are willing to fork over more than their cash; they’re also committing time and effort. 

’s PSNY x Air Jordan 12s saw people compete against other sneakerheads in an app-based scavenger hunt for the privilege of being able to buy the shoe. The purchase process itself was transformed into a form of self-expression. With spending power alone 

, people are getting creative with how they express themselves through their purchases, and brands are helping them do it.

In today’s economy – in which ‘good’ jobs are typically knowledge- or tech-based – many well-educated young Americans are now choosing to pursue traditionally low-status careers. Canvas8 spoke to Richard Ocejo, author of Masters of Craft, to learn why it’s cool to be a butcher or a barber.

Why being a butcher is the coolest job on the block

Whether it’s a fridge, toilet brush or car insurance, there are some things in life that people simply need to buy, but which they dislike spending their hard-earned cash on. How can brands harness design, technology and experiences to make these grudge purchases a little less painful?

Can a grudge purchase ever be exciting?

Korean luxury hospitality group Josun Hotels & Resorts has launched a store to expand its online presence via its distinctive food and lifestyle products. With people searching for accessible indulgences, premium hotel-branded products can bring luxury escapism into homes.

Josun Hotels & Resorts launches online lifestyle store

The Four Seasons has introduced luxury pyjamas as part of its Four Seasons at Home line, which honors the brand’s hospitality heritage and offers an entry point for those who can’t afford a hotel stay. The move aligns with a luxury trend towards accessible experiences amid economic constraints.

Four Seasons pyjamas offer an at-home luxury experience

Younger generations are spearheading the post-pandemic revitalisation of Britain's brick-and-mortar retail sector. The social aspects of shopping and an emphasis on localism and community are particularly appealing, providing guidelines for brands looking to create memorable in-store experiences.

Gen Z and Y shoppers drive UK high street revival

John Lewis’s hotly anticipated Christmas ad for 2024 breaks away from the retailer's traditionally whimsical and escapist approach, instead favouring an undeniably human tale of two sisters. This change in tack is a nod to people’s desire for emotional escapism as well as authentic narratives.

John Lewis Christmas ad offers relatable nostalgia

Despite traditionally being the prime time for high street shopping, data suggests that Britons intend to spend more online over the 2024 festive season than in 2023. As social feeds open consumers up to new Christmas shopping options, the art of gifting is taking on new forms.

Rise in online shopping shapes Britons' gifting choices

As social feeds become essential tools for finding Christmas gifts, people are leaning on platforms for inspiration and brand reviews. Consequently, there's a growing imperative for brands to innovate their social communications during this high-stakes season for e-commerce. 

Inspiration for holiday gifting moves to social feeds

At The Benemart, Benefit Cosmetics’ virtual shopping experience, people can shop, game, and socialise simultaneously. Brands continue to offer initiatives that blend the physical and digital world to engage shoppers, while also incorporating gaming elements to appeal to younger generations.

Benefit Cosmetics launches virtual shopping experience

Japanese households once again cut spending in September due to inflation and a weak yen pushing up living costs. As people continue to face financial anxiety, there is a burgeoning demand for budget-friendly brands, while many workers are also seeking a better work-life balance.

Japanese households further cut spending as costs rise

As British shoppers embrace second-hand fashion for affordability and individuality, resale has shifted from an ethical choice to a mainstream movement, aligning with both personal values and financial pressures. Canvas8 spoke to six Britons to unveil the reasons behind choosing pre-loved pieces.

Why Britons are buying second-hand fashion

Libraries of Things is gaining serious traction as people search for smarter, more sustainable ways to access items without the burden of ownership.

How Library of Things builds community around rentals

Indians are increasingly buying luxury products while travelling abroad, according to spending data from Visa. In response, some brands are creating personalised shopping experiences overseas, aligning with the industry-wide shift towards immersive and curated experiences.

Luxury brands court Indian tourists with VIP shopping

From mere hubs of passive consumption, Southeast Asia’s supermalls are now arenas for connection, as well as case studies in innovation. Using the latest technological advancements and storytelling devices, how can brands build the next all-in-one spaces for modern shoppers?

How Southeast Asia’s malls are evolving post-pandemic

The market for ‘premium’ products and services is growing in popularity, as shoppers look for value and meaning from their purchases. But the term is often misunderstood. Canvas8 spoke to Ashley Mauritzen to glean insight into how brands can stand out and best perform in this increasingly crowded space.

Ashley Mauritzen on what ‘premium’ means in 2024

In an era of declining consumer trust, an increasing number of brands are embracing strategic self-deprecation to help cut through noise. To better understand how a self-aware approach can help win over sceptical audiences, Canvas8 spoke to consumer psychologist, Vaishnavi Kale.

Who, Me?! The science of self-deprecation

Research indicates that donating food instead of discounting can enhance retailers' profits. Many Americans face food insecurity while a large portion of food is thrown away, but donating food supports nearby communities and clears shelves for more produce, optimizing pricing and reducing waste. 

Research shows donating food increases profits

Teens today view influencing as a viable career path, harnessing viral trends to build substantial followings and earn a salary previous generations could have only dreamed of. However, there's a trade-off as many big names deal with social isolation and scrutiny from peers and followers alike.

Teens seek influencer careers despite potential pitfalls

A record number of Britons say they're excited for the 2024 Christmas ads, according to research conducted ahead of the festive season. These ads offer messages of empathy and connection that resonate amid challenging times, highlighting values that should persist in marketing all year round.

Search for positivity fuels excitement for Xmas ads

With South Korea’s economy slowing down, shoppers are starting to embrace secondhand luxury for its blend of status and sustainability. Younger generations are driving this shift, drawn to affordable, eco-friendly finds, while platforms are boosting security to ensure safer, smarter shopping experiences.

South Koreans are rethinking luxury and secondhand is winning

Netflix has dropped a trailer for ‘Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy’, which aims to zero in on the ethical and environmental impacts of overconsumption. As critical spending habits persist following the cost of living crisis, the film taps emerging desires to opt out of harmful consumption cycles.

Netflix documentary taps anti-consumerist sentiments

Americans will soon have a not-so-new pantry staple in the form of Chilean Sea Bass – Goldfish’s temporary rebranding of the 62-year-old cracker’s name. Nostalgia and kidulting ideals continue to be a driving force for people looking to hark back to their simpler childhood days.

Goldfish crackers temporarily renamed to attract adults

How has Fintech changed the way Germans approach money management? How is the rise of spirituality and diverse belief systems changing the religious landscape? And why is marriage on the decline? This Cultural Snapshot of Germany in 2024 explores the key behavioural shifts.

A Cultural Snapshot of Germany: 2024 - 2025

Jacquemus has opened the doors to its first-ever US concept store with a location in New York. The move highlights people's increased appetite for immersive retail experiences that blend hyperlocal connections and unique storytelling to showcase the characters and feelings of various locales.

Jacquemus’ first-ever NY store elicits Parisian pride

Viral shopping hauls on social media are fueling a £7 billion surge in clothing returns, with "serial returners" accounting for a quarter of UK online returns. Retailers are implementing return fees and exploring innovative solutions to balance customer satisfaction with profitability.

TikTok shopping hauls are fuelling high return rates 

To get their hands on the PS5 Pro, Japanese gamers need 30+ gameplay hours, preventing scalpers and prioritizing genuine gamers. This approach combats reselling, engages the core audience, and strengthens brand loyalty while aligning with the growing trend of 'status skills' over 'status symbols'.

Japanese gamers prove skills to obtain Playstation 5 Pro

Amid a loneliness epidemic, finding ways to build meaningful connections is crucial. While social support has typically centred on conversation, emerging research suggests gift-giving could be a key tool to help people feel more connected. How can giving gifts tackle loneliness, and what are the opportunities for brands to tap into?

That’s for me?! The science of gift-giving

Want to understand shifting masculine hero narratives? Struggling to get a grip on how to talk about and depict ‘maleness’? Explore our Deep Dive on masculine archetypes in 2024.

2024 Deep Dive on Masculinity 

As generational assumptions shift, brands have a unique opportunity to connect with Boomers by going beyond stereotypes and generalisations and truly understanding what they want. Our Spotlight explores how can brands help Boomers find more intensity in their Third Chapter.

Spotlight on: Boomers in the new age

Macy's is taking over Herald Square for a holiday market that showcases over 30 New York City-based businesses. Initiatives like this make it easier for people to find personalization and hyper-local experiences while showcasing how brands can invest in collaborations to stand out.

Macy's hosts holiday market with local businesses

Tiffany & Co. has partnered with The Nature Conservancy to protect the oceans. As people become more conscious of brands' environmental impact, those that demonstrate a genuine commitment to ecological causes may appeal to customers seeking meaning through their purchases.

Tiffany & Co. dives into ocean conservation

Major luxury brands are reporting losses and facing challenging times as shoppers around the world hold back on their spending. Understanding the changing needs of aspirational and wealthy shoppers across different markets will be key for brands to weather this slowdown.

Global spending slowdown hits UK luxury brands hard

A survey has revealed generational nuances in which Americans are planning to shop in physical stores for the holidays. These findings reflect people's ongoing desire for unique experiences, shedding light on ways brands can creatively engage with audiences beyond digital marketing.

Americans return to in-person holiday shopping

AI is changing the way we shop, but what are the new expectations around immersive retail? Where will personalisation preferences show up in the future? How are digital agents changing the purchasing journey? And what does all of this mean for the holiday season? Explore AI-ready retail insights with our Spotlight.


Spotlight on: AI-ready retail

In Japan, oshikatsu, or passionately supporting a fave celebrity or character, has evolved from a niche subculture into a multigenerational, mainstream phenomenon, driving significant spending and immersive fan experiences. What is fuelling this shift, and how are brands tapping into this trend to engage fans across age groups?

How Japanese superfans go all out for their heroes

Art Basel Paris, opening on October 16th at the Grand Palais, is launching its first-ever branded fragrance, Œillet Pourpre, in collaboration with Parisian perfume house Guerlain. Luxury and cultural experiences are becoming more entangled as brands look to reach a wider audience.

Guerlain x Art Basel Paris combines arts and fragrance

A computer vision-based tool is set to be rolled out in Amazon delivery vans to facilitate quicker and more accurate retrieval of packages. As AI permeates every industry’s ways of working, companies face pressure to continually innovate to stay ahead of their competition.

Amazon drivers get help from AI to retrieve packages

With many conscious shoppers considering plant-based milk to be more environmentally friendly and ethical than their dairy alternatives, Trewithen Dairy has launched Regen Milk, a semi-skimmed option that uses regenerative farming techniques to maintain soil health and biodiversity.

Trewithen Dairy courts sustainability-conscious shoppers

Gen Zers are looking for in-store experiences that feel like online shopping –​​ instant, personalized, and frictionless – and when their expectations aren’t met, they leave stores empty-handed. Incorporating technology is key to enhancing convenience, speed, and efficiency.

Gen Z want IRL shopping to mirror online experience

Netflix is giving London superfans the chance to purchase memorabilia from popular titles with a one-day-only pop-up store. Leveraging audience desires for more interactive forms of engagement, the move taps a growing interest in high-value collectables among young people.

Netflix pop up taps fandom-fuelled memorabilia hype

While cost of living pressures persist, luxury sales are booming in Australia, partly due to international tourists and the country’s growing wealth. As global brands seek to expand their presence in the market, how can they adapt their stores and use collaborations to edge out the competition?

Why luxury thrives Down Under despite the cost of living

Australian shoppers are becoming less trusting of Australia’s biggest supermarkets because of fears about misleading pricing practices. The Australian government has announced a further $30 million in funding for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to combat this.

Australian trust in big supermarkets wanes

Germans are considering their purchases more carefully as inflation limits their spending power, and they're increasingly buying second-hand clothes.  The combination of budget constraints and environmental concerns is fueling the popularity of charity shops and circular fashion.

Inflation drives Germans to invest in second-hand clothes

A report found that Diwali shoppers want to make sustainable choices when buying for the holidays. The findings highlight that even on special occasions, people are still looking to shop with their values first, giving brands the opportunity to balance cost and climate consciousness creatively.

Indian shoppers stay eco-conscious for Diwali

With China’s economy experiencing poor shopper sentiment and a dip in spending power, demand for dupes has grown. Some luxury brands are experiencing sustained success despite the headwinds, but others could embrace the expansion of dupe culture by collaborating with high-street brands.

Demand for dupes grows in China

Aussies are engaging with loyalty programmes to save money, while also gaining emotional rewards through gamification and a sense of community. As travel priorities shift, loyalty programmes for airlines and hotels provide exclusive experiences and incentives that cater to Aussie individuality.

How Aussies reap emotional value from loyalty programmes

Statement jewellery has fully permeated the luxury landscape, partly due to Gen Z’s lust for experimentation and individualism during times of crisis. As industry lines blur, how are brands and designers in this space reacting to ways people people create identity via adornments and aesthetics?

Why Gen Zers are investing in statement jewellery

The luxury market has taken a hit post-pandemic because of slower tourism and the rising cost of living. In France, this means that Parisian stores are recalibrating their strategies to increase accessibility, showing how a shifting landscape can open new and exciting opportunities.




Parisian stores aim to make luxury accessible again

The RealReal taps people's emotional connections to clothes to encourage resale and fashion circularity. The company aims to help individuals turn their luxury goods into profit while promoting the idea of giving pre-owned items a new life and fostering a sense of shared purpose. 

The RealReal taps emotional connections for luxe resale

As the luxury sector takes a hit, the UK branch of Bulgari announced losses in 2023 due to economic instability and reduced tourism. With financial concerns worsening, trends like #underconsumptioncore and 'affordable luxury' rise, offering leverage for smaller, cheaper, and stylish alternatives.




Smaller brands may emerge as Bulgari UK struggles

TikTok Shop has launched the UK’s first-ever Super Brand Day with L’Oreal Paris, featuring a 12-hour live beauty shopping event streamed at Piccadilly Circus. In a social shopping era, live streams have become a hub for community engagement centred around shared interests and product placements.

L'Oreal Paris' 'Super Brand Day' courts social shoppers

The Mid-Autumn Festival has sparked a surge in local tourism, shopping, and dining in China. The holiday provides an opportunity to spend time with family, travel, and participate in rich traditions as people look to celebrate their heritage against a backdrop of rising national and cultural pride.

Mid-Autumn Festival sparks spending around celebrations

Geographer Nat Henry created the Close map to show Seattle's neighborhood connectivity without a car. It went viral and now covers the US, highlighting walkability, bikeability, and transit options. Despite concerns about movement, there's a desire for convenience provided by nearby amenities.

Close app allows Americans to identify 15-minute cities

Adult advent calendars filled with items like spirits and high-end makeup are becoming increasingly popular. This trend highlights a shift towards personalised, smaller gifts, allowing adults to indulge in small luxurious products that make their holiday experience feel extended and more special.

More adults want advent calendars

South Korean digital payments platform Naver Pay has launched a feature that allows users to raise a digital pet and earn points while doing so. As more Koreans embrace gamified e-commerce, brands are exploring more innovative mechanisms to keep people emotionally engaged.

Naver Pay levels up gamification with virtual pets

For the first time, sales of pet carriers have surpassed those of baby strollers in South Korea, highlighting the country's low fertility rate and evolving perspectives on gender roles, parenting, and family priorities, as more Koreans choose to invest in pets over children.

Pet strollers outsell baby strollers in South Korea

A viral trend sees users deconstruct their overnight self-care routine in a bid to wake up looking their best. As beauty and wellness rituals gradually merge, people are taking a more integrated approach to personal care, but experts urge that some extreme measures may fuel harmful beauty standards.

‘Morning shed’ trend signals beauty-wellness fusion

As trends come and go at lightning speed, Shein stays ahead by producing ultra-fast, trend-driven products that capture the essence of real-time retail. It has also started offering products in its physical store in Japan, where people look for trendy and affordable items with seamless shopping.

Why Shein blends online convenience and offline retail for Japanese shoppers

Is 2025 the year of AI integration? Will the gap between offline and online disappear? Are consumers disposing of a disposable society? In this chapter of Canvas8's 2025 Expert Outlook, we speak to three experts about the changes set to shake up retail in the year ahead.

2025 Expert Outlook on Shopping

IKEA is using AI-enabled tech to bridge the gaps between physical and digital shopping, creating a future-oriented retail experience for American customers seeking savings, personalized shopping, and immersive experiences. What does this mean for the shopping landscape in the US moving forward?

Why IKEA uses GenAI and AR to attract American shoppers

K-food is making its mark on Japan’s food market with the growth of quick-fix frozen Korean-style meals. People are increasingly looking for authentic global food experiences and convenience, and they are taking the lead from wider cultural phenomena to find inspiration.

Korea's cultural influence in Japan expands to food

Zara has announced plans to launch its pre-owned platform in the US after running in 16 European countries. As the shift towards circularity gains traction, people expect brands to support their eco-values by encouraging convenient ways to repair, reuse, and extend the life cycle of garments.

Zara bolsters eco-efforts with pre-owned expansion

The global market demand for athleisure is rising, and one brand that remains at the forefront is Lululemon. Its premium product range is underpinned by a community and ethics-focused business strategy that ensures that, despite the hefty price, the brand remains accessible.

Why Lululemon encourages active shopping among Britons

Target is doubling down on pet lovers, unveiling their limited-edition pet collection, the Cuddle Collab. The brand recognizes the emotional significance and joy pets bring, aligning with people’s expectations for empathy and understanding from brands in their relationships with their furry friends.

Target releases limited-edition pet collection

Industry data shows that amid an economic slowdown, Chinese shoppers are increasingly prioritising simplicity and affordability when it comes to mooncake buying. As luxury purchases move away from the conspicuous, people are driving new codes of premiumisation in gifting culture.

Chinese appetites for mooncakes are getting muted

Media brand Monocle has partnered with Lagardère Travel Retail to open a store at Frankfurt Airport Terminal 1. With travel stress a hangover of the post-pandemic holiday surge, people are looking for soothing and novel experiences that foster a better end-to-end journey. 



Monocle eyes airport shopping rituals in Frankfurt

The retailer will be bringing over 1,000 stock-keeping units (SKUs) across 20 premium brands to its e-commerce platform. Appetite for high-end beauty shows no signs of slowing, and brands that are banking on accessibility will need to rethink their premium positioning to maintain allure.

Walmart Marketplace hones in on premium beauty

Shopping

People buy goods that reflect who they are

Self expression has played a part in spending habits for a long time, but brands are working harder to give people new opportunities to reflect their identity. People now expect to see that same sense of self they found in a new car or a pair of shoes reflected in everything they buy – right down to their statement socks. Even grudge purchases (those things people need, but begrudge buying), like toilet brushes or car insurance, are being repackaged with personality.