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.

Whether shopping on Amazon or selecting a song on Spotify, modern life has too many options for even the most mundane decisions. This assortment of online offerings can overwhelm people to the point of indecision and inaction. How can brands help to mitigate choice fatigue for American shoppers?

Money can’t buy you happiness, but splashing out on a treat can sometimes be a perfect emotional pick-me-up. Canvas8 spoke to Dr. Satoko Suzuki, an associate professor at Hitotsubashi University, to discover how indulgent consumption can bring people joy and impact their overall wellbeing.

Generally done solo and from a sofa or bedroom, online shopping lacks the social appeal of a trip to the high street with friends. The Squadded Shopping Party app is looking to change that, capitalising on the boom of e-commerce during lockdown and making the experience more enjoyable.

As social media becomes a bigger and bigger part of our life, brands are tapping into this with ‘social-first’ strategies that meet people on their beloved platforms. But as we click-til-you-drop, how are luxury labels finding their voice and appealing to people in this new landscape?