Homes are increasingly controlled by voice tech, but people have been slower to turn to it for purchases, especially for high-value items. How is low consumer trust and the user experience delaying mass adoption? And how can brands get ahead before it becomes a mainstream payment method?

Toeing the line between hype-fatigue and drop culture, art collective and creative agency MSCHF is tapping Gen Zers with whimsical offerings – and appealing to their fauxstalgia via SMS-based notifications. With limited stock and quirky comms, the brand is winning fans who value authenticity.

While some Britons are eager to return to normality and indulge in some retail therapy, others remain anxious about in-store hygiene and safety. Working to protect both shoppers and employees, Primark is changing its retail landscape as lockdown restrictions lift across the UK.

The easing of lockdown measures is leaving people in a bind. Though many remain wary of contracting COVID-19, there’s a common desire for physical interaction after months of social isolation. So, how can shops, restaurants, and leisure spaces create experiences that keep us safe and connected?

As COVID-19 upends usual modes of shopping, Americans are exploring safer ways of accessing essentials – including medication. How might the pandemic boost the long-term appeal of online pharmacies? And beyond convenience, what are the advantages of getting prescriptions this way?

The COVID-19 pandemic has upheaved societies around the world – perhaps permanently. There’s an acknowledgement that everyday life will have to change post-lockdown to avoid further outbreaks, but could this transition also present a chance to usher in a fairer, greener, and less lonely future?

Grocery stores have seen business boom as Americans have sought out shelf-stable foods to prepare for life under lockdown. What does this mass uptake of non-perishables reveal about the ways people are eating during the crisis? And will their taste for these products last post-COVID-19?

The widespread closure of brick-and-mortar stores due to COVID-19 has underlined the need for businesses to have effective e-commerce and social media strategies. But how do people want brands to behave in digital spaces? And why are privacy and community so important to online shoppers?