In China, IKEA is a furniture-filled theme park where people are welcome to spend an entire day – even if they don’t buy anything. The Swedish furniture store has adapted to the nuances of Chinese shopping - but will it be successful?

From pharmaceuticals to fashion, retailers are taking cues from Apple, recruiting expert staff, and encouraging consumers to exchange their online shopping behaviour for a lasting relationship with local stores.

The internet has become a sprawling hub of images often featuring desirable content – but no place to buy it. California-based start-up The Hunt has set out to tackle the problem by providing a new and interactive online shopping experience.

Israeli start-up Awear Solutions is making awkward 'where did you get that bag?' interactions a thing of the past with an app that lets you scan strangers’ outfits on the go, taking you to the original purchase site. But given that it relies on brand and customer co-operation, does it have growth potential?