The Australian coffee shop industry is valued at over $4 billion, and independents account for 95% of all outlets - but the data-driven deals and promotions that big chains can offer pose a threat. Can digital loyalty scheme Rewardle give small coffee shop owners an advantage?

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz says people are embracing the convenience and flexibility associated with gift cards. Rather than gifting a specific item, people are choosing the "gift of choice" to avoid the embarrassment of picking the wrong gift.

House of Fraser, Debenhams and Starbucks have all signed partnerships with Giftcloud - an app that lets people send each other e-gifts via email, text message and social media channels like Twitter. Could this be the future of Christmas presents?

Christmas seems to come earlier every year – or at least the marketing and advertising frenzy that precedes it. Festive madness is becoming even more all-conquering since the arrival of Black Friday in the UK, but how has the way Brits shop and think about Christmas changed?