2015 will see an avalanche of virtual reality devices appear in the mass market, with the likes of Sony, Google, Facebook and Microsoft targeting gamers across the globe. The technology may now be an attainable reality, but will it be used for anything beyond video games?

Christmas comes once a year, so it pays to be prepared. At least that's the logic of approximately one million Americans who have completed their Xmas shopping before the end of September. Another 34 million have gotten their gift-buying underway, well in advance of Black Friday.

Do physical stores matter any more in China? When Topshop launched in China in 2014 it didn’t bother with bricks and mortar. Instead, taking cues from its Gen Y customers (who spend up to 30% of their day online), it partnered with an established fashion website. Is this non-traditional route proving a hit?

In the age of the online shopper, the decline of the American mall seemed inevitable. But Destiny USA in Syracuse, New York, has found a solution. The shopping centre now houses entertainment offerings including glow-in-the-dark mini golf, immersive adventures and laser tag.