What’s the appeal of pre-loved products beyond the lower price? How are digital tools helping people find the perfect fashion fit? Why are tangible experiences so important in brick-and-mortar spaces? And how do shoppers make buying decisions in-store when they can’t find their preferred brand?

British shoppers exhibit two polar-opposite attitudes towards shopping a study has found. They regularly indulge in impulse purchasing – both big and small – while also agonising over finding a bargain, especially when it comes to making household or utility purchases.

You’re browsing through ASOS, and instantly fall in love with a pair of boots. They’re perfect, but it's summer and you already own two similar pairs. Looking to help people curb their impulsive shopping habits, Icebox forces shoppers to stop and reconsider before taking the plunge.

When it comes to big-ticket buys, cash-stretched individuals are taking shortcuts instead of saving. Over two-thirds of Americans have less than $1,000 in their savings accounts, while 34% have nothing at all. As a result, many Gen Yers have found themselves unable to get mortgages under banks’ rigid procedures and conditions. In the UK, Unmortgage is helping people get on to the property ladder by providing loans that require as little as 5% for a deposit. “Banks cannot handle the ambiguity of individual cases,” says co-founder Joseph Wasinski, “We have the time, patience and capability, unlike the banks, to really unpick the profile of each person.”