Ahead of the 2021 holiday season, YouTube is launching a livestream event to position the platform as a shopping destination. Social media shopping has not taken off in the US as it has done in China, but YouTube’s celebrity-driven shopping event may be a sign that this is changing.

How are media channels shaping the way we shop? What can brands do to make the convergence of physical and digital retail more seamless? And how are store spaces adapting to consumers’ shifting needs? In this part of the 2022 Expert Outlook, we speak to three experts about the future of shopping.

Americans’ approach to using technology in their shopping journeys has fundamentally shifted due to COVID-19, providing new opportunities for brands as pandemic restrictions come to an end. Canvas8 polled 1,020 people and spoke to eight individuals to explore this topic in depth.

The rising cost of living is seeing many Americans cut down on unnecessary spending. But at times of heightened stress, many also indulge in shopping as a form of escapism. So, how can social shopping platforms simultaneously help people limit their expenses and engage in retail therapy?