Global Scans · Shopping · Weekly Summary

• [New] US coffee and doughnut chain, Dunkin' currently has 28 locations across the UK and is said to be working on an 'aggressive extension plan' that will double its number of shops by 2025. Metro
• [New] The surge in online shopping is a major growth driver, with e-commerce sales in Thailand expected to reach USD 25 billion by 2025, significantly boosting the last mile delivery sector. Mobility Foresights
• Walmart began using generative AI to enhance the search experience on the website and mobile app earlier in 2024 and is now beta testing a Gen AI-powered shopping assistant that will make personalized recommendations for customers based on their inquiries. Home Textiles Today
• Generative and predictive AI will significantly impact shopping during the 2024 holiday season by enhancing personalization, customization, and customer engagement. EcoEnclose
• Six-Week Sale: The DSS will send consumers 25 to 75% off on famous foreign labels throughout Dubai's malls and shopping areas for six weeks. Dubaievisaonline
• The rollout of Dollar General's discounts come as more consumers begin shopping earlier for the back-to-school season, but it remains to be seen how much shoppers will spend for the upcoming school year. Retail Dive
• Walmart has improved its shopping experience with store renovations, appealing own-brand product lines, and convenience shopping, but it's not the premium shopping experience wealthier consumers will look for as economic worries wane. Fortune
• By 2024, many organizations are expected to embrace AR and VR in retail to enhance the shopping experience. Retail Insider Canada
• As India's tech-savvy population grows, we can expect to see even more innovative approaches to retail emerge, blurring the lines between the virtual and physical worlds and creating a truly exciting shopping experience. Daily Pioneer
• Once the darling of Northeast grocery chains, Stop & Shop recently announced it will close 32 underperforming stores by November across New England, New York, and New Jersey. The Boston Globe
• Even though brick-and-mortar stores have returned to normal operations, e-commerce is expected to remain an integral part of the shopping experience for Chileans. Statista
• With the population projected to grow by 70,000 a year up to 10.5m by 2041, London needs schools, shops, amenities and space for tens of thousands of new jobs. The Telegraph
• Key industry leaders such as Amazon, TikTok Shop, Alibaba, and SHEIN are strategically positioning themselves to capitalize on emerging opportunities and navigate competitive challenges. The Freedonia Group, Inc.
• A great sustainable way to spend a holiday is by supporting local independent businesses, going to craft fairs, and finding eco-friendly shops (Cornwall has many). Penventon
• Purchase behaviour is expected to shift towards Meta and TikTok Shop, impacting conversion rates, and segmenting performance between shops and sites will be key in 2024. Ecorn agency
• As video analytics technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more innovative applications that will reshape the retail landscape and enhance the shopping experience for customers worldwide. BriefCam
• Over the next decade, debit card payment volumes are expected to continue to increase, driven by the continuing rise of contactless payments, the ongoing growth of online shopping and increasing levels of card acceptance amongst businesses of all sizes. AOL
• The push for new power sources comes as Dominion predicts that its peak electric load will increase by 5% annually over the next decade, largely due to the continued growth of data centers that power websites, online shopping and other digital services. Cardinal News
• Shoe brand Kizik in April opened its first experiential pop-up shop in New York, where customers could see its hands-free shoes. Retail Dive
• Lotte Duty Free has implemented various ESG activities, by introducing tarpaulin bags and paper shopping bags, it has reduced plastic usage by more than 90%, and plans to 100% convert all four types of plastic shopping bags to paper shopping bags in 2024. DFNI
• As the new mine owners set up shop in Africa, there is an opportunity to implement better planning, optimise energy use and resources and manage equipment and transport capacity more effectively. Cyprus Shipping News

Last updated: 09 September 2024