Shopping Stories

Kiwi Stories

Shopping stories

No 'ticking clock' keeps shoppers in town on Blenheim's Free Parking Friday

Shoppers lingered longer in central Blenheim on Friday, as a one-off free parking day eased pressure to rush and drew praise from locals.

By Kira Carrington • 3 min read • Today

Data Science

New Zealand households cut spending as confidence falls

Falling confidence is pushing households to trim discretionary purchases, with 65% cutting non-essential spending as essentials stay dear.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Wed, 15th Jul 2026

Fintech

Kiwi travellers spent NZD $700m on hidden overseas costs

Hidden fees and loose budgeting left New Zealanders more than NZD $700 million out of pocket on overseas trips last year.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Tue, 2nd Jun 2026

Global Stories

Shopping stories

Data Analytics

Tubing mascara searches surge as summer heat bites

Beauty shoppers are turning to tubing formulas to avoid smudging and flaking in heat, with searches up 176% year on year.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Tue, 14th Jul 2026

Personalisation

Google unveils AI search & agent tools at I/O 2026

Search now blends text, images and files as Google rolls out a single AI experience and background agents to over 1 billion users.

By Mark Tarre • 5 min read • Thu, 21st May 2026

Marketing Technologies

Early holiday shopping & AI trust reshape retail strategies

A global survey reveals shoppers increasingly expect early, personalised holiday deals and trust AI for recommendations, urging retailers to act faster and smarter.

By Catherine Knowles • 3 min read • Thu, 30th Oct 2025

Customer Experience

PriceSpider unveils Wayvia to advance AI-driven retail insights

PriceSpider launches Wayvia, an AI-driven retail platform that enhances brand insights and revenue across channels with 20 years of shopper data.

By Catherine Knowles • 4 min read • Fri, 25th Jul 2025

Customer Experience

Experts reveal how AI Agents impact retail, shopping and customer loyalty

AI agents will transform retail loyalty by acting as personal concierges, optimising offers, and demanding trust and transparency in shopping experiences.

By Jonathan Reeve • 4 min read • Mon, 16th Jun 2025

Stories from Other Regions

Shopping stories

Data Privacy

Australian parents use AI to juggle care & privacy fears

Privacy fears are mounting as Australian parents increasingly use AI to organise schoolwork, shopping and elder care across generations.

By Mara Sugue • 4 min read • Last week

Customer Experience

UK shoppers say retailers have blind spots in stores

Customer frustration is rising as 55% of shoppers say shops lack full visibility across their premises, risking abandoned sales and lost loyalty.

By Mara Sugue • 3 min read • This month

Shopping

AULUMU launches two sling bags for commuters & travellers

Commuters and short-trip travellers get two compact options from AULUMU, with the larger sling starting at USD $145 and the smaller at USD $89.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 3 min read • This month

Digital Transformation

Hyundai Card launches Alphabet Card for younger spenders

Younger South Koreans could get clearer savings on everyday spending as category-based credit cards gain ground over broad rewards schemes.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Thu, 30th Jul 2026

Data Analytics

Australians cut spending & lean on credit as costs bite

Household finances are under growing strain as more Australians dip into savings, cut discretionary spending and lean on credit for essentials.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 3 min read • Fri, 17th Jul 2026

Data Science

Hyundai Card launches Alphabet Card as standalone brand

Customers seeking more tailored rewards will now find Hyundai Card's niche products separated from its mainstream range under a new brand.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Tue, 14th Jul 2026

Data Analytics

UK Super Saturday footfall drops as shoppers hold off

UK Super Saturday footfall slid 6.9% year on year as cautious shoppers delayed spending, waiting for deeper pre- and post-Christmas deals.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 3 min read • Mon, 12th Jan 2026

Artificial Intelligence

AI is helping us reimagine black friday

AI is revolutionising Black Friday, turning it from a rush of impulsive buys into a year-round, sustainable, and transparent shopping experience.

By Ashley Bailey • 4 min read • Sun, 23rd Nov 2025

Customer Experience

European consumers weigh AI, privacy & personalisation for BFCM

European consumers show cautious optimism towards AI easing Black Friday shopping, with 44% positive but 40% concerned over data privacy and personalisation.

By Catherine Knowles • 3 min read • Fri, 19th Sep 2025