Holiday season stories

AI, social media, and flexible payments like BNPL will shape festive shopping as 69% of consumers trust AI to assist their Black Friday and holiday purchases.

UK tech retail sales rose 5.4% in Q3 2025, outpacing national retail growth but lagging behind Europe's 21% surge in the sector.

Holiday shoppers demand quick, eco-friendly delivery but resist paying extra, with UK consumers showing low confidence in on-time arrivals, survey reveals.

CCL urges businesses to strengthen logistics and customs compliance ahead of the festive surge, as UK online sales hit GBP £115.3bn in late 2024.

Most Australians plan to cut festive spending in 2025, focusing mainly on gifts and food, as economic caution shapes their holiday priorities.

Norton has extended its AI-powered scam protection to New Zealand and globally, boosting defences across web, email, SMS, videos, and calls for all Norton users.

Retailers are rapidly adopting AI to personalise shopping experiences, boosting customer loyalty and handling £30bn in UK click-and-collect orders in 2025.

Nearly half of Canadian holiday shoppers plan to use AI tools for gift research, marking the first AI-powered festive season in Canada, says Google Canada.

Many young UK shoppers risk scams by using AI and social media for festive gifts, despite widespread concerns over online holiday shopping risks.

Norton reports UK millennials and Gen Z face rising holiday scam risks as 66% take risky steps, driven by growing use of social media and AI in shopping.

New Zealanders risk scams this holiday season by sharing personal data for discounts and shopping via social media, as AI-fuelled frauds rise, Norton warns.

Adobe forecasts US online holiday spending to reach a record USD $253.4 billion in 2025, up 5.3%, with mobile shopping and AI playing key roles.

Retailers must embrace technology and end-to-end planning to meet soaring consumer demands and excel in the 2025 peak shopping season.

Generative AI boosts US retail web traffic by 4,700% year-on-year as shoppers increasingly use AI tools for research and recommendations, Adobe reveals.

AI-driven tools are forecast to boost holiday retail sales to USD $1.6 trillion, reshaping shopping with personalised recommendations and blended online-in-store experiences.

Nearly 80% of UK holidaymakers boost pre-trip spending, favouring clothing and travel gear, with shoppers seeking smart deals and value for money.

THG Fulfil will install 430 Libiao T-sorting robots at its Manchester warehouse in September 2025, boosting capacity by 75% to process one million units daily.

The European PC market experienced a 3% revenue rise in Q4 2024, driven by seasonal promotions, with Spain and the UK leading growth amid ongoing challenges.

British consumers are set to return £1.5 billion worth of unwanted Christmas gifts this year, highlighting significant challenges for retailers' logistics.

The European print market is showing signs of recovery, driven by demand for high-end multifunction printers and the rise of AI and cloud solutions.