Global Scans · Shopping · Weekly Summary

• [New] Shopify has introduced an agentic plan that will let non-Shopify merchants sell through AI channels - including ChatGPT, GoogleAI Mode and Gemini, Copilot and Perplexity - as well as the Shop app and future partners. Digiday
• [New] Per Steiger, AI will remain a key lever in 2026, not just to create new ways for consumers to shop, but to help brands become more agile through better forecasting, inventory management, and planning. Morning Brew
• [New] Streamers will hunt for new revenues beyond subscriptions and ads, fashion shoppers will polarize toward luxury or low-cost, and TikTok Shop will transition from experiment to expectation. eMarketer
• [New] If you shop online, Amazon's glasses could change in-store / online behaviour in 2026. Glass Almanac
• [New] Another 2026 influencer marketing prediction is that social commerce will hit its stride as a standard way people shop online. Stack Influence
• [New] Shopping directly within social media apps (like TikTok Shop and Facebook) is a primary sales channel, with global sales forecast to exceed $1.17 trillion in 2026. Wiserreview
• [New] Total Online Shoppers: Approximately 2.86 billion people are expected to shop online globally in 2026. Wiserreview
• [New] Consumers in North America and Europe will expect to shop anytime, anywhere, whether via a phone, a social feed, or talking to an AI, and receive their purchase quickly. Omnichannel Customer Engagement Platform
• [New] Regardless of whether or not consolidation comes for commerce media, the disruption of how people shop online (read: use AI agents) will likely continue in 2026, which experts predict will have ripple effects in commerce media. Morning Brew
• [New] Affiliate marketing within the UK will continue to grow in 2026, with the focus on performance-driven commissions, the growing adoption of affiliate marketing software, and the introduction of the platform-based on influence, including TikTok Shop. BusinAssist Blog
• [New] A notable portion of American households shop at grocery stores weekly, creating extensive reach and frequent purchase opportunities for gluten-free baking mixes that align with regular shopping patterns and impulse buying behaviours. Market Data Forecast
• [New] Most Whole Foods run about 40,000 square feet, while Daily Shop locations will be between 7,000 and 14,000 square feet and carry a smaller stock of a few hundred items. Tasting Table
• Coffee shop Dutch Bros opened 160 new locations in 2025, and plans to open 175 more in 2026, giving stalwarts like Starbucks a run for their money. Cheapism
• Siemens' Industrial Copilot integrates AI directly on the shop floor for rapid decision-making, while collaborations with companies like JetZero showcase the use of digital twins to de-risk manufacturing and accelerate innovation. Bizclik Media Ltd
• Social commerce (Instagram Checkout, Shop tabs) becomes an expected feature, with DM-based shopping flows streamlining the purchase journey. AI Video Cut
• Many brands in the U.S. are struggling with tariffs, which could explain why prices are higher on TikTok Shop if companies are passing along costs to consumers. Digiday
• Visa says it remains on track to deliver secure, personalized AI-enabled commerce to consumers by early 2026, marking a sea-change in how customer shop online. FinExtra
• Super Saturday shoppers are expected to embrace multiple channels in 2025, with nearly half, or 71.6 million, planning to shop both in-store and online, up from 69.5 million in 2024. Midland Paper
• As consumers grow more comfortable with using AI, retail industry leaders see 2026 as a pivotal year in shaping how the emerging technology disrupts the way people shop. eMarketer

Last updated: 19 January 2026