Social commerce stories

Minty launches cashback app inside ChatGPT as shoppers increasingly use AI chats to compare products and unlock offers without leaving the conversation.

WNTD unveils iOS fashion and beauty app mixing AI styling, virtual try-ons and social feedback after securing GBP £3 million in investment.

Markable opens free creator tier and adds AI shopping tools as it targets a fast-growing social commerce market.

MiQ research finds consumers jump between screens and buying moments in minutes, prompting calls for a more flexible marketing model.

Integral Ad Science widens independent verification on TikTok as search, commerce and lightweight app placements join its measurement coverage.

Blackhawk Network has unveiled a Digital Wallet API that lets brands pool gift cards, refunds, loyalty rewards and promo credit into one spendable balance.

Ecommerce in 2026: AI shoppers, social sales and returns pressure push retailers to rethink data, compliance and cross-border growth.

Shoppers increasingly prefer human-led social posts over AI-generated material, with Gen Z driving brands towards micro-influencers and niche creators.

PayPal brings payment links into Canva for 265 million users, letting creators, entrepreneurs and small firms sell from designs with QR codes and checkouts.

Bazaarvoice unveils patent-pending API to help brands and retailers surface verified reviews in AI-led shopping and search results.

Rugs Direct and stampfree.ai unveil WhatsApp returns in UK retail pilot, as research shows shoppers want messaging apps for post-purchase tasks.

UK shoppers willing to pay more for seamless cross-channel retail, with younger consumers leading demand for friction-free journeys and consistent payments.

TikTok Shop and Bazaarvoice link up to push verified customer feedback, photos and videos onto product pages as US sales surge.

THG Commerce teams with Beauty of Joseon for UK TikTok Shop debut, with affiliate creators driving 68% of early revenue and boosting Korean skincare reach.

UK retailers step up TikTok and AI shopping experiments as social feeds overtake high streets and search as the place to discover products.

Pattern appoints ex-Amazon eCommerce Specialist David Jennison as Europe MD to spearhead marketplace-driven growth and AI-powered expansion.

Revuze now tracks TikTok Shop sales and creator performance, unifying commerce data with customer feedback in its market platform.

Ecommpay launches a free fraud guide for online retailers as UK payment fraud hits GBP £1.17 billion and AI-driven scams rapidly escalate.

Akeneo and Stripe launch integration to pipe AI-ready product data into agentic checkout flows, cutting disruption for merchants.

Pulse Advertising has named Paola Nannelli Chief Executive as it steps up UK and US growth plans in the fast-shifting social commerce market.