Future Commerce

LORE was forged, edited, debated, passed around, photographed, and built page by page. That’s why people love it. Here’s a peek behind the scenes, including the folks who helped bring our cultural field guide to life. Get 15% off with code CommerceIsCulture. Click through, and it’ll drop into your cart automatically with the discount applied: store.futurecommerce.com/apps/rebuy/car…

You cannot optimize your way to trust, and you cannot automate your way to belonging. That’s why, although AI was the main focus of @Shoptalk Spring, the most impactful sessions and discussions centered around the human condition, and our innate need for safety, autonomy, and esteem. Get our full analysis here: futurecommerce.com/posts/insiders…

Is this the moment when @philwinkle admits he's wrong? For years, it felt like live shopping had a lot of hype in the West, but the results never fully materialized. That is, until now. @Whatnot's CRO, Armand Wilson, sat down with Phillip and @brianjlange to dig into new data that puts real growth numbers behind the format. A powerful combination of entertainment, limited inventory, and creator POV creates a dopamine rush that has generated $8B in GMV... and that number is growing. Listen to the full episode now: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the…

Commerce no longer moves in clean, predictable cycles. It accumulates, folds in on itself, and creates unpredictable overlaps between culture, technology, and identity that are difficult to name in real time. STRATA is our attempt to document and decipher that complexity. It's meant to be read, questioned, and shared. Buy your copy and access the digital version immediately 👉 futurecommerce.metalabel.com/strata?variant…

In the world of brick-and-mortar retail, bigger doesn't always mean better. Brands like Purple and Barnes & Noble know that very well, and we're going live with them tomorrow to chat through how they've reimagined their in-store experiences to be smaller, more localized, and more immersive: linkedin.com/events/rightsi…

Who's heading to @Shoptalk next week? Feeling stressed and overwhelmed already? We've got the ultimate guide to Shoptalk Spring: venue details, must-see sessions, tips for navigating a crowded party calendar, and even an interactive map to help you plot your meet-ups: futurecommerce.com/shoptalk

Little treat culture is showing us that consumers (especially Gen Z) are shopping through uncertainty. The 2026 State of the Consumer event from @NRFnews reaffirmed some major trends we've been tracking since last year. Now, we break down what it all means for brands: futurecommerce.com/posts/nrfs-sta…

Everyone keeps asking why the @McDonalds CEO video went viral. It’s not because it was great content...it's because it didn’t try to be. The current influencer marketing playbook is optimized for attention; perfectly polished and curated to meet brand goals. So something unpolished and imperfect feels impactful by comparison. @heyitsalexP writes for Insiders: futurecommerce.com/posts/insiders…

@heyitsalexP 🔥

I know I'm a chopped unc for obsessing over yappers, but I think it is a symptom of a larger change in the culture (enabled by algos) Wrote about that here: futurecommerce.com/posts/insiders…

Have you ever used RentAHuman.ai? You can get paid to do things that bots can't. (Think waiting in lines or closing a door...) We've reached the point where AI is the orchestrator, and we are the meat puppets looking for some extra cash. Would you sign up for this? Listen to our full analysis on the pod: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the…

Want to see the full line-up, and get our tips on how to plan your best show too? Our official Shoptalk hub has everything you need: futurecommerce.com/shoptalk

We're bringing back our library pop-up featuring our newest zine, STRATA Vol. 001. We're hosting our famous After Dark gathering, Sin City style. And we'll have even more on-site content capture, sharing breaking news, thoughtful podcast conversations, and real-time videos about everything that's happening on the show floor and beyond.

T-minus 10-days until we're in Las Vegas for @shoptalk Spring, and this year is going to be bigger and better for the Future Commerce team. 🧵

Executives, operators, and culture vultures are meeting in one room, after dark, during @Shoptalk Spring. Want to get in on the conversations shaping the future of our industry? Join us to celebrate the launch of our latest zine, STRATA Vol. 001. Apply to attend now: luma.com/AfterDarkShopt…

What does it take to turn your brand into a viral success on TikTok Shop? For Pure Daily Care and Aquasonic, it was all about giving niche creators the mic. Jonathan Cohen, Chief Marketing Officer at Onyx Global Group, sat down with Future Commerce to share how he helped build a creator-driven machine that has driven seismic sales growth for both brands through the app. Listen here: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cra…

The big takeaway from our study of 2,000 US consumers: AI as a trend curator < AI as deal scout, validator, confidence engine. This week, we’ll break down what that means for brands adapting to the AI era of retail. Join tomorrow’s conversation here: futurecommerce.com/webinars/2-000…

A restaurant opened in Manhattan where every table was set for one. The EVA Café was an AI dating pop-up that added color to the growing AI companion market, which experts say could exceed $500B over the next decade. While visiting the café, author Sharon Gai found that this is about far more than tech; it's an examination of the loneliness economy. Get her firsthand account on this week's Insiders: futurecommerce.com/posts/table-fo…

Every industry has its prophets. Thought leaders who claim to know the future and how to solve any challenge that emerges. Retail is especially guilty of creating new titles to solve every problem when organizational structures aren't equipped to act. People get overwhelmed, leadership loses focus, and the vision is extinguished. In this Insiders essay, we explore why the retail industry doesn't need another corporate fortune teller: futurecommerce.com/posts/insiders…

STRATA is our new zine that explores the signals we see in brands and in our celebration of them. It zeroes in on the fresh layers, the clues forming beneath our feet, that are shaping commerce and culture. We're celebrating its release during Shoptalk Spring during an intimate release party at Skyfall Panoramic Bar & Lounge at the W Las Vegas. Space is extremely limited, so apply to attend now: luma.com/AfterDarkShopt…