Second-hand clothing is experiencing a boom in sales as re-selling has never been easier. Are second-hand and resale platforms like Vinted changing how we shop? And could AI transform the way we buy Christmas presents this year?

This episode of The Shopping Forecast explores how second-hand shopping looks in the digital age. Elizabeth looks at the rise of Vinted and Depop, asking whether the resale boom is changing how we value clothes and making pre-loved fashion more appealing than buying new. Is second-hand shopping making fashion more sustainable, or simply making us expect everything for less?

Meanwhile, Catherine explores the Christmas shopping trends retailers need to know, from consumer spending and Black Friday discounts to the growing use of AI for gift ideas. With shoppers spreading their spending across November and December, could AI-powered shopping change how consumers discover products? And if so, what do retailers need to do to get noticed?

The Shopping Forecast is a podcast that proves shopping is about so much more than what's in your basket.

To hear more from us follow The Shopping Forecast!

Get in touch with us at info@theshoppingforecast.co.uk

Youtube: Subscribe to our channel The Shopping Forecast to watch the video version https://www.youtube.com/@TheShoppingForecast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshoppingforecast/

Find Elizabeth

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethstilesuk/

Website: https://www.elizabethstiles.co.uk/

Podcast: The Fashion Brand Clinic https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-fashion-brand-clinic-podcast/id1456543176

Find Catherine

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resilientretailclub

Website: https://www.resilientretailclub.com/

Podcast: The Resilient Retail Game Plan https://www.resilientretailclub.com/podcast/

A rise in online popularity of the ‘little treat’ has us questioning, are we spending more on little treats than ever before? And could the things we buy actually influence the films, TV shows and entertainment that get made?

This episode of The Shopping Forecast explores the pressure to make everything in our lives more aesthetic and shareable. Elizabeth asks whether social media, TikTok and Instagram are turning ordinary products into must-have purchases, from Stanley water bottles and expensive chocolate to beauty products and gym wear. Is the cost of living making shopping more expensive and everyday items seem like little luxuries, or have our consumer habits changed too?

Meanwhile, Catherine goes behind the scenes of the relationship between retail and the entertainment industry, exploring how merchandise sales and consumer behaviour can influence which characters and stories get brought back to our screens. Could our shopping baskets actually be sending signals about what should become the next big film or TV franchise? And what exactly does it mean for a film or character to be toyetic?

The Shopping Forecast is a podcast that proves shopping is about so much more than what's in your basket.

To hear more from us follow The Shopping Forecast!

Get in touch with us at info@theshoppingforecast.co.uk

Youtube: Subscribe to our channel The Shopping Forecast to watch the video version https://www.youtube.com/@TheShoppingForecast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshoppingforecast/

Find Elizabeth

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethstilesuk/

Website: https://www.elizabethstiles.co.uk/

Podcast: The Fashion Brand Clinic https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-fashion-brand-clinic-podcast/id1456543176

Find Catherine

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resilientretailclub

Website: https://www.resilientretailclub.com/

Podcast: The Resilient Retail Game Plan https://www.resilientretailclub.com/podcast/

Weddings are becoming a bigger spending event and social media is driving the change, but are all these extra costs necessary for the big day?

In this episode of The Shopping Forecast, Catherine and Elizabeth welcome their first ever guest, Lucy Hitchcock, founder of Partner in Wine and content creator, to talk about all things bridal consumerism. From wedding merch and hen dos to the pressure to create a picture-perfect day for social media, they unpack just how much the wedding industry encourages us to buy.

Lucy talks about her own year and a half immersed in bridal fashion, from choosing pieces she could wear again to deliberately avoiding personalised products that would end up gathering dust. They discuss the rise of bridal merch, how social media has changed expectations around weddings, and whether the pressure to make your big day look perfect online is making weddings more stressful.

They also look at the businesses making the most of the bridal boom and the companies selling products for every stage of the wedding journey. After experiencing an elaborate hen do herself, Lucy admits that some of the things she once thought had gone too far suddenly made a lot more sense when it was her turn.

Plus: Lucy's accidental career as a fashion content creator, learning how to dress for your body, a very clever Duolingo bag collaboration, the eye-patch packaging drama, and why looking good on a dog walk might actually make you feel better.

The Shopping Forecast is a podcast that proves shopping is about so much more than what's in your basket.

To hear more from us follow The Shopping Forecast!

Get in touch with us at info@theshoppingforecast.co.uk

Youtube: Subscribe to our channel The Shopping Forecast to watch the video version https://www.youtube.com/@TheShoppingForecast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshoppingforecast/

Find Elizabeth

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethstilesuk/

Website: https://www.elizabethstiles.co.uk/

Podcast: The Fashion Brand Clinic https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-fashion-brand-clinic-podcast/id1456543176

Find Catherine

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resilientretailclub

Website: https://www.resilientretailclub.com/

Podcast: The Resilient Retail Game Plan https://www.resilientretailclub.com/podcast/

Find Lucy Hithcock

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucyhitchcock

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/partnerinwineuk

Website: https://www.partnerinwine.co.uk