Shopping IQ

The world of online shopping is evolving faster than ever, and 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most transformative years yet. With major shifts driven by artificial intelligence, mobile technology, and changing consumer expectations, digital commerce is redefining how we discover, compare, and buy products online. For smart shoppers looking for the best deals and insights, ShoppingIQ is the go-to platform that brings all of this innovation together in a single, streamlined experience. One of the most exciting developments in the e-commerce space right now is Google’s expansion of AI-enabled shopping features, including native buy buttons in search and partnerships with major retailers to make buying products easier than ever — all without leaving the search interface. This shift toward an AI-powered shopping experience signals a new era for online retail. Let’s explore this trend and what it means for shoppers in 2026. The Rise of AI-Enabled Shopping Artificial intelligence (A...

 The retail landscape has never been static. Every month brings fresh shifts in consumer demand, unexpected category winners and losers, and new marketing challenges. But two recent snapshots from 2025 — one analysing June’s eCommerce performance and another exposing costly inefficiencies in Black Friday Google Shopping ads — reveal a deeper truth: smart data and real-time responsiveness are no longer optional for retailers, they’re essential. In this blog, we’ll unpack what happened in June 2025 across retail categories and explore how poor ad practices during peak events like Black Friday can silently bleed budgets. The goal isn’t just to highlight problems — it’s to draw lessons that retailers of all sizes can use to stay competitive in an increasingly data-driven market. A Tale of Two Retail Categories: Electrical vs. Gifts in June 2025 In June 2025, the Electrical category stood out as a rare winner in a mixed retail landscape. According to ShoppingIQ’s data , this segm...

In today’s ever-evolving retail landscape, understanding the drivers behind sector performance is key to staying competitive. August 2025 marked a period of interesting shifts in retail, with some sectors thriving while others stumbled. By diving into these trends, we gain a better understanding of what made Beer & Wine soar and why Garden Furnishings faced a sharp decline. Beer & Wine: A Summer Boom The Beer & Wine sector experienced a stunning +52.80% revenue growth in August, largely driven by a combination of key factors: Summer Socialising & Bank Holiday Impact The August Bank Holiday gave rise to a flurry of outdoor gatherings and parties, boosting demand for beverages like beer and wine. For retailers, this meant a surge in sales as people stocked up for their end-of-summer festivities. At-Home Entertaining Trends With many still cautious about spending on nights out, consumers opted to entertain at home. Retailers who capitalised on this trend by offering...

In today’s competitive digital marketplace, delivering the right ad to the right person at the right time is crucial for maximizing your ad spend. That's where Dynamic Product Ads (DPAs) come in, offering automated, personalized ad experiences that target users based on their behavior and interests. If you’re looking to optimize your eCommerce conversions and make your marketing efforts more efficient, this post will explain everything you need to know about DPAs and how they can boost your sales. What Are Dynamic Product Ads? Dynamic Product Ads are highly personalized ads that automatically display products based on a user’s interactions with your website or app. Unlike static ads, which require you to create separate ads for every product, DPAs use data from your product feed to show relevant items to users based on their browsing history, cart activity, and purchase behavior. These ads appear across multiple platforms such as Google, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTo...

In most PPC campaigns, advertisers focus on users physically near their business. But what about those out‑of‑area users actively searching for your offerings? Welcome to reverse location targeting —a powerful strategy to reach high‑intent traffic outside your usual geography. Reverse location targeting means bidding on location‑specific keywords (like “shoestore in Chicago”) but serving ads to users not physically in that area. This opens up audiences who are searching with clear intent—whether planning a move, booking travel, or comparing prices—yet aren’t local residents. Why It Matters Google’s default location targeting includes users in your area or those “interested in” it. But algorithms aren’t flawless, and broad targeting can waste budget on irrelevant clicks. ( Search Engine Land ) By setting up dedicated campaigns with city‑specific keywords (cities, ZIP codes, neighborhood names), you differentiate between local and remote intent, ensuring your budget captures on...

If you manage product feeds for an eCommerce or omnichannel retail brand, keeping inventory accurate across platforms is essential—especially in Google Shopping. To make this easier, Google Merchant Center has introduced a new feature called “Website‑Reported Autofeeds.” This powerful automation allows Google to collect product data directly from your website when a user interacts with a “check availability” option. No manual uploads, spreadsheets, or API connections required. But what exactly is Website‑Reported Autofeed, how does it work, and who should use it? Let’s break it down. What Is “Website‑Reported Autofeed”? “Website‑Reported Autofeed” is a new data collection method in Google Merchant Center that uses Google Tag Manager (GTM) to pull real-time product availability information from your website. When a user clicks a button like “Check in-store availability” , your website can send product-specific information—like SKU, availability, store code, and price—directly to M...