1. The invincible business of counterfeit goods: When people would rather buy a more expensive genuine article than a cheaper fake – even if the two items look almost identical – it’s because they are buying not just the product’s tangible qualities, but also its intangible ones. – Read More on the Guardian
2. Pro-military symbols adorn shop windows of western brands in Moscow: Salvatore Ferragamo and De Beers branded stores were decked out with pro-military symbols to mark Russia’s annual Victory Day parade on Monday, demonstrating how little control high-end retailers have over how their goods are sold in the country. – Read More on Reuters
3. The Great Unsubscribe: With in-person shopping opening up and inflation skyrocketing to levels not seen since the 1980s, consumers are looking closely at their monthly expenses and reconsidering subscriptions that they signed up for when times were different. – Read More on Forbes
4.. Meta’s first store aims to lure consumers to the metaverse: The company formerly known as Facebook is using the space to introduce consumers to the products that will help it realize Mark Zuckerberg’s vision of the metaverse. – Read More on CNBC
5. U.K. Retail Sales Hit by Cost of Living Shock in April, BRC Says: U.K. retail sales are falling for the first time since January 2021 as the cost of living crisis crushes consumer confidence and puts the brakes on spending. – Read More on Bloomberg