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Japan leads in the hyper-connected era, simplifying life for 70% of its consumers, according to Circana

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Circana ‘Connected Consumer’ report reveals how brands can ignite growth with social e-commerce

TOKYO, Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Brands today have a unique opportunity to drive unprecedented growth by embracing the power of ‘social e-commerce’, according to Circana’s latest outlook report, ‘The Connected Consumer’.

As a global leader in market research and technology, Circana is dedicated to simplifying the complexities of consumer behaviour for businesses across a range of diverse industries.

YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok are changing the way Japanese consumers shop by turning social platforms into seamless storefronts. With in-platform e-commerce links, these platforms accelerate the journey from discovery to purchase, allowing users to checkout instantly. By bringing the store experience directly into online spaces, brands can spark spontaneous shopping moments, even when consumers aren’t actively looking to buy.

Circana’s report sheds light on how this trend is reshaping the future of retail and empowering brands to stay ahead in an increasingly competitive market. With one-third of global consumers tethered to a device almost 24/7, brands have an opportunity to leverage social currency by building authentic communities and experiences both with their owned and user-generated content.

Technology at the heart of Japanese culture

Globally, 80% of people own at least one connected device, and 37% plan to buy more in the next year. Japan, one of the most connected countries, has long embraced digital innovations, from QR codes to anime-inspired ‘kaomoji’, making technology an integral part of its culture. 

In Japan, 70% of consumers say connected technologies make life easier, and 67% believe their lives will become even more connected. Innovations like voice recognition and augmented reality (AR) are reshaping shopping experiences.

Ai Nishioka, Business Unit Director, Retail Collaboration, Circana, said:”Connectivity shapes our daily lives, and since the pandemic, our reliance on connected devices has skyrocketed. From e-commerce to digital communities, these technologies now influence how we shop, learn, and stay entertained around the clock. As connectivity accelerates, Japan’s leadership in adopting and adapting these tools highlights a future where technology seamlessly enhances daily life.

Simplifying consumer complexity worldwide

Established in 2023 from the merger of Information Resources, Inc.(IRI) and The NPD Group, Circana combines deep expertise and advanced technology to offer clients unparalleled insights that drive growth.

In Japan, Circana specialises in helping businesses across sectors like Foodservice and Sports navigate market challenges with precision. Leveraging cutting-edge analytics and an expansive view of consumer trends, Circana provides actionable solutions that boost demand and uncover new opportunities. Globally, Circana’s expertise extends to industries such as technology and consumer packaged goods (CPG), with services tailored to meet regional market dynamics.

Central to Circana’s innovation is ‘Liquid Data’, a proprietary platform that integrates sales, customer, media, and other datasets into a unified environment. This technology delivers rapid, data-driven insights to businesses, empowering them to make informed decisions on pricing, marketing, supply chain management, and more. Liquid Data is trusted by over 500 leading manufacturers and retailers worldwide to optimise performance and adapt to evolving consumer needs.

Nishioka added:”With a forward-thinking approach to artificial intelligence and a commitment to solving real-world business challenges, Circana equips companies to thrive in a competitive, data-driven marketplace. From personalised targeting to streamlining supply chains, Circana transforms complex datasets into strategic advantage, helping clients stay ahead in an ever-changing consumer landscape.”

Access the full Connected Consumer Report 2024 here.

About Circana

Circana is a leading advisor on the complexity of consumer behaviour. Through superior technology, advanced analytics, cross-industry data, and deep expertise, we provide clarity that helps almost 7,000 of the world’s leading brands and retailers take action and unlock business growth. We understand more about the complete consumer, the complete store, and the complete wallet so our clients can go beyond the data to apply insights, ignite innovation, meet consumer demand, and outpace the competition.

Learn more at www.circana.com

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1B views since June: Coda and TikTok Gaming turn content into commerce

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Partnership gives publishers a new route to reach consumers through TikTok’s creators

SINGAPORE, Nov. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Coda, a global leader in digital content monetization and distribution, is working with TikTok Gaming to create a new route from content discovery to purchase for consumers across Southeast Asia.

Through the partnership, TikTok users in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines can link directly to Codashop to purchase game top-ups, gift cards and other digital goods. Creators can feature Codashop-listed content through livestreams and short-form videos, giving publishers a new way to reach consumers in the environments where they are already discovering and engaging with games.

Since its mid-June 2026 launch, creator videos linking to Codashop have drawn 1 billion views, with click-through averaging above 5% and around 5% of clicks converting to purchases. The majority of buyers are new to Codashop, showing the potential of creator-led commerce to bring publishers new customers as well as transactions.

“Commerce is increasingly happening wherever discovery happens,” said Zac Liew, Chief Commercial Officer, B2B, Coda. “TikTok gives us a new way to connect those moments. For publishers, that means reaching consumers earlier in the journey and turning engagement into purchase through a channel that is already core to how people discover games and content.”

The partnership reflects a broader shift in digital commerce, as social platforms, creators and content play a growing role in how consumers decide what to buy. For Coda, that creates new opportunities to extend digital content distribution beyond traditional storefronts and connect publishers with consumers across more channels.

Codashop is one of Southeast Asia’s most established destinations for digital content, recording more than 6 million transactions and 13 million site visits every month. Coda works with some of the world’s leading publishers and digital businesses, including Activision, Electronic Arts and Riot Games.

Founded in Jakarta in 2011, Coda has grown from its Southeast Asian roots into a global digital content monetization and distribution business. Codashop launched in Indonesia in 2014 and has since expanded across the region and beyond.

Coda will continue to explore new commerce and distribution models with publishers and platform partners, creating more ways for consumers to discover and purchase digital content.

About Coda

Coda is a global leader in monetization, distribution, and commerce, trusted by the biggest names in gaming, entertainment, and technology, including Activision, Electronic Arts, Riot Games, Ubisoft, and Moonton. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Singapore, Coda operates with 670+ employees worldwide, with core hubs in Asia and Europe. Coda combines payments, commerce, distribution, and rewards to drive global revenue growth for brands and publishers.

Coda’s products include Codapay, which provides access to 400+ payment methods across 80+ markets through a single API integration; Coda Webstore, which powers fully customized direct-to-consumer storefronts; Coda Consumer Platforms, including Codashop, Recharge.com, and Startselect.com; Coda Distribution, which extends reach through a network of commerce partners; and Giftcloud, a UK-based rewards business serving enterprise customers across Europe.

Coda is backed by Apis Partners, Insight Partners, Smash Capital, and GIC, and has been named an APAC High Growth Company (2023) by Financial Times, one of Granite Asia’s NextGenTech 30 (2024), a payments leader on Fortune’s Fintech Innovation Asia list (2024), and listed among The Straits Times Fastest Growing Fintechs (2024). For more on Coda, visit coda.co.

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SOURCE Coda

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One Stop Swap Explores School Fundraising as a Community-Based Growth Strategy

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With more than 3,400 preregistrations ahead of its planned 2027 launch, the marketplace is exploring school partnerships as a way to support communities while building a potentially lower-cost customer acquisition model.

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Los Angeles-based One Stop Swap, Inc., a peer-to-peer marketplace preparing for a 2027 launch, is exploring a community-based growth strategy that could help schools raise money while introducing hundreds of families to its buying, selling and swapping platform.

The idea originated in conversations between Co-Founder Stephen Bikoff and his wife, a first-grade teacher. Their discussions about traditional school fundraising sparked a simple question: What if families could support their schools by selling things they already own instead of being asked to buy more?

“Talking with my wife about school fundraising made me realize how much value families have sitting unused in their homes,” said Bikoff. “Why not explore a way to turn those items into money for schools while introducing families to something they can continue using long after the fundraiser ends?”

One School. Hundreds of Potential Members.

Under the proposed program, schools and parent organizations could invite families, educators, alumni and neighbors to participate in online resale campaigns, with sellers choosing to donate a portion of their proceeds.

For One Stop Swap, the opportunity extends beyond fundraising. A single school partnership could introduce hundreds of households to the marketplace, potentially generating new members, merchandise listings, transactions and referrals.

Rather than relying exclusively on paid advertising, the company wants to test whether trusted community relationships can provide a more cost-effective, repeatable way to attract and retain members.

Potential pilot programs would measure customer acquisition costs, registrations, listings, completed transactions, donations and repeat activity. If successful, the model could expand to youth sports leagues, nonprofit organizations and other community groups.

“We want to build a company where doing something good for a community also makes good business sense,” Bikoff added. “If we can help schools raise money while building lasting relationships with new members, that’s worth exploring.”

Early Interest Ahead of Launch

One Stop Swap reports more than 3,400 preregistrations ahead of its planned 2027 launch.

The company is limiting its Founding Member program to the first 5,000 eligible participants, who will receive six months without buyer or seller platform fees starting at launch, subject to program terms.

Following the introductory period, the planned standard marketplace fee structure is 3% for buyers and 3% for sellers.

The early registration program is intended to help establish an initial community of buyers and sellers before the marketplace opens.

Building Beyond Traditional Resale

One Stop Swap is developing a single platform for buying, selling and direct item-for-item swapping of pre-owned goods.

The company’s longer-term roadmap includes plans to introduce live shopping after its second year of operation, creating more interactive ways for members to discover merchandise and connect with one another.

Together, these initiatives reflect a broader strategy focused on attracting members, expanding available inventory, encouraging repeat transactions and building long-term engagement.

The school fundraising concept remains under evaluation. No school partners, pilot dates or fundraising terms have been finalized, and the company has not yet validated the proposed program’s customer acquisition economics.

About One Stop Swap

One Stop Swap, Inc. is a Los Angeles-based technology company developing a U.S. peer-to-peer marketplace that combines buying, selling and direct swapping of pre-owned goods. The company is led by CEO Eric Jepsky, a technology executive with more than 25 years of experience spanning eBay, PayPal and other leading technology companies. As Co-Founder and COO of Beem, Jepsky helped grow the fintech platform to more than five million downloads. One Stop Swap is focused on affordability, community participation and new approaches to secondhand commerce.

Consumers interested in becoming Founding Members can preregister at www.onestopswap.com.

Media Contact

One Stop Swap, Inc.
Email: press@onestopswap.com
Website: https://www.onestopswap.com
Instagram: @onestopswapusa

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SOURCE One Stop Swap Inc.

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Infinix Unveils Its First Global Flagship Concept Store in Bali, Bringing “Joy Tech” to Life

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Building on its strength in product innovation, the Infinix Bali Flagship Concept Store blends bold design, coffee culture and creative experiences to bring more joy, surprise and discovery into everyday life—marking a tangible step towards a more distinctive, lifestyle-driven and premium technology brand.

BALI, Indonesia, Nov. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Infinix officially unveiled its first global Flagship Concept Store in Bali, Indonesia, on October 31. As the first store of this new format within parent company Transsion Holdings’ brand portfolio, the opening marks a significant step in Infinix’s brand evolution. Building on its foundation in technology innovation, Infinix is exploring new ways to bring technology into everyday life through design, lifestyle and creative experiences, with a focus on creating more joy, surprise and meaningful connections with global consumers.

Rooted in Infinix’s “Joy Tech” philosophy, the Bali Flagship Concept Store brings together technology, lifestyle and creativity in a new retail experience. From Infinix’s smartphones and connected devices to futuristic design, coffee and creative collaborations, the store reflects the brand’s belief that technology should go beyond specifications and performance to bring enjoyment, spark curiosity and create meaningful value in everyday life.

Together, these elements offer a bold new approach to experiential retail in the smartphone and consumer electronics industry—bringing technology, lifestyle and creativity together to transform a traditional retail space into a destination for discovery, participation and shared experiences.

Inside the Store: Where Technology Meets Lifestyle

The experience begins even before stepping inside. With its futuristic design, reflective metallic surfaces and digital visuals, the Bali Flagship Concept Store makes a striking first impression. An eye-catching robotic-arm installation anchors the space, transforming technological imagination into a bold visual statement.

This distinctive setting brings Infinix’s “1+2+X” retail concept to life: one comprehensive technology experience, two signature experience elements and an evolving range of creative activities and collaborations.

At its core, the store showcases Infinix’s smartphone lineup, including the NOTE 60 and HOT 70 series and the GT 50 Pro. The experience also highlights Infinix’s broader AIoT ecosystem, featuring recent standout products such as the ZCLIP 2 Pro clip-on earbuds, SPACE Max wireless headphones, and XEnergy portable power stations, giving people the opportunity to explore the brand’s innovations firsthand.

Complementing this technology experience are two distinctive lifestyle elements: n_x, Infinix’s locally developed coffee brand, and the signature robotic-arm installation. At n_x, a simple coffee break becomes an invitation to slow down, recharge and enjoy a laid-back moment amid a busy day. Whether catching up with friends or taking a moment for oneself, even an everyday cup of coffee can bring a little unexpected delight. Together, these elements introduce a more relaxed and imaginative side of technology into the space.

The “X” opens up further possibilities through gaming, music, sports, creative partnerships, interactive content and community-driven activities. By introducing new ideas and collaborations over time, Infinix envisions a space that continues to surprise and inspire, offering fresh experiences and new ways for people to connect with the brand.

Keeping the Experience Fresh Through Co-Creation

Beyond its distinctive retail concept, the Bali Flagship Concept Store also aims to bring creators and consumers closer to the brand. Rather than simply featuring established names or one-off partnerships, Infinix hopes to work with artists, musicians and other creative talents to develop original content and experiences. People can also take part through shared experiences, content creation and feedback, becoming active participants rather than passive audiences.

Designed to evolve beyond its opening, the store aims to introduce new collaborations, creative displays and lifestyle activities over time. This ongoing renewal can give people fresh reasons to return while allowing the space to become a source of new ideas, stories and connections between Infinix and its community.

From a Flagship Concept Store to a Living Brand Destination

Infinix’s longer-term vision is for the Bali Flagship Concept Store to develop its own recognizable identity, becoming a destination people return to for its distinctive experiences and sense of community—not just its products. Its appeal would come not only from the space itself, but also from what continues to happen there.

The Bali opening also marks the beginning of a broader retail expansion journey. Infinix plans to open five additional flagship stores across Indonesia this year, while exploring similar concept-led retail experiences in other markets. Rather than replicating the Bali format, future locations will be adapted to local cultures, consumer preferences and lifestyles, allowing Joy Tech to take different forms in different communities.

For Infinix, the Bali Flagship Concept Store represents a new direction in brand building: keeping product innovation at its core while giving people more reasons to connect with the brand beyond a purchase. By extending Joy Tech into design, everyday lifestyle experiences and creative collaborations, Infinix is taking a concrete step towards a more distinctive, lifestyle-driven and premium brand identity.

About Infinix
Established in 2013, Infinix is an innovation-driven brand dedicated to delivering cutting-edge technology, bold design, and outstanding performance. The brand provides smart, enjoyable mobile experiences that enhance everyday life. Beyond smartphones, Infinix has expanded its portfolio to include TWS earbuds, smartwatches, laptops, tablets, smart TVs, and more — building a comprehensive ecosystem of smart devices. Currently, Infinix products are available in over 80 countries and regions worldwide, including Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.

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