James is a Journalist at Exploding Topics. After graduating from the University of Oxford with a degree in Law, he completed a Diploma in Journalism through Press Association Training. He won the Premier League award for the best sports exam script. Now in his second spell with Exploding Topics, following three years covering Liverpool Football Club, James has a keen interest in the latest trends. He has been published in areas from AI to the commerce industry, with bylines including The Independent.
James’s Most Recent Posts
Blind Boxes Boom Ahead of Black Friday as Pop Mart Revenue Soars
Blind Boxes Boom Ahead of Black Friday as Pop Mart Revenue Soars
Pop Mart, maker of Labubu blind boxes, announced recently that its American revenue had increased by more than 1,200% year-over-year in Q3. The viral toys have become a must-hav...
How AI Is Giving Black Friday a $60 billion boost
How AI Is Giving Black Friday a $60 billion boost
AI is having a transformative effect on the holiday shopping season. It played a role in $60 billion worth of sales across “Cyber Week” last year, starting with Black Friday and...
ChatGPT Just Changed Online Sales Forever With Agentic Commerce
ChatGPT Just Changed Online Sales Forever With Agentic Commerce
OpenAI recently announced its new Instant Checkout feature within ChatGPT. It’s a game-changer for anyone involved in E-commerce, with the potential to fundamentally reshape how...
The AI Visibility Guide: How We Earn Hundreds of Brand Mentions and Citations
The AI Visibility Guide: How We Earn Hundreds of Brand Mentions and Citations
AI visibility is now a critical part of SEO. If you’re serious about making your brand show up in ChatGPT, AI Overviews, Perplexity and more, you need to implement a concerted s...
Top AI Conferences in 2025 and 2026: In-Person and Virtual Events
Top AI Conferences in 2025 and 2026: In-Person and Virtual Events
Between general AI conferences and more industry-specific events, there are literally hundreds of opportunities to hear from genuine leaders within the field. These events can g...
5 Holiday Shopping Trends to Define Thanksgiving and Christmas 2025
5 Holiday Shopping Trends to Define Thanksgiving and Christmas 2025
It’s a critical time of year for the retail industry. With just 28 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the holiday shopping season is more compressed than usual, but that w...