The Joy of Discovery: Why Serendipity Still Sells

Remember the thrill of finding something you didn’t know you needed?Whether it was stumbling upon a quiet little bookshop, a quirky homeware boutique, or that café that just smelled like home, these are the moments that stick. In a digital world trained to predict our every move, true discovery feels rare. And yet, it’s what shoppers crave.

At Marqa, we believe discovery is more than a coincidence. It’s a feature, and one worth designing for.

The Science of Stumbling Upon Something Good

There’s something deeply human about the delight of the unexpected. Studies in behavioural psychology show that unplanned discoveries can trigger stronger emotional responses than planned purchases. Why? Because the brain loves novelty. That hit of dopamine when we find something unexpected, it’s the same one that drives curiosity, engagement, and brand loyalty.

Contrast that with online recommendation engines that know what you’ve bought, clicked, liked, and shared. They’re built to predict, not surprise. And while prediction can be convenient, it also narrows the horizon. We get more of what we already know.

Discovery fades. Joy goes with it.

The Problem with the Algorithmic Experience

The internet has become a place of high-speed, hyper-personalised transactions. It's efficient, sure, but sterile. The "you might also like" boxes rarely feel magical. They feel manufactured.

What’s more, these suggestions come at a cost: your personal data. They track your movements, listen to your preferences, and often blur the line between helpful and invasive. You become a data set, not a person.

Marqa flips that. We’re here to help people find what they didn’t even know they were looking for, without needing to know who they are.

Location-Led, Privacy-First Discovery

Our approach is different. Marqa surfaces offers and deals based on your real-world location, not your browsing history, not your purchase patterns, and not your inbox. It’s the serendipity of wandering, delivered smartly and securely.

We don’t need to know your name, your age, or your shopping habits. We just need to know where you are and whether you’re open to discovering something new.

This model keeps the experience respectful, relevant, and rooted in reality.

Discovery for Retailers, Too

Retailers benefit from serendipity as well. Unlike traditional digital ads that shout into the void or target endlessly, Marqa enables real-time footfall, from real people, in your actual area.

No invasive data collection. No cookie banners. Just contextual connection, when it matters most. And because Marqa’s content appears when someone is nearby, it acts as a prompt, not a push.

In a world full of pop-ups and noise, that subtlety makes a difference.

A Gentle Nudge Towards Something Better

Not every journey needs a destination. Some of the best ones start with a wander and end with “I’m so glad I found this place.”

Serendipity isn’t old-fashioned. It’s timeless. And in the right hands, it’s good business.

With Marqa, we’re making sure discovery still has a place in modern retail. One real-world moment at a time.