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Emojis Are Redefining Traditional E-commerce Search

globenewswire.com
SHOO Steve Madden is mentioned as a brand that integrates with Fast Simon's platform, indicating a neutral stance as the article focuses on the platform's capabilities rather than the brand's performance.

Emojis Are Redefining Traditional E-commerce Search LOS ALTOS, Calif., April 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new analysis of millions of ecommerce search inquiries by Fast Simon, the leading AI-powered eCommerce shopping optimization platform, shows skyrocketing use of emojis in apparel, footwear and accessory (AFA) shoppers.

The data highlights a shift from literal product keywords to more nuanced, lifestyle-driven intent.

Emojis Express Shopper Intent, Mood, and Sub-Cultures

The findings suggest that emojis are being used to communicate mood, urgency, and specific subcultures. Notable entries in this year’s top 10 include:

“Shoppers are moving away from the rigid vocabulary of traditional search toward a more fluid, visual shorthand,” said Zohar Gilad, CEO of Fast Simon. “For retailers, the challenge is no longer just indexing keywords. It is about using AI to interpret the emotional and contextual intent behind a single icon or a string of emojis.”

Shoppers Combine Emojis and Keywords Into Single Searches

The report also identifies the growing trend of "hybrid" searches that combine emojis with specific keywords. Shoppers are using this technique to both refine results and pair visual inspiration with technical specifications. Examples of high-performing combinations include:

How Merchandisers Can Capture Both High-Intent Shoppers and Low-Intent Shoppers Using Emojis

For enterprise-level retailers, the rise of emoji search requires a more sophisticated merchandising approach:

To maintain high conversion rates, brands must ensure their search engines can process non-textual data, such as emojis, and map those emojis accurately to relevant product catalogs.

To read the full report, visit the website.

About Fast Simon

Fast Simon redefines ecommerce product discovery by combining AI with merchant insight to inspire shoppers. Merchandising, personalization, search, and AI assistants operate together, adapting to every shopper interaction, delivering sustained increases in conversion, AOV, and revenue. Thousands of fast-growing merchants and sophisticated brands — including Steve Madden, White Fox Boutique and many others — integrate Fast Simon seamlessly with Shopify Plus, BigCommerce, Magento and other popular platforms.

For more information, visit fastsimon.com, follow the company on LinkedIn, Instagram and X, or schedule a demo.

Media Contact

Geena Pickering

Look Left Marketing

fastsimon@lookleftmarketing.com