The Latest
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ColumnRetail Therapy: Wayfair's marketing gets trapped in a box
The furniture brand is trying to make personal saunas a thing, while Crocs thinks adding heels to its foam shoes is just the lift it needs.
Consumer Trends -
Focused general merchandise strategy key to success
Walmart and Amazon are grabbing sales because of their wide, cheap assortments. But retailers treating the category as less "general" are finding success.
Marketing -
Online apparel sales rose 7% in 2017
Growing more comfortable with digital shopping, Americans made 21% of apparel purchases online last year, according to a new report from NPD Group.
Consumer Trends -
Deep Dive5 takeaways from Prime Day 2018
The fourth annual summer holiday indicates private label and devices will be central to Amazon's Black Friday strategy.
Corporate News -
Amazon's latest patent dreams up product-chucking robots
The e-tailer continues to pile up technology patents, with its latest two covering robotic concepts for fulfillment centers.
Technology -
Toys R Us strikes deal with vendors to settle bankruptcy claims
After supporting the toy retailer in bankruptcy, many vendors were left with millions in unpaid orders as Toys R Us moved to liquidate.
Logistics -
Prime Day boosts sales by 54% for large retailers
Amazon raked in more than $4 billion by some estimates and helped others log huge sales — but smaller players were left behind.
E-commerce -
Deep DiveHow much does culture matter in branding?
These days, fusing culture and brand may be essential for brands hoping to engage customers with more authentic messages.
Marketing -
Target delivers same-day shipping to NYC metro area
By the start of the holiday season, the mass merchant plans to make available same-day delivery via Shipt to most stores nationwide.
Corporate News -
10 startups kick off Target + Techstars accelerator
Now in its third year, the retail accelerator has proven it can spur the growth of small companies while helping Target compete with the latest technology.
Technology -
La-Z-Boy snaps up Joybird
As with Walmart's acquisition of Bonobos and Modcloth, La-Z-Boy is attempting to buy its way to more digital sales and younger customers.
E-commerce -
Amazon sold over 1M smart home devices on Prime Day
The retailer once again used Prime Day as an opportunity to lure more customers into its Alexa-enabled device ecosystem.
Technology -
Deep DiveWhich retailers spend the most on lobbying?
While Walmart has kept a staid approach in Washington, Amazon's efforts have skyrocketed in recent years.
Corporate News -
Strong women carry Reebok's latest 'BeMoreHuman' campaign
In the era of #MeToo and #NeverthelessShePersisted, Reebok says it aims to empower women to empower each other.
Marketing -
Study: Shoppers prefer Apple Pay but spend more with Walmart Pay
Merchants can gain a competitive edge over Apple Pay by highlighting discount- and shopping-focused app features.
Mobile Commerce -
Deep DiveInside the 20-year decline of Toys R Us
Cost cuts, stressed employees, intercompany rivalries, dirty floors, dusty rafters, glitchy IT, fudged metrics: The people who ran the failed toy retailer's stores know what went wrong.
E-commerce -
Bonobos challenges definitions of masculinity with viral campaign
A 90-second ad depicts diverse models offering their takes on what it means to be a man and has already racked up more than 4.5 million views.
Marketing -
Walmart mulls video streaming, The Information reports
The service would compete directly with Amazon Prime Video and Netflix at lower prices, and maybe for free, sources told the publication.
Technology -
PodcastConversational Commerce: How good retail jobs boost business
Bad jobs are bringing down retailers like Toys R Us, but it doesn't have to be that way says Zeynep Ton, president of the Good Jobs Institute.
Conversational Commerce -
OpinionSpecialty retail vs. Amazon: Is it the same old story?
Retailers can't compete, especially in apparel, by playing Amazon's game. But it's a lot harder for Amazon to win with data against real innovation, writes Lee Peterson.
E-commerce -
Amazon Go competitor raises $5.5M
Standard Cognition, a prominent player in the rising cashierless technology sector, has now raised $11.2 million to date.
Technology -
ColumnRetail Therapy: The great Build-A-Bear blunder of 2018
Thousands of shoppers around the U.S., Canada and the U.K. swarmed the chain's stores for a deal too good to be true.
Consumer Trends -
Target notches best digital day of the year on Prime Day
The mass merchant joined Amazon in a blockbuster showing during the sales event, but now the question is how hard that hit margins.
E-commerce -
Adidas 'ascendancy' in question as Nike steps up its game
Wells Fargo analysts downgraded the athletic brand's stock as sales in Europe have declined and it faces surging competition, including in North America.
Consumer Trends -
New Nike concept store goes Live in LA
Experiential doesn't mean the same for every brand, concept or customer. That's a lesson the retailer is taking to heart as it iterates on the future of direct-to-consumer stores.
Technology