Walmart gives back room inventory top-shelf treatment

The retailer is aiming to connect the dots between smart inventory tracking and better customer service.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 21, 2017

Walmart seeks a patent for a futuristic floating warehouse

The blimp-style ship further escalates the online war with Amazon, and could save the brick-and-mortar retailer time and money on last-mile delivery. 

By Jeff Wells • Aug. 21, 2017

Explore the Trendline➔

The state of retail returns

Retailers of all sizes are streamlining operations so customers can have a smooth return experience. 

By Retail Dive staff

Walmart to sell Modcloth, Bonobos only on Jet

The brands' customers aren't likely to shop Walmart, but are in the same demographic as Jet, Walmart says.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 18, 2017

New UPS tool eases returns process for customers, merchants

Many shoppers consider a merchant's return policy before making a purchase and easing this process is in a seller's best interest.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 9, 2017

Q&A: TreeHouse CEO Jason Ballard on greening the home improvement supply chain

You can call it the "Home Depot for hipsters," but the Texas-based retailer is charting new territory in building product sales and services.

By Hallie Busta • Aug. 9, 2017

Amazon's latest patent imagines roving drone infrastructure

Drone delivery is not yet much of a commercial reality, and may not be for years, leaving Amazon to focus its energies on collecting drone delivery-related patents.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 7, 2017

FedEx foregoes holiday surcharges in direct contrast with UPS

The two companies are starting to diverge in pricing strategy as they target different client bases.

By Jennifer McKevitt • Aug. 7, 2017

Office Depot launching same-day delivery

Competition is heating up in office supplies retail, as Office Depot and Staples each focus on cutting costs and beefing up their appeal, especially in the B2B market.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 7, 2017

New returns policies have Amazon sellers fuming

While Amazon’s site is an easy-return zone, half the merchandise it sells comes from its Marketplace. Now the e-commerce company is trying to more closely align policies around returns.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 4, 2017

Study: Omnichannel remain works in progress

Retailers continue to plug away at their omnichannel and personalization efforts, but shortcomings remain that need to be addressed, a new study found.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 3, 2017

Amazon Jobs Day: Why more than 20k showed up to apply

Amazon confronts the supply chain talent shortage by hiring for character qualities instead of skillsets, and manages to ding Walmart in the process. 

By Ryan Golden , Kate Patrick Macri • Aug. 3, 2017

Uniqlo's newest US retail locations: vending machines

Each of the 10 machines is six feet tall with a limited selection of basics dispensed in boxes and cans. They also represent a pull-back of the retailer's U.S. expansion ambitions.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 3, 2017

Target accelerator grad Branch Messenger raises $6.8M

Getting early mentoring from Target and Techstars really paid off for work scheduling app creator Branch Messenger.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 3, 2017

Boxed closing in on 'autonomous shopping'

Boxed is ready to do your shopping for you, with two new features that use machine learning to predict and act upon customer's perceived product needs.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 2, 2017

Senators call on retailers to improve trucker working conditions

Target, Walmart and Amazon are among those targeted by Democratic senators as trucker working conditions garner increased scrutiny.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 2, 2017

Tuft & Needle taps Amazon tech for new Seattle store

Many online sellers struggle with how much they should let Amazon take control of their sales and inventory, but Tuft & Needle is counting on the e-commerce giant for brick-and-mortar in-store tech and fulfillment.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 1, 2017

Amazon's mid-year job fair sets the stage for hiring spree

Bolstered by new fulfillment centers and with the offer of employee benefits, the e-commerce giant again sets a benchmark for growth.

By Jennifer McKevitt • July 31, 2017

Amazon is rolling out secure delivery hubs for multi-dwelling buildings

Looking to lock up ownership of the last few inches of delivery's last mile, Amazon is offering to install secure, coded delivery lockers in apartment and condo buildings.

By Dan O'Shea • July 30, 2017

Bon-Ton expands tech push with Zebra RFID system

Some 180 Bon-Ton-owned stores are getting RFID technology to help them manage inventory as the retailer continues to look to tech to help it out of the doldrums.

By Dan O'Shea • July 30, 2017

White House kills BAT as retail groups cheer

With Republican leaders conceding on the 20% tax on imports, retail trade groups will pivot their advocacy measures to push for tax reform before the end of the year.

By Corinne Ruff • July 27, 2017

Walmart outlines policies to 'renew' US manufacturing

The big-box retailer's VP of U.S. manufacturing met with public and private sector leaders Wednesday to lay out the 10-point plan meant to create 1.5 million American jobs.

By Corinne Ruff • July 27, 2017

Survey: Retailers using outdated tools to manage sourcing

Retail sourcing management needs to be brought into the 21st Century with new tools to manage their sourcing and supplier relationships, according to new research.

By Dan O'Shea • July 26, 2017

BJ’s Wholesale Club launches new mobile website

The company's new chief digital officer is making his mark with improvements aimed at making it easier for club members to manage memberships and save on purchases. 

By Dan O'Shea • July 25, 2017

Walmart takes a page from Amazon, invests in Plug Power

The investment provides both Walmart a means of powering its equipment faster, and a way to keep tabs on Amazon.

By Jennifer McKevitt • July 25, 2017

Walmart expands Pickup Towers for online orders

The giant, tower-like vending machines further Walmart's initiative to use stores as distribution points in new, high-tech ways. 

By Daphne Howland • July 21, 2017