New 'Tally' robot designed to rapidly take stock of store shelves

Using high-res images, units can perform stock functions 25 times faster than humans. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Nov. 12, 2015

How Amazon does the holidays: No Santa, but plenty of deals

There may be no store Santa to meet or even store shelves to decorate, but Amazon appears to be more than ready for the holidays.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 11, 2015

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

Survey says customers more pleased with Wal-Mart stores

But the retailer has farther to go as it heads into the busy—and competitive—holiday season, especially if it really wants to attract wealthier shoppers.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 11, 2015

Target, workers groups worked together to regulate on-call scheduling

While the Minneapolis City Council ultimately dropped the initiative to regulate worker schedules in the face of business opposition, Target had been working with labor advocates on a potential compromise, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 10, 2015

Can Amazon do brick-and-mortar?

The biggest question surrounding Amazon’s venture into brick-and-mortar retail is, “Why?”

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 9, 2015

Report: West Coast ports approaching normal import levels

U.S. West Coast ports have handled more than half of the imports coming in for the first time in a year.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 6, 2015

The top reason Amazon Prime members pony up? Free shipping

The number of Amazon Prime members who say they prize the free shipping option is far outpacing those that are drawn by other perks.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 6, 2015

How retailers can slay the shipment surge this holiday season

Here are five tips to navigate the uptick in holiday shipments amid the era of digital shopping. 

By Barbara Thau • Nov. 5, 2015

L Brands CEO: Brick-and-mortar is 'way bigger' than the Internet

Leslie H. Wexner said Tuesday that the money spent to upgrade and grow Victoria’s Secret physical stores is paying off. 

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 5, 2015

Can delivery startups maintain their momentum?

A test by a New York Times blogger finds that a 30% markup is common when ordering through the likes of Instacart and Postmates, a vulnerability in a space where companies have yet to report profits.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 5, 2015

Study: In-store pickup fails for 50% of consumers

Retailers struggle to satisfy customers while maintaining margins, a study from JDA Software Group, Inc. finds.  

By Ian P. Murphy • Nov. 4, 2015

How Wal-Mart plans to win the holiday season

Wal-Mart is employing Santa, unleashing new features to its mobile app, and going all out with holiday cheer to get people into stores as early and often as possible this season.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 4, 2015

Levi's taps into massive amounts of store data with Intel tech

The cloud service delivers omnichannel insights from activity at its San Francisco flagship store. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Nov. 4, 2015

Google gears up for drone delivery by 2017

The move comes as retailers from Amazon to Wal-Mart explore these unmanned aircraft systems as the answer to instant package delivery.

By Barbara Thau • Nov. 4, 2015

Google says goodbye to would-be first NYC store

The tech company is subleasing a SoHo space it already spent $6 million to renovate.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 4, 2015

Amazon aims to use Black Friday to boost Prime membership

The retailer opened its Black Friday Deals store Monday with an added perk for Amazon Prime members.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 3, 2015

Retailers sweetening the pot to attract holiday workers

With fewer workers looking for part-time season work, retailers are offering better wages and more hours to get the staffing they need.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 2, 2015

Amazon delivery workers file suit over employment status

Drivers for Amazon Prime Now last-mile deliveries say that they’re being treated like employees except when it comes to compensation, benefits, and protections.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 2, 2015

Wal-Mart's holiday strategy doesn't include free shipping

The retailer won’t be joining Target and others in offering free shipping, or even a lower minimum, on holiday orders.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 30, 2015

Resale startup Poshmark launches wholesale portal

CEO-co-founder Manish Chandra said the expansion into new merchandise will be a boon to brands and the site.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 29, 2015

Amazon may develop its own private-label clothing lines

The site is having some trouble expanding its fashion sales.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 29, 2015

Outdoor Research follows REI, to close on Black Friday

Another Seattle-based outdoor retailer, owned by former Nordstrom CEO and heir Dan Nordstrom, calls REI’s move “monumental.”

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 29, 2015

Drivers file suit against Prime Now fulfillment partner

The California class action suit could have vast repercussions for same-day deliveries. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Oct. 28, 2015

Shippers outline plans to avert holiday delivery snafus

Year-long communication with retailers and last-minute hiring plans should enable UPS and FedEx to handle a predicted surge in holiday e-commerce.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 28, 2015

FedEx predicts shipments to surge this holiday season

The shipping company will beef up workforce to handle record volume increases in the era of online shopping.

By Barbara Thau • Oct. 27, 2015