What is the future of brick-and-mortar retail stores?

Using some of the same digital tools predicted to be brick-and-mortar’s demise, retailers have started to reconfigure their physical stores to ensure future success. 

By Kelsey Lindsey • April 13, 2015

Amazon receives FAA approval to test drones

But the exemption comes with a handful of restricting perimeters. 

By Kelsey Lindsey • April 10, 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

REVOLVE to offer same-day delivery to Coachella

The apparel retailer owes a lot of its success to the two-weekend festival, and is taking the unusual step of going there itself.

By Daphne Howland • April 9, 2015

Gilt switches up its shipping strategy

The flash-sale site will diversify ground shipments with Newgistics Inc. 

By Ian P. Murphy • April 9, 2015

RadioShack thinking small with new store strategy

The retailer could end up being a go-to place for last-minute battery or cord needs, a far cry from its heyday as the supplier of computer enthusiasts.

By Daphne Howland • April 8, 2015

Apple shifting its brick-and-mortar philosophy

The company wants customers to order the Watch and the new MacBook online, which retail chief Angela Ahrendts calls "a significant change in mindset.”

By Daphne Howland • April 8, 2015

California's water-saving order hits denim makers

Governor Jerry Brown’s order could end up influencing fashion design, as the look and feel of denim changes due to these water-saving measures.

By Daphne Howland • April 7, 2015

Store-within-a-store: Brick-and-mortar's 'godfather strategy'

Department stores, big box retailers, and now even fresh-from-bankruptcy RadioShack are turning to other brands to help reach new customers.

By Daphne Howland • April 6, 2015

Alibaba seeks inroads in India

The Chinese e-com giant will compete with Snapdeal instead of buying it. 

By Ian P. Murphy • April 6, 2015

Ace Hardware expands pick-up in store

For hardware stores, which often see customers in need of a tool or supplies that they need right away, the option seems especially useful.

By Daphne Howland • April 2, 2015

Grocery delivery benefits from Costco-style memberships: report

Delivery services are turning to membership models to retain customers and help keep fees down.

By Daphne Howland • April 2, 2015

Wal-Mart pulls back free shipping in Canada

The company joins several other U.S. retailers in scaling back operations up north.

By Daphne Howland • March 31, 2015

The accidental discovery of 'lean retail'

A small record store chain started looking at customer behavior, not sales, to shape its inventory needs. The geek that figured it out has now started a tech company so that other retailers can benefit.

By Daphne Howland • March 30, 2015

Same-day delivery: Small niche or big disruption?

More than 40 years ago, FedEx disrupted delivery. Are today’s crowd-sourced same-day services about to disrupt FedEx?

By Daphne Howland • March 27, 2015

Amazon says FAA-approved drone 'already obsolete'

But while the company also says it’s flying freer in Europe due to less restriction, the real picture there is more complicated.

By Daphne Howland • March 25, 2015

Zulily upends its supply chain model

The flash-sales e-retailer has found that not having inventory on hand—a key part of its business model—is doing more harm than good.

By Daphne Howland • March 24, 2015

FAA gives Amazon the go-ahead to test drones

The agency has been slow in releasing rules for commercial use of remote-controlled aircraft. This is a small breakthrough for Amazon, but hardly approval of its drone program.

By Daphne Howland • March 20, 2015

UPDATE: Amazon expands one-hour delivery

While only available in select zip codes in Baltimore, Miami, and Dallas for now, Amazon has plans to expand the service rapidly. 

By Kelsey Lindsey • March 19, 2015

Target opens up its returns window to attract shoppers

Despite cost-cutting measures elsewhere, the retailer seems to be trying to please customers by allowing a year for returns on many items.

By Daphne Howland • March 19, 2015

Wholesale inventories up as sales slow

The findings by the U.S. Commerce Department could be the result of bad weather and ongoing inventory backlogs at West Coast ports.

By Daphne Howland • March 11, 2015

Royal Mail to open on Alibaba's Tmall

The postal service of the United Kingdom aims to provide logistics to British retailers selling on the Chinese marketplace.

By Daphne Howland • March 11, 2015

Logistics company Amber Road buys sourcing specialist

The combination of the two SaaS firms will help supply manufacturers source multiple lines at different price points. 

By Ian P. Murphy • March 10, 2015

Deliv hires former eBay product exec

The hire of eBay's VP of product Kenny Pate comes as same-day delivery startup Deliv continues to expand.

By Daphne Howland • March 9, 2015

UPS rolls out new campaign aimed at e-commerce

New ads will emphasize an expanding variety of delivery and logistic solutions for retailers. 

By Ian P. Murphy • March 8, 2015

Shipping startup Shyp sharpens returns feature

The first-mile shipping startup noticed that many customers were using its services for returns, and has responded with an app for that.

By Daphne Howland • March 5, 2015