How marketers are tapping into the 'emotional pull' of the holiday season

As retailers vie for consumers’ attention during the busy holiday shopping season, their advertisements need to be creative and emotional.

By Melissa Anders • Dec. 23, 2015

Promotional e-mail opens jump in Q3

Retailers are expanding e-mail promotions with better targeting. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Dec. 23, 2015

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from Retail Dive

Though some of the problems of the pandemic have waned, retail continues to reel from C-suite turnover, changes in ecommerce and reassessment of DEI policies.  

By Retail Dive staff

Primark builds buzz, traffic with social strategy

The Irish fast-fashion chain outsources photos to in-store shoppers. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Dec. 23, 2015

One of this year's hottest gifts has nothing to do with Star Wars

Sometimes retail innovation is all about perfecting a product as mundane as a travel mug.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 22, 2015

Is late December the new Black Friday?

Black Friday was once a make-or-break day for retailers. But these days more shoppers take their sweet time shopping for the holidays.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 21, 2015

Wal-Mart's holiday ad campaign wins in video views

A list of top holiday video views includes three campaigns from the big-box retailer. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Dec. 21, 2015

Mobile traffic surges on Super Saturday

E-commerce and mobile traffic has been increasing this holiday season. 

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 21, 2015

Retail Therapy: The curious popularity of unboxing videos and the 'Pie Face' game

Every week, we bring you the most interesting retail reads from around the Web. 

By Kelsey Lindsey • Dec. 18, 2015

Retail ads, both controversial and not, pull in engagement this season

Bloomingdale's and Endeka ads lead in creating social media conversations so far this year. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Dec. 14, 2015

Men turn to online channels for holiday shopping

One in three plan to do all or most of their seasonal shopping online. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Dec. 11, 2015

Overstock ends sales of hoverboards citing fire hazard concerns

The popular holiday items are exploding—and not in a good way, prompting investigations and warnings from government officials.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 11, 2015

Retail Therapy: The most fashionable Santa in the world and a very odd Wal-Mart fraud

Every week, we bring you the most interesting retail reads from around the Web. 

By Kelsey Lindsey • Dec. 11, 2015

How two retailers are wooing smartphone-loving shoppers

Executives from Staples and Ebates share their mobile strategies as the channel continues to grow. 

By Melissa Anders • Dec. 10, 2015

What does the 2015 holiday season mean for e-commerce?

After a strong Black Friday and Cyber Monday for e-commerce, 6 experts offer their perspectives on the future of retail. 

By Kelsey Lindsey • Dec. 9, 2015

Giving Tuesday: How retailers used the holiday to lift customer engagement

The socially responsible answer to Black Friday offers retailers a powerful branding opportunity. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Dec. 9, 2015

Studies: Holiday shoppers waiting patiently for discounts

Of the three quarters of shoppers who aren’t ready for the holidays, almost half will wait until Christmas Eve to finish up, a 12-year high.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 9, 2015

Target's NYC Wonderland spectacle also a tech experiment

This year's “Wonderland” is also an over-the-top test space to try out and demonstrate various ways to pump up and improve the customer experience.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 9, 2015

Coupon offers up 15% Black Friday weekend

RetailMeNot says almost 70% of deal-seekers used mobile devices.

By Ian P. Murphy • Dec. 8, 2015

Gun sales up again after CA mass shooting

President Obama called for tighter controls to gun buying in his address on terror Sunday.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 7, 2015

Clothing retailers' shares drop on sluggish apparel sales

But overall retailers are poised to have a good holiday season, according to RetailNext.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 4, 2015

What's happening in pet supplies retail—and what's next

Growing pet ownership and pet love is leading Americans to spend more on food, toys, and other products. But competition is fierce and growth isn't necessarily smooth.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 3, 2015

FBI says gun sales surged on Black Friday

The Federal Bureau of Investigation said it processed two background checks per second on the shopping day.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 3, 2015

Smartphones overtaking tablets as go-to mobile shopping device

Bigger screens on the iPhone 6 and other mobile features are helping consumers shop from their pockets.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 2, 2015

How retailers can gear up for the rest of the holiday season

The retail holiday weekend was an omni-channel, omni-day affair, but it may not move the needle much on holiday sales growth this year.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 1, 2015

Cyber Monday: What happened on the biggest e-commerce sales day ever

The big story this year? Mobile was "the dominant shopping trend."

By Kelsey Lindsey • Dec. 1, 2015