Shopping center construction failing to keep up with demand

Retailers are compensating for the lack of new-store inventory by moving into older buildings vacated by shuttered businesses.

By Sharon O'Malley • Aug. 6, 2015

Birchbox is boosting competitors' sales—for now

Subscribers of the online beauty service spend an average 5% more at Sephora. Could physical stores help Birchbox lasso these deflected sales?

By Ian P. Murphy • Aug. 5, 2015

Explore the Trendline➔

How artificial intelligence is shaping retail

More retailers are leaning on AI as a tool, tapping into the tech to improve customer service and support supply chain functions.

By Retail Dive staff

Is 'Back to School' a retail season anymore?

Creeping sales, growing e-commerce, and even the weather will impact back-to-school sales this year—for better or for worse. 

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 3, 2015

Retail Therapy: Calvin Klein's Tinder moment

And a peek at the fun side of Amazon. 

By Kelsey Lindsey • July 31, 2015

How new payment systems could bring 'fundamental change' to retail

While EMV cards and mobile payments both have a learning curve for consumers, their tipping points are approaching. 

By Ian P. Murphy • July 30, 2015

Yoga pants craze pushing retailers to reinvent denim lines

A number of retailers—including Levi's—are working hard to make the great American classic as stretchy and comfortable as yoga pants.

By Daphne Howland • July 30, 2015

How retailers are selling the power of IoT

A dive into Sears' Connected Solutions hub and Target’s Open House reveals that a lot of connected devices have functions and price points that can appeal to the practical homeowner. 

By Daphne Howland • July 27, 2015

Could 'modesty' be a new retail niche?

America’s Muslim population is growing, and some retailers are finding demand for swimwear and other apparel that suits observant women who also want to be fashionable.

By Daphne Howland • July 27, 2015

Smartphones aid back-to-school shopping: study

Even bargain-hunters still buy most items in stores, however.

By Ian P. Murphy • July 27, 2015

Back-to-school shopping expanding beyond the season: reports

Retailers may need to re-think how they measure and market sales of school-related things during this time.

By Daphne Howland • July 27, 2015

Converse updates classic kicks with new line

Converse will support the launch with a new campaign targeting the creative community. 

By Ian P. Murphy • July 24, 2015

Neiman Marcus and consignment retailer The RealReal team up

While the resale market will be but a niche area for Neiman Marcus, this is the kind of creativity that a department store retailer needs these days.

By Daphne Howland • July 24, 2015

Wal-Mart and Target battling for new parents' dollars

With a new baby boom coming, retailers are working hard to attract new parents, especially millennial moms.

By Daphne Howland • July 24, 2015

Retail Therapy: Madewell 'micro-fiction' and a Lululemon beer

Every week, we give you some of the best retail reads from around the web. 

By Kelsey Lindsey • July 23, 2015

Dick's to take on Lululemon with new specialty women's stores

The “Chelsea Collective” stores will have athleisure-wear and sports gear for women, as well as accessories and beauty products.

By Daphne Howland • July 22, 2015

The next big pair of blue jeans? Yoga pants

Following the decline of the classic jean, retailers are tapping into the athleisure trend with new women's lines.

By Ian P. Murphy • July 21, 2015

Kate Spade latest to move into yoga wear

Kate Spade seems to be revving back up after shuttering some lines and stores, with plans for athleisure, home goods, and more.

By Daphne Howland • July 21, 2015

Retail Therapy: A dumpster-diving 'shopping' spree

And some of our favorite Prime Day Twitter rants. 

By Kelsey Lindsey • July 17, 2015

Think Amazon's Prime Day #Failed? Think again

The day wasn’t about surpassing Alibaba's Singles Day or improving on Black Friday. It was about giving non-Prime members a tour of Amazon’s unparalleled consumer ecosystem.

By Daphne Howland • July 17, 2015

Crowdfunding: Not just for Kickstarter anymore

There are numerous reasons why more retailers are choosing to use crowdfunding or pre-ordering when developing products, and it's not just about the money.

By Daphne Howland • July 16, 2015

Back-to-school spending may be healthy this year, but not as healthy as last: reports

E-commerce is the major force keeping retailers on their toes these days, but back-to-school shopping by and large remains a brick-and-mortar activity.

By Daphne Howland • July 16, 2015

La-Z-Boy: We're more than your grandfather's recliner

The furniture retailer is aiming to broaden its appeal to younger consumers with a new line and smaller urban stores. 

By Daphne Howland • July 16, 2015

Blurred lines: The potential of transgender marketing

Consumers seem to be at the edge of a fundamental shift in attitude when it comes to gender and style, which opens up opportunities for merchandising and marketing.

By Daphne Howland • July 15, 2015

As adults, millennials continue to confound marketers

Entering their peak buying years, the generation looks for value in content. 

By Ian P. Murphy • July 15, 2015

Weak June retail sales show consumer caution, shifting priorities

Sales may bounce back once wage increases take hold, but the unexpected fall could mean a fundamental consumer shift away from spending on apparel to electronics.

By Daphne Howland • July 15, 2015