Study: Online sales, mobile payments spur back-to-school shopping growth

New research suggests retailers need to understand that "omnichannel is the new normal" for the back-to-school shopping season. 

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 23, 2017

Walmart reportedly closes in on pilot deal to offer Affirm loans

The big-box retailer is eyeing new ways for customers to finance purchases, and the startup has quickly become a popular retail partner.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 23, 2017

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

Back-to-school shoppers waiting, but spending more too

Parents appear to be waiting for classroom lists to do their shopping, and many schools don't start their year until after Labor Day.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 23, 2017

Startup ushers in the cashierless checkout era

Cashierless checkout isn't just for Amazon and Walmart anymore, as Standard Recognition looks to enable more retailers with the capability.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 22, 2017

Inside Backstage, Macy's off-price Hail Mary

Macy's is late to the off-price party, but the company is betting it can boost sales, traffic and real estate productivity by expanding the Backstage concept. And if they can keep customers from going to T.J. Maxx or Ross — even better.

By Ben Unglesbee • Aug. 22, 2017

Bloomingdale's takes on Sephora and Ulta with new beauty boutique

The department store is taking a page from the specialty retailers that have stolen market share in the category.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 22, 2017

Target remodels stores to focus on freshness and shopper experience

Changing up the music, adding LED lights and moving produce and grab-and-go items to the front are just a few adjustments the retailer hopes will increase sales.

By Jeff Wells • Aug. 22, 2017

CPG retailers are at a crossroads as a new threat rises

Once upon a time, consumer products like soap, sugar and soft goods were found in bins and shelves in general stores, measured out in small quantities by amenable shopkeepers. Those days are gone.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 21, 2017

Amazon’s Echo Show adds video news

Seattle TV station KIRO may show local businesses a way to develop skills for the four-month-old Echo iteration.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 21, 2017

Holiday email trends and tactics: Unwrap your potential for success

'The most wonderful time of the year' is quickly approaching once again as retailers gear up for another season of the biggest sales period around the world. 

By Shane M. Swisher • Aug. 21, 2017

Target edges out Walmart in TV back-to-school battle

During the summer shopping season Target snatched 29% of viewers’ attention thanks to short, easy-to-understand messaging, according to a recent study.

By Cara Salpini • Aug. 21, 2017

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

Target needs big ideas to grow grocery

The retailer has made improvements to its supply chain and organic assortment, but it has still struggled to increase sales in a highly competitive market.

By Jeff Wells • Aug. 18, 2017

Data is the Key to Retail Evolution

More than ever, retailers need parity between in the insights they can get online versus in-the-store to holistically identify gaps in the customer experience, evaluate changes and assess convergence opportunities. The bottom line: in-store CX data is the necessary fuel for retailers to thrive in this new world.

By Matt Tilley • Aug. 18, 2017

Customer acquisition is the top challenge for retailers

A new study shows that acquiring new customers is the most imminent concern of retailers for 2017-2018.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 18, 2017

Survey: Consumers act on each other’s visual content

A new study suggest that photos and videos combined with product reviews from other consumers can help shoppers pull the trigger on buying decisions.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 17, 2017

Retail Therapy: Winter is coming… to Ikea

Ikea’s three-step instructions let die-hard Game of Throne’s fans make their own Jon Snow capes without swearing to "take no wife, hold no lands and father no children."

By Cara Salpini • Aug. 17, 2017

All digital solutions aren't created equal

Digital strategies must be tailored to each brand's needs, as customer connections are being prioritized over sales.

By Laura Heller • Aug. 17, 2017

Shopping apps rank among most-deleted

A new study shows that shopping apps rank highly on lists of both most-downloaded and most-deleted apps.

By Cara Salpini • Aug. 16, 2017

July retail sales rise 3.5% year over year

But households are under pressure as their expenses mount, so there could be trouble ahead for retailers.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 16, 2017

47% of mobile users delete apps with no customer support

In a world where retailers are increasingly trying to reach consumers via mobile, customer service is a deal-breaker, a new survey says.

By Cara Salpini • Aug. 15, 2017

From store to door: the power of location analytics

A spatial understanding of supply and demand affords retailers a unique view into the actual costs of providing delivery services on a customer-by-customer basis.

By Gary Sankary • Aug. 15, 2017

Amazon ranks first for back-to-school shoppers

Brand Keys' survey of households with school-age children ranked Amazon first for both early and late back-to-school shopping.

By Cara Salpini • Aug. 14, 2017

Target to acquire same-day delivery company Grand Junction

The San Francisco-based company could help Target compete by connecting inventory to established local and regional delivery operations.  

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 14, 2017

It's Time for Marketing to Embrace the True You

The world is full of digital clues about who your customers are, where they go and where they spend money. The challenge and opportunity is to sense and understand these signals.

By Michelle Engle • Aug. 14, 2017