Shopicks’ mobile shopping platform rebrands as Thinkover

The move aims to broaden the utility of the company's app across sectors as it aims to be a resource for shoppers mulling product purchases.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 1, 2017

Lowe's builds up in-home assistance for DIY contest winners

The retailer's Upskill Project aims to boost customer confidence about tackling home improvements tasks — and make loyal customers at the same time.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 1, 2017

Explore the Trendline➔

Gen Z and the next-generation consumer

If there's anything retailers want more than financial stability right now, it's to understand Gen Z. 

By Retail Dive staff

Amazon Prime Day prompts decline in store visits

Several brick-and-mortar retail stores were quite a bit emptier than usual on Amazon Prime Day last month.

By Dan O'Shea • July 31, 2017

How mobile is changing back-to-school

Gen Z students and millennial parents comprise much of the back-to-school market, and having, or not having, a mobile strategy could make or break the season.

By Cara Salpini • July 31, 2017

In-app payments for retail rose 57% in a year

Mobile apps of all types are increasingly coming with payment features, a trend that is especially strong in retail, according to new research.

By Dan O'Shea • July 28, 2017

Walmart's ASDA launches gift card marketplace

ASDA opens a new avenue to B2B dollars by creating an e-commerce site that sells gift cards in bulk.

By Dan O'Shea • July 27, 2017

Retail Therapy: Are Asos' sunglasses a sight for sore ears?

Love is blind for a new pair of dark-tinted, round sunglasses that double as — wait for it — hoop earrings.

By Cara Salpini • July 27, 2017

Is Sears' Kenmore deal with Amazon a game changer, or a drop in the bucket?

A partnership to sell Kenmore appliances on Amazon could add new sales for Sears and expand Amazon's appliance ambitions. But will Amazon shoppers flock to a brand some say is dying?

By Ben Unglesbee • July 27, 2017

Target Twitter interactions drive up ‘brand love’ 11%

The big-box retailer used Promoted Tweets to drive an 8% increase in shopping intent among those who shop only once a month.

By Dan O'Shea • July 26, 2017

Study: 87% of retailers plan to use AI to drive customer engagement

Artificial intelligence is becoming a ubiquitous force in the industry, with many retailers using the tech to route customer service requests and develop product suggestions.

By Dan O'Shea • July 26, 2017

Shoppers have the answers, but brands need to ask the questions

Retailers no longer dictate trends, says Hannah Hale of Lucky Brand. It's time to shift from a "push" to a "pull" model by asking shoppers what they want.

By Hannah Hale • July 26, 2017

Study: 68% of shoppers leave retail sites due to these basic problems

Poorly designed menus, too-basic search capabilities and products buried too deeply behind branding are forcing customers to abandon purchases. 

By Cara Salpini • July 26, 2017

Gen Z twice as likely to convert on mobile

The young generation is eager for digital content, but is more demanding when it comes to app functionality and personalized content.

By Cara Salpini • July 25, 2017

Study: High expectations for Amazon-Whole Foods merger

As the companies proceed with their deal, shoppers expect Amazon to bring better prices and convenience to the upscale grocer, but they hope it won't change too much, according to new research.

By Daphne Howland • July 24, 2017

Rakuten Viber acquires mobile commerce partner

Rakuten Viber rolled out an Instant Shopping feature, a key technology developed by the year-old startup it now owns, Chatter Commerce.

By Dan O'Shea • July 23, 2017

Conduent earns facial recognition patent to measure shopper satisfaction

The technology, which identifies a person’s eyes from video camera footage to better understand facial expressions, is being patented just after reports surfaced that Walmart is seeking to patent similar tech.

By Dan O'Shea • July 23, 2017

Study: Brick-and-mortar integral to BTS

And be patient when the kids come along to the store, most parents spend more when they do, according to the annual survey by ICSC.

By Daphne Howland • July 20, 2017

Retail Therapy: Swimsuit fashion dives off the deep end

With graphics of avocados and Guy Fieri’s face, these one-piece wonders will have you wishing their designs sank when fashion's standards did.

By Cara Salpini • July 20, 2017

Report: Walmart developing facial-recognition tech

The retailer is looking to the technology to monitor shopper dissatisfaction and improve the store experience. 

By Dan O'Shea • July 19, 2017

Survey: 25% of households use chatbots daily

A study from 3C Interactive paints a different picture of the chatbot trend from other recent studies, but that doesn’t necessarily mean chatbot usage is suddenly booming.

By Dan O'Shea • July 19, 2017

Target, Walmart outpace Amazon for back-to-college shoppers

Off-price retailers are increasingly favored by college kids and their parents, and department stores’ grades are slipping.

By Daphne Howland • July 19, 2017

TJX to open first 'HomeSense' store next month

In yet another challenge to department stores, the off-price darling aims to extend its treasure-hunt atmosphere to bigger-ticket items like furniture.

By Daphne Howland • July 19, 2017

Competition is stiff in $5B meal kit delivery market

Blue Apron’s subdued IPO has more to do with the intense competition in meal kit delivery, recently stoked by Amazon, than declining consumer interest.

By Daphne Howland • July 18, 2017

Forrester: 5.5B mobile users globally by 2022

Mobile is becoming impossible for retailers and brands to ignore, as mobile users are expected to number more than 5.5 billion worldwide in five years.

By Dan O'Shea • July 17, 2017

Why retailers are going all in on subscription services

Stitch Fix, Amazon Prime Wardrobe, Trunk Club, Rent the Runway and a growing list of subscription services streamline shopping for busy customers, but not every brand has the right formula.

By Lara Ewen • July 17, 2017