Adidas sells TaylorMade, fading out of the golf market

The athletic retailer will spin off all of its golf brands to a private equity firm in a deal valued at $425 million.

By Dan O'Shea • May 10, 2017

Amazon, Nike, Nordstrom lead the way in social media, word-of-mouth chatter

Victoria’s Secret, Adidas and Under Armour also made the top 10 list of retail and apparel brands that sparked shopper conversations, according to Engagement Lab’s latest TotalSocial rankings.

By Dan O'Shea • May 10, 2017

Explore the Trendline➔

Digital innovation and technology trends in retail

Generative AI and TikTok Shop have replaced the metaverse and NFTs as the hot topics of the day — here’s a look at how brands are using them.

By Retail Dive staff

Can the Echo Look accelerate Amazon's push for apparel dominance?

Amazon has a new pathway into the consumer's closet, but can the e-commerce giant win in apparel? Eight experts debate whether the latest Alexa-enabled device will do the trick.

By Corinne Ruff • May 10, 2017

Inside the Retail Dive Consumer Survey

In a six-part survey of shoppers, we examined the psyche of the American consumer and the evolving role of the brick-and-mortar store.

By Corinne Ruff • May 9, 2017

Retail Therapy: Starbucks fails to lasso another unicorn

After the Unicorn craze died down, Starbucks tried to stir up another viral frappuccino. But a unicorn it ain't. 

By Corinne Ruff • May 5, 2017

Home improvement retailers thrive amid housing boom

Retailers like Lowe’s and Home Depot have been “bright spots for ongoing growth," according to Moody's Investors Service, but Amazon is looming large.

By Daphne Howland • May 4, 2017

'Not dead, just changing': What the future holds for the American mall

It's the end of the mall as we know it. So what is it becoming? 

By Lara Ewen • May 3, 2017

Facebook tests mobile retail rewards feature

The new program allows users to scan a personalized QR code to receive benefits when purchasing items at participating brick-and-mortar stores.

By Dan O'Shea • May 2, 2017

Lululemon takes aim at reinventing the sports bra

The athletic apparel retailer's Enlite sports bra leverages scientific thinking about bra design and uses a proprietary lightweight fabric for high-performance activity.

By Dan O'Shea • May 2, 2017

Oracle adds chatbot, AI capabilities to customer experience suite

Leveraging mobile video and social messaging innovations, the suite facilitates better engagement with customers on marketing and service support fronts.

By Dan O'Shea • April 30, 2017

Retail Therapy: The return of terrible, no good, very bad jeans

​It's the worst year ever for denim — and this week, it got even worse. 

By Corinne Ruff • April 28, 2017

Kit and Ace shutters all stores worldwide, except in native Canada

The news comes after a series of layoffs last year at the performance cashmere apparel maker’s Vancouver headquarters.

By Daphne Howland • April 27, 2017

Do consumers really only value low price? Unfortunately, yes

It’s not hopeless, however, to think that consumers can be won away from an obsessive focus on price — as long as the offer hits on a true consumer need, writes Nikki Baird at Retail Systems Research.

By Nikki Baird • April 26, 2017

Why many shoppers go to stores before buying online

More than 55% of consumers visit stores before buying online, emphasizing the idea that high-touch physical and seamless omnichannel experiences are critical for modern retailing.

By Sandy Skrovan • April 26, 2017

Adidas rolls out more shoes made from recycled ocean plastics

The athletic apparel and footwear company unveiled new editions of UltraBOOST, UltraBOOST X and UltraBOOST Uncaged through its Parley for the Oceans partnership.

By Dan O'Shea • April 23, 2017

Retail Therapy: Unicorn Frappuccino fail and the year of crazy bad jeans

Starbucks' own baristas stirred up bad reviews for the rainbow drink, while Levi's bares all with its new "bare-butt" jeans.

By Corinne Ruff • April 21, 2017

Google Home’s voice recognition gets an edge over Alexa

Google Home's Assistant can now support up to six users and distinguish between their voices, a capability that Amazon's Alexa has yet to pick up.

By Dan O'Shea • April 20, 2017

Why retailers are trying on showrooms

Showrooming is the new big thing in brick-and-mortar retail, but are stores — and customers — ready to abandon their shopping bags?

By Lara Ewen • April 20, 2017

Pinterest, Michaels partner on trend-inspired DIY kits

The "Make It Kits" are inspired by crafts trending on the social media platform and include all the supplies needed to make the projects.

By Dan O'Shea • April 19, 2017

Facebook tests integration between M virtual assistant, third-party apps

The test enables Messenger users chatting about ordering food to see an interface that allows them to order from Delivery.com.

By Dan O'Shea • April 19, 2017

Fashwire raises funding for app enabling consumer reviews of new fashion designs

The startup raised $725,000 in seed funding and is looking for more in a Series A round as it nears the launch of an app that will allow users to review new fashion designs posted by independent designers.

By Dan O'Shea • April 18, 2017

Rue21 to shutter nearly 400 stores nationwide

Calling it a "difficult but necessary decision," the struggling teen apparel retailer will shut down about one-third of its brick-and-mortar portfolio.

By Davide Savenije • April 17, 2017

Google moves Shopping List to Google Express, Home apps

The move comes a couple of months after the company enabled consumers to start using voice capabilities through Google Home's digital assistant to shop more than 50 Google Express retail partners.

By Dan O'Shea • April 12, 2017

Jo-Ann Stores acquires Creativebug to boost crafting content game

Creativebug's subscription service allows crafting enthusiasts access to more than 1,000 high-definition video classes where they can learn how to paint, draw, sew, quilt, knit, crochet, throw a DIY party and more.

By Dan O'Shea • April 11, 2017

Retail Therapy: Pepsi — not the taste of the protest generation

The brand was mauled on social media for the ad, which suggested its namesake soda could bring peace, love and unity in the wake of protests against the killings of black people by police.

By Corinne Ruff • April 7, 2017