Guitar Center downgraded again on new refinancing plan

The musical instrument retailer has announced a plan that would buy it more time to pay down its debt. 

By Ben Unglesbee • March 13, 2018

4 key takeaways from eTail West

It's all about leadership, culture and embracing innovation as retail enters a highly inventive and experimental phase in the quest to differentiate. 

By Laura Heller • March 13, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

What's shaping the e-commerce landscape?

From pivots in digital strategies to challenges retailers must overcome with reverse logistics, here are some of the forces shaping online retail.

By Retail Dive staff

For L’Oreal and Home Depot, AI quickly becomes table stakes

Speaking at SXSW, the two brands detailed how, in just a few years' time, the technology has changed everything from creative strategies to organizational structures, with no signs of slowing down.

By Peter Adams • March 12, 2018

Could Amazon shake up online travel next?

Not long ago digital players upset the old travel agent model, but now Morgan Stanley is prodding the e-commerce giant to disrupt the online travel sector. 

By Daphne Howland • March 12, 2018

Jack Ma fund invests $20M in Rent the Runway

The clothing renter is looking to expand into Asia, which fits nicely with Alibaba's efforts to add more fashion offerings. 

By Daphne Howland • March 12, 2018

Amazon moves Prime Pantry to subscription model

Prime members opting for the program will begin paying $4.99/month in addition to their $99 annual fee.

By Daphne Howland • March 12, 2018

Specialty retailers are upping their omnichannel game

A report from L2 found a 75% increase among specialty brands in adoption of features like in-store inventory on product pages and geolocation within store locators. 

By Dan Alaimo • March 12, 2018

Betabrand uses 3D tech to take designs to fruition in 5 days

The company claims it can now turn crowdsourced ideas into ready-for-sale products in five days or less — something that usually takes 18 months.

By Dan O'Shea • March 8, 2018

Amazon extends discounted Prime to Medicaid recipients

The move zeroes in on Walmart's customer base, which is typically older and less wealthy than Amazon’s.  

By Daphne Howland • March 8, 2018

21% of US shoppers are using voice or chatbots for commerce

A recent study from Mastercard and Mercator shows a 60% acceptance of voice assistants and text-based chatbots for basic informational tasks.

By Dan Alaimo • March 8, 2018

Dollar Tree's 13% sales growth not enough for Wall Street

The deep discounter increased earnings, same-store sales and its top line — to the tune of $6.36 billion — but fell short of analyst hopes on all counts.

By Ben Unglesbee • March 7, 2018

Zara aims to automate pickup with in-store robots

Enabling customers to pick up online orders in stores was a start. Now, retailers need to make sure the process remains an efficient one.

By Dan O'Shea • March 7, 2018

Walmart's A-list Oscar night was all about 'The Box'

For its second year of short films during the Academy Awards, "The Box" became a star, and a true symbol of its war with Amazon.

By Daphne Howland • March 6, 2018

Amazon Prime chief leaves to lead Airbnb Homes

Greg Greeley, who helped forge Amazon's formidable Prime loyalty juggernaut from the very beginning, spent 18 years with the company.

By Daphne Howland • March 6, 2018

Amazon ad growth could form 'triopoly' with Facebook, Google

The e-tailer is growing its share of ad spend as more marketers gravitate to the platform. 

By Cara Salpini • March 6, 2018

Amazon could soon offer checking accounts

The e-commerce giant is in talks with JP Morgan Chase, among others, to create an Amazon-branded checking account, according to the Wall Street Journal.

By Dan O'Shea • March 6, 2018

Millennials will pay more for top mobile shopping experiences

Nearly 45% of millennials are willing to spend big if they had a superior mobile shopping experience, according to new research from Worldpay.

By Dan Alaimo • March 6, 2018

The Children’s Place and Gymboree: A tale of two specialty retailers

One invested in inventory technology, assortment and e-commerce. The other went bankrupt. What can the two children's apparel retailers teach retailers?

By Ben Unglesbee • March 5, 2018

Olay boosts engagement 20% with influencer skincare challenge

The beauty brand boosted awareness and Google searches, but missed an opportunity to drive sales on Walmart's website.

By Robert Williams • March 5, 2018

Rakuten to launch 'borderless currency' Rakuten Coin

The company unveiled a blockchain-based cryptocurrency that will support global loyalty efforts and cross-border transactions.

By Dan Alaimo • March 5, 2018

QVC owner Liberty Interactive to rebrand as Qurate Retail Group

The repositioning is the "culmination of a multi-year evolution," according to the company, which will be led by QVC CEO Mike George.

By Daphne Howland • March 5, 2018

Retail defaults in 2018 could outpace last year

High debt, underinvestment, competition, changes in consumer spending and other factors that made 2017 abysmal for some retailers haven't gone away, according to S&P. 

By Ben Unglesbee • March 2, 2018

EBay launches $10-and-under page

The online marketplace has an answer to Amazon's new page for cheap goods that ship free. 

By Daphne Howland • March 2, 2018

Office Depot's big bet on BizBox

The retailer is transitioning from a supplier of office supplies to a supporter of small business with a brash 14-store test designed to serve millennial entrepreneurs.

By Laura Heller • March 2, 2018

Study: Voice shopping will surge 1,900% by 2022

Amazon is poised to dominate the emerging space with the largest market share, which is currently more than twice that of its nearest competitor Google.

By Robert Williams • March 1, 2018