Amazon Prime shipped over 5B items in 2017

The online giant sent out a slew of statistics about its devices, Prime membership and streaming services — but what do they mean?

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 3, 2018

Mobile will catch up to e-commerce by 2021

Retailer investment in mobile web and app experiences, however, may be lagging, according to a Business Insider Intelligence report.

By Dan O'Shea • Jan. 2, 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

Holiday returns to reach 1.4M in one day

UPS expects returns to peak Wednesday, on National Returns Day, and Walmart hopes to ease the process with a new mobile app feature.

By Dan O'Shea • Jan. 2, 2018

9 trends that will define marketing in 2018

2017 was the year the industry got its much-needed wake-up call. The question now isn't whether marketers can fix a broken system, but how they'll make it better. 

By Peter Adams • Jan. 2, 2018

Record retail closures to continue apace in 2018

Department stores face an increasingly bleak future and stores will continue to shutter, but that doesn't mean that sales are all going online.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 29, 2017

Amazon slipping in search

The priority that Google has set for mobile appears to be cutting into Amazon’s previous dominance, though the e-commerce giant still tops in search.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 28, 2017

Study: 5B pounds of retail returns end up in landfills

Returns have increased with the growth of e-commerce, and voice-enabled shopping will likely propel only more, according to a study by Optoro.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 27, 2017

Amazon Prime raked in 4M trials in one holiday week

It was the "biggest holiday season" yet according to the e-commerce giant, which acknowledged it sold "millions" more Echo devices over last year.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 26, 2017

Home Depot buys The Company Store

The deal, for an undisclosed amount, could extend Home Depot's reach into home goods and grow e-commerce.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 22, 2017

Prime Now chief takes over Amazon food delivery units

Stephenie Landry is the logical choice to lead the company's grocery and restaurant delivery businesses as Amazon prepares for a grocery push in 2018.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 22, 2017

Over 75% of customers want to shop through their TV

"T-commerce" could be on the rise, as customers express interest in buying items from both TV ads and shows.

By Dan O'Shea • Dec. 22, 2017

Amazon is scrambling to minimize packaging

The puzzle of e-commerce fulfillment is an important but often glossed over aspect of the changing retail landscape, and the inefficiencies in packaging are a large part of that.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 21, 2017

Stitch Fix Q1 was 'not the blowout quarter the bulls were hoping for'

Shares plummeted after the company's first post-IPO earnings report as executives justified spending and declared that premium brands won't be a focus going forward.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 21, 2017

Amazon's Apple TV app breaks record for most launch-week downloads

The truce gives both companies a holiday boost, with big consumer demand for Amazon's new Apple TV app and for Apple TV products being sold on Amazon.

By Dan O'Shea • Dec. 21, 2017

Holiday shoppers shift to long-term financing

Consumers are applying for financing even before they put items in their carts, and many want at least a year to pay, according to new research.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 21, 2017

How Toys R Us is letting Target and Amazon steal Christmas

The bankrupt toy seller is losing the pricing game and reportedly readying another round of store closures. Toys R Us is facing its biggest challenge yet.

By Ben Unglesbee • Dec. 21, 2017

The retail winners and losers of 2017

Here are the companies, technologies and trends that soared or sank in 2017.  

By Corinne Ruff • Dec. 20, 2017

12 news stories that shaped retail in 2017

From The Limited's bankruptcy to Terry Lundgren's Macy's retirement announcement, here's a look back at the biggest news events from the last 12 months.

By Corinne Ruff • Dec. 20, 2017

Macy's taps former Walmart exec for new digital role

Jill Ramsey has more than two decades of e-commerce experience and is tasked with connecting the digital and physical stores. 

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 20, 2017

Only 8% of retailers have ‘mastered’ omnichannel

Almost all (90%) retailers are embracing omnichannel strategies, but very few feel they have the right plan or technologies in place.

By Dan O'Shea • Dec. 20, 2017

76% of online holiday shoppers headed to Amazon

The e-commerce giant is dominating this season thanks to free shipping perks and high conversion rates, according to CNBC's All-America Economic Survey.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 20, 2017

Has Amazon Prime peaked?

The reach of the e-commerce giant's membership program is unknown, but there are signs that Prime's growth is slowing down.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 20, 2017

Amazon plots physical stores in Germany

Up to 95% of German retail sales occur in stores and "it's not a question of if, but when" Amazon builds locations, according to the head of Amazon Germany.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 20, 2017

John Lewis Partnership elevates company veteran to CIO

In a year of shuffling retail CIOs and CTOs, the U.K. operator of John Lewis and Waitrose stores is promoting Andrew Murphy to guide tech strategy. ​

By Dan O'Shea • Dec. 19, 2017

Amazon, Ralph Lauren, Gap show healthy overseas growth

Not surprisingly, the online giant has been the most popular U.S. website with international consumers this holiday season, according to a new report.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 19, 2017