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

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

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

Best Buy to close nearly 260 stand-alone mobile stores

As the electronics retailer winds down its mobile store fleet, it posted a massive sales rise at mainline stores.

By Daphne Howland • March 1, 2018

Kohl's brings Aldi to some stores as it makes 'sharp leap' in sales

The discount department store has added brands and tightened costs, making for a solid holiday performance. The only question is: Can Kohl's keep it up?

By Ben Unglesbee • March 1, 2018

Stitch Fix adds intimates to subscription box offer

The pure-play e-commerce company is under pressure to elevate lower-priced clothing, and intimates are an excellent place to start, analysts say.

By Daphne Howland • March 1, 2018

How Target is building a digital future

From acquisitions to brand introductions, the retailer is building an online strategy that hinges on stores and is finally paying off, an executive said at the eTail West conference Wednesday.

By Laura Heller • March 1, 2018

JD.com launches AI, blockchain accelerator

The Chinese e-commerce company will begin working with six startups this month to test and scale real-world applications of these technologies. 

By Dan Alaimo • March 1, 2018

Walmart's apparel push is just beginning

The company is focused on improving customer experience in apparel online and in stores, two company executives said at the eTail West conference Tuesday. 

By Laura Heller • Feb. 28, 2018

Many Amazon customers would welcome banking services

More than half of 1,000 U.S. Amazon customers recently surveyed said they would be willing to use an Amazon-created virtual currency for purchases, according to LendEDU.

By Dan O'Shea • Feb. 28, 2018

Amazon buys smart-doorbell startup Ring

The deal, which according to Reuters is valued at more than $1 billion, says much of Amazon's shipping ambitions.

By Daphne Howland • Feb. 28, 2018

Casper opens first standalone store

The online mattress seller is moving beyond partnerships with physical retailers and opening a store in New York City.

By Daphne Howland • Feb. 27, 2018

Google hands retailers the tools to improve mobile load times

The tech giant unveiled a speed scorecard and an impact calculator for retailers trying to keep tabs on their mobile website performance.

By Dan O'Shea • Feb. 27, 2018

Nearly 40% of subscribers ultimately cancel services

Consumers are most loyal to subscription services like Amazon Subscribe & Save, Dollar Shave Club and JustFab, according to a new report.

By Daphne Howland • Feb. 27, 2018