Moody's: Retail is still 'fundamentally healthy'

Despite store closures, layoffs and bankruptcies stealing headlines, the retail industry isn't doomed — it's just being forced to change at a rapid clip.

By Ben Unglesbee • Aug. 7, 2017

Will Spark ignite Amazon as a social media leader? Just maybe

Amazon's launch of an in-app news feed could set the groundwork for a deeper push into social media and open up new advertising opportunities. 

By Chantal Tode • Aug. 7, 2017

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

L.L. Bean tops Amazon in customer service

Amazon was no. 2, followed by Lands’ End, Fingerhut and Kohl’s, according to a report by Prosper Insights & Analytics.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 7, 2017

Many shoppers ‘eager’ to use virtual reality tools

A handful of retailers have embraced virtually reality tools for marketing, and a new study shows consumers may be ready to embrace them, too.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 6, 2017

Report: Online spending jumps 14% and outpaces traffic

Consumer online spending jumped as mobile took more share with 57% of e-commerce sales and shoppers spent more per visit. 

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 6, 2017

Study: Social media influences purchases across generations

While millennials are the most likely to be influenced by the platform, Gen X and Baby Boomers also make social media-influenced purchases.

By Cara Salpini • Aug. 4, 2017

American Apparel re-launching online retail this month

Under new owner Gildan, the Canadian basics wholesaler, American Apparel is returning to e-commerce on Aug. 14.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 4, 2017

New returns policies have Amazon sellers fuming

While Amazon’s site is an easy-return zone, half the merchandise it sells comes from its Marketplace. Now the e-commerce company is trying to more closely align policies around returns.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 4, 2017

Report: Amazon footwear sales rose 35%

Amazon kicked footwear sellers with soaring sales thanks to its Zappos unit, all before the launch of new private label The Fix.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 4, 2017

How Data Will Save Retail

With Amazon’s multi-billion dollar acquisition of Whole Foods, convergence between eCommerce and brick and mortar retail is here. 

By Ben Reynolds • Aug. 4, 2017

Study: Omnichannel remain works in progress

Retailers continue to plug away at their omnichannel and personalization efforts, but shortcomings remain that need to be addressed, a new study found.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 3, 2017

Wayfair amps up AR with new app feature

Use of augmented reality in retailer apps takes another step forward with the rollout of WayfairView in the newly-released Asus smartphone.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 3, 2017

Amazon Jobs Day: Why more than 20k showed up to apply

Amazon confronts the supply chain talent shortage by hiring for character qualities instead of skillsets, and manages to ding Walmart in the process. 

By Ryan Golden , Kate Patrick Macri • Aug. 3, 2017

Why back-to-school shopping matters more than ever in 2017

Some retailers will clean up — cough, cough, Amazon — but for others, it's do-or-die during back-to-school shopping season.

By Laura Heller • Aug. 3, 2017

Wedding registry startup Zola partners with Backcountry

The partnership comes as the outdoor gift category has grown 20% and the millennial penchant for experiences over stuff dovetails with the rising number of millennial marriages.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 3, 2017

Survey: Security execs fear data breaches, despite drop in retail incidents

Data breaches are declining faster in retail than other verticals, but fears remain and lessons aren't being learned.  

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 2, 2017

Boxed closing in on 'autonomous shopping'

Boxed is ready to do your shopping for you, with two new features that use machine learning to predict and act upon customer's perceived product needs.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 2, 2017

Tuft & Needle taps Amazon tech for new Seattle store

Many online sellers struggle with how much they should let Amazon take control of their sales and inventory, but Tuft & Needle is counting on the e-commerce giant for brick-and-mortar in-store tech and fulfillment.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 1, 2017

Amazon enables Alexa to control Fire TV

Can't find the remote? Fire TV owners can now let the virtual assistant take control of their TVs through any Echo device.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 1, 2017

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

3 things retailers can do to compete with Amazon

Prime Day was a huge success for Amazon, but retailers need to stop playing the victim. Neil Stern of McMillanDoolittle offers three points of differentiation in the battle against the online giant. 

By Neil Stern • Aug. 1, 2017

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

Men's apparel startup Taylrd takes on Bonobos

The newly launched online retailer aims to deliver better-fitting, lower priced clothing more swiftly than Walmart's Bonobos.

By Daphne Howland • July 31, 2017

Stitch Fix quietly files for an IPO

The subscription apparel startup is taking advantage of a special “IPO on-ramp” provision, but long-term financial viability of the category remains a concern.  

By Daphne Howland • July 31, 2017

Report: Amazon acquires GameSparks for $10M

The deal to snap up the provider of cloud-based gaming developing tools is only the e-commerce giant's latest acquisition in recent months.

By Dan O'Shea • July 30, 2017