E-commerce startup ThredUP launches 'smart' brick-and-mortar store

The secondhand seller is using consumer data to personalize the shopping experience at its first store.

By Corinne Ruff, Dan O'Shea • June 26, 2017

Amazon files patent for drone delivery 'beehive' fulfillment center

Following up on its patent for fulfillment blimps, Amazon has filed to patent another crazy idea — a vertical fulfillment center to support drone delivery in urban settings.

By Dan O'Shea • June 25, 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

China’s JD.com invests $397M in Farfetch

The U.K. luxury marketplace just got a big boost in China and across Asia.

By Dan O'Shea • June 22, 2017

Amazon's Echo Show can now watch over smart homes

Amazon's Echo Show may play a much large role in smart home security applications with the new ability to connect to smart cameras around a household.

By Dan O'Shea • June 22, 2017

Juniper: Retailers headed for $71B in e-commerce fraud losses

Numerous factors, including the growing popularity of click-and-collect programs, will expand retailers' card-not-present fraud losses over the next five years, according to the research firm.

By Dan O'Shea • June 22, 2017

Dollar General taps former Subway exec as new CIO

Carman Wenkoff, who has extensive IT leadership experience, replaces retiring CIO Ryan Boone.

By Daphne Howland • June 22, 2017

EBay launches price-matching on more than 50K items

The marketplace is matching prices of identical items also found online at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target and other retail sites.

By Daphne Howland • June 22, 2017

Nike reportedly to sell directly on Amazon

The news is bad for discount department stores Kohl’s and J.C. Penney, as well as for specialty sports retailers Finish Line, Foot Locker and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

By Daphne Howland • June 22, 2017

6 ways the Amazon-Whole Foods deal could impact the grocery industry

Analysts say retailers can expect more pricing pressure, consolidation and higher consumer expectations for online shopping and delivery.  

By Jeff Wells • June 22, 2017

Alibaba execs: 'Don't mistake us for Amazon'

China holds massive opportunity for U.S. sellers, Alibaba executives told 3,000 small-business players from 48 states at a conference it hosted in Detroit this week.

By Daphne Howland • June 21, 2017

Report: Walmart asking suppliers to quit Amazon cloud

The brick-and-mortar giant is flexing its muscles, asking tech suppliers to stop using Amazon cloud services, which is a massive source of profitability.

By Ben Unglesbee • June 21, 2017

IBM, LivePerson team up to smarten customer service chatbots

The companies are integrating IBM's Watson AI technology into the LiveEngage customer care platform.

By Dan O'Shea • June 21, 2017

Study: Personalization should be priority in e-commerce upgrades

E-commerce retailers may be spending too much time and money on cosmetic improvements when they should be investing in personalization.

By Dan O'Shea • June 20, 2017

ThirdLove releases Fit Finder 2.0 to refine bra-fitting

As apparel competition moves toward fit-focused personalization, ThirdLove announces the latest version of its mobile app.

By Dan O'Shea • June 20, 2017

Rue La La, Allure magazine unveil limited-edition beauty boxes

On days when beauty sales run on the Rue La La site, they sell out in record time, a sign of strength for the growing category.

By Daphne Howland • June 20, 2017

Target leads $170M Series C round for Casper Mattress

Brick and mortar has become a necessary play for Casper. Enter Target, which was reportedly once interested in acquiring the startup for $1 billion.

By Daphne Howland • June 20, 2017

Stitch Fix adds seasoned CFO

Paul Yee's appointment could mean the startup is readying for an IPO.

By Daphne Howland • June 20, 2017

Hubba launches group discussion forums for retailers, brands

Small merchants can trade learnings and share advice through new Hubba Group discussion forums on a variety of retail topics.

By Dan O'Shea • June 20, 2017

Study: User-generated content's influence on purchase decisions grows

Shoppers appear to be more driven toward purchases by user-generated internet content than ever before.

By Dan O'Shea • June 19, 2017

Bebe relaunches e-commerce under new ownership

The brand has also tapped designer Nathan Jenden, formerly of Diane von Furstenberg, as Creative Director to lead the effort.

By Daphne Howland • June 19, 2017

With Bonobos purchase, Walmart chases all-new customers

It's not clear that fans of the men’s apparel basics company will stick around now that the brand is part of the retail giant’s stable.

By Daphne Howland • June 19, 2017

Walmart CFO Biggs touts retailer's e-commerce build-up

Walmart's Jet buy is already bearing fruit, and serving as a test lab of sorts as the retailer grows e-commerce. 

By Dan O'Shea • June 19, 2017

Survey: 45% of retailers plan to use AI in next 3 years

AI deployments are becoming top of mind for many retailers leveraging the technology to improve customer experiences, a new survey found.

By Dan O'Shea • June 18, 2017

Amazon patent aims to block in-store searches of competitors

If deployed, the technology could block competitor price and product information and redirect smartphone users to Amazon.

By Dan O'Shea • June 18, 2017

Walmart buys Bonobos for $310 million

Bonobos co-founder and CEO Andy Dunn will oversee Walmart’s collection of digitally-native brands, reporting to Walmart U.S. e-commerce chief Marc Lore.

By Daphne Howland • June 16, 2017