Nordstrom trims 106 customer service jobs

The department store retailer blamed the cuts on a declining number of shoppers reaching out for customer support.

By Daphne Howland • March 28, 2017

Bazaarvoice, TurnTo Networks team to boost consumer-generated content for retailers

The partnership allows TurnTo’s brand clients the opportunity to syndicate ratings and reviews across the Bazaarvoice Retailer Network, which includes more than 5,000 retail and brand websites.

By Dan O'Shea • March 28, 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

Amazon will collect sales tax across US starting next month

The e-commerce giant already adds sales tax on goods shipping to 41 states and Washington, D.C., and will add Hawaii, Idaho, Maine and New Mexico to the list next month.

By Daphne Howland • March 27, 2017

Amazon adds more unlocked smartphones to Prime discount program

The Alcatel A30 and Moto G5 Plus have joined Prime Exclusive Phones, which offers discounts on brand-name unlocked mobile devices featuring ads and product recommendations on their lockscreens.

By Dan O'Shea • March 26, 2017

Distil: Bot attacking websites in effort to steal gift card balances

GiftGhostBots use a rolling list of number combinations to test about 1.7 million gift card account numbers per hour in attempts to gain access to those cards and request balance information.

By Dan O'Shea • March 26, 2017

Nordstrom, The Black Tux plan in-store tie-up

The partnership holds promise for both retailers: Nordstrom can lure in some younger shoppers, and The Black Tux can offer more places to try on tuxedos.

By Daphne Howland • March 24, 2017

Report: Online personal styling site Stitch Fix contemplates IPO

The company denies Bloomberg’s report that it turned down late-stage funding or that its board will decide on the initial public offering next month.

By Daphne Howland • March 24, 2017

Adobe touts integrations with Amazon's Alexa, Microsoft's HoloLens

The integration of Adobe Experience Cloud technologies with Amazon’s open APIs for Alexa allows the virtual assistant to tap into customer profiles and other user-specific data to drive greater levels of personalization.

By Dan O'Shea • March 23, 2017

Report: Amazon to acquire Dubai-based e-marketplace Souq

Souq is often referred to as the “Amazon of the Middle East,” and the actual Amazon was already rumored last year to be ready to buy it for $1 billion.

By Daphne Howland • March 23, 2017

Starbucks enabling ordering via voice in Alexa-enabled Ford vehicles

The coffee colossus said it now has about 9 million mobile paying customers, with one in three of those using its Mobile Order & Pay app.

By Dan O'Shea • March 22, 2017

ModCloth CEO: 'Our strategy doesn't change' after Wal-Mart deal

“[The acquisition means] we have more inventory purchases, more marketing spend and can open more physical locations... We have a bigger canvas we can paint on,” ModCloth CEO Matt Kaness said at Shoptalk 2017.

By Jason Ankeny • March 22, 2017

Kohl's CEO: We're 'not as agile as we need to be' to compete

“Why are we so focused on being best-in-class on omnichannel? Because that’s where we can win,” Kohl's chief Kevin Mansell said at Shoptalk 2017. 

By Jason Ankeny • March 21, 2017

Williams-Sonoma unveils augmented reality app for Pottery Barn brands

For now, the smartphone app's 3D Room View tool focuses on the living room, but the home decor retailer will add additional spaces later this year.

By Dan O'Shea • March 21, 2017

Google Home voice shopping to add local product inventory info

Consumers may soon query Google Home devices to determine whether items are available nearby, receiving responses complete with details like sizes and price as well as store hours and travel directions.

By Jason Ankeny • March 21, 2017

Target CEO Brian Cornell: 'Our stores are driving digital growth'

During his keynote at Shoptalk 2017, Cornell said physical and digital activity are working in tandem to drive the next phase of the retailer’s evolution.

By Jason Ankeny • March 21, 2017

Wal-Mart launches retail technology startup incubator Store No. 8

At Shoptalk 2017, Marc Lore, head of Wal-Mart’s U.S. e-commerce unit, said the Silicon Valley-based initiative will help build “startups that have a responsibility to change the course of retail.” 

By Jason Ankeny • March 21, 2017

10 Items or Less: How sluggish mobile apps are killing retailers in a matter of seconds

Each week, Retail Dive Editor Jason Ankeny weighs in on the industry headlines and trends capturing his attention. This time around: Speed, sunglasses and Spice Girls.

By Jason Ankeny • March 21, 2017

EBay to launch fast, free delivery for millions of items

The e-commerce marketplace is also revamping its homepage, personalizing it with suggestions based on customer search and purchase history.

By Daphne Howland • March 21, 2017

Charlotte Russe fashion app speeds past 1M downloads

Since launching eight months ago, the fast-fashion retailer said its native app has hit a major milestone.

By Dan O'Shea • March 21, 2017

Report: Digital commerce surges on mobile growth

Digital commerce grew 19% year-over-year in the fourth quarter, with mobile accounting for 52% of all shopping traffic and 30% of all orders, according to the Salesforce Shopping Index.

By Dan O'Shea • March 20, 2017

Personal data of thousands of Saks Fifth Avenue customers exposed

Owner Hudson’s Bay Co. took the affected pages offline after an inquiry from Buzzfeed News, but email, phone numbers and IP addresses were visible in the meantime.

By Daphne Howland • March 20, 2017

Calvin Klein owner PVH to acquire lingerie startup True & Co.

Like many pure-play e-commerce startups, True & Co. attracted attention from shoppers and investors, but that didn’t necessarily translate to profits.

By Daphne Howland • March 20, 2017

Amazon’s ‘Outfit Compare’ mobile feature tells users what to wear

The new mobile feature allows Prime members to share photos of themselves in different outfits and get advice from Amazon stylists.

By Dan O'Shea • March 19, 2017

Survey: 83% of shoppers think they know more than store associates

Almost half of consumers surveyed by Tulip Retail said they would be encouraged to shop in stores if knowledgeable associates could suggest products based on their purchase histories.

By Dan O'Shea • March 16, 2017

Amazon brings Alexa to its Apple iOS mobile app

Users will be able to tap the microphone icon to shop by voice and will have access to most of the virtual assistant's other search functions and skills as well.

By Dan O'Shea • March 16, 2017