Wal-Mart scraps Prime-like ShippingPass membership

The retail giant opened up its free two-day shipping to all customers and lowered its minimum, while promising not to raise prices.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 31, 2017

Why the marketplace revolution keeps gaining momentum

Digital marketplaces offer retailers and vendors a way to expand their selection and their reach. But the rewards come with major risks.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 31, 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

Starbucks rolls out remote voice ordering, new Alexa skill

The coffeehouse chain's customers may now order items by voice through devices powered by Amazon's Alexa digital assistant technology.

By Dan O'Shea • Jan. 30, 2017

Will Amazon Prime Now help online grocery grow, or is it a deal with the devil?

Are the opportunities of partnering with the online retail giant worth the risks to brick-and-mortar grocery stores?

By Jeff Wells • Jan. 30, 2017

Amazon up to 250 Dash buttons after latest program additions

Consumers can now order products from Dash partners including Seventh Generation, Colgate, Emergen-C, Kingsford, Lifestyles and Rogaine.

By Dan O'Shea • Jan. 25, 2017

Wal-Mart lays off 200 Silicon Valley e-commerce employees

The retail giant’s digital team shakeup continues in the wake of last year’s $3.3 billion acquisition of Jet.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 25, 2017

Amazon launches STEM toys monthly subscription service

The science, technology, engineering and math toys will be curated from a list of products that have recently launched or are exclusive to Amazon and fit the age range selected.

By Dan O'Shea • Jan. 24, 2017

Sephora lands exclusive with rising beauty brand Skin Laundry

Skin Laundry specializes in a laser and light skin therapy services, as well as related beauty products for use at home.

By Dan O'Shea • Jan. 24, 2017

Alibaba Q3 revenue surges thanks to record-shattering Singles Day

The Chinese e-commerce giant remains a “solid, and highly disruptive, retailer,” according to retail research agency and consulting firm Conlumino.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 24, 2017

Amazon reportedly closing in on Alexa-powered paid voice search

Consumer Intelligence Research Partners indicates that 8.2 million U.S. Amazon customers now have Alexa-enabled Echo devices, and about two-thirds use the devices for information queries, including searches.

By Dan O'Shea • Jan. 23, 2017

Amazon rolls out Prime Surprise Sweets via Dash program

Each Prime Surprise Sweets box costs $18 and contains a random assortment of small-batch candy made by artisans from across the U.S.

By Dan O'Shea • Jan. 22, 2017

Sears unveils IBM Watson-driven AI tire shopping app

Digital Tire Journey leverages Watson's Natural Language Classifier service to help auto owners obtain recommendations that take into account their personal needs and driving habits.

By Dan O'Shea • Jan. 22, 2017

Amazon expands Dash buttons to all customers, virtually

The e-commerce giant’s homepage now features personalized one-click purchase Dash buttons based on household items consumers have previously ordered and may want to replenish.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 20, 2017

Birchbox to open second physical store in Paris

The subscription beauty retailer in 2014 opened its first full-line physical store in New York City’s Soho neighborhood, and shoppers there have a 3x higher lifetime value with the brand.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 20, 2017

5 technologies reshaping retail in 2017

Robotics and drone delivery are just two of the innovations poised to wield greater influence on retail operations this year.

By Dan O'Shea • Jan. 19, 2017

Report: Amazon leapfrogs rivals in mobile commerce

Amazon has tripled its number of U.S. unique mobile visitors in two years, according to a note from investment firm Oppenheimer.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 19, 2017

Amazon reportedly in search of creative chief for VR commerce plans

The chief will "envision the future of Amazon’s VR solutions and guide our creative and technical teams to produce compelling, world-class experiences," the ad reads.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 19, 2017

Report: Shoppers expect more from mobile in store

Enthusiasm for online shopping is waning, and store satisfaction is on the rise, but consumers want to use their phones to guide in-store shopping, a survey found.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 18, 2017

Alibaba launches Big Data Anti-Counterfeiting Alliance

The announcement comes just weeks after Alibaba's Taobao marketplace landed back on the United States Trade Representative’s Notorious Markets blacklist.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 18, 2017

Adobe debuts new omnichannel capabilities for retailers

The new Fluid Experiences for Retail capability allows retailers to develop and manage omnichannel experiences across touchpoints such as in-store associate apps, social channels and smart screens. 

By Dan O'Shea • Jan. 17, 2017

EBay launching authentication service to fight fakes

Inspectors will scrutinize goods for sellers who pay for the service and for buyers purchasing non-authenticated goods, but the program is limited to certain types of merchandise.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 13, 2017

Amazon Canada to change pricing practices, pay $1.1M fine

The Canadian Competition Bureau (a body analogous to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission) claims Amazon created the impression that its prices were lower than prevailing market prices.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 12, 2017

Walgreens adding FedEx dropoff, pickup locations nationwide

FedEx customers will be able to drop off pre-packaged and pre-labeled shipments and pick up packages at their neighborhood Walgreens store.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 12, 2017

NRF: Retail's Big Show

iQmetrix is powering a significant shift in retail – one that’s helping retailers redefine the in-store experience.

Jan. 11, 2017

Report: Wal-Mart poised to eliminate 1K corporate jobs

The retail giant’s investments in stores and its ongoing e-commerce push are driving efforts to seek out efficiencies.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 11, 2017