Amazon expands smartphone lockscreen ad program

Customers can tap their discounted Android smartphone to learn more about a deal or product recommendation, or unlock the device to dismiss it.

By Dan O'Shea • Sept. 6, 2016

Lands' End to sell apparel on Amazon

The struggling outdoor brand will limit what it sells to certain items, but is selling on Amazon a prudent move for apparel retailers?

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 6, 2016

Explore the Trendline➔

The direct-to-consumer landscape in retail

More mature brands are pursuing exit strategies and expanding their reach, while traditional retailers are increasingly shifting to a DTC model.

By Retail Dive staff

Report: Amazon lands one of eBay's top AI execs

Hassan Sawaf set up eBay's cognitive computing group and led its efforts to enable context translations for shoppers searching in foreign languages.

By Dan O'Shea • Sept. 5, 2016

Trade groups: Alibaba still not doing enough to police counterfeits

While acknowledging that Alibaba has taken some steps to reduce sales of bootleg merchandise, such as outlawing blurred product images, trade organizations contend the measures aren't working.

By Dan O'Shea • Sept. 1, 2016

How back-to-school shopping season puts omnichannel strategies to the test

With the new school year looming, consumers are using smartphones for an increasing number of key shopping functions. Retailers need to do their homework.

By Dan O'Shea • Sept. 1, 2016

Ibotta lands Jet, Groupon for mobile shopping rewards launch

Shoppers start their shopping journey in the Ibotta app, where they unlock special offers, then go directly to partners' native apps to make their purchases.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 31, 2016

Wayfair snaps up Snapchat-like startup Trumpit

Trumpit's mobile messaging app could be plugged into to Wayfair's customer support efforts to allow shoppers to exchange photos and videos with staffers.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 30, 2016

Amazon charges sellers 'brand gating' fee to curb counterfeits

Third-party Marketplace sellers are now required to pay a one-time, nonrefundable charge of up to $1,500 per brand, and surprise, they're not happy about it.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 30, 2016

5 trends reshaping back-to-school shopping in 2016

Back-to-school shopping season comes around like clockwork, but that doesn’t mean it’s predictable. Change is the only constant.

By Jason Ankeny • Aug. 29, 2016

Amazon Marketplace sellers rail against 'unwarranted' suspensions

Sellers say they want fair warning, a chance to defend themselves to a human Amazon representative and an overall less arbitrary process.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 29, 2016

Staples adds back-to-school shopping help to iOS app

Parents can send a photo of their child's shopping list to a Staples associate, who fills their online cart for them.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 25, 2016

Amazon includes Chicago in brick-and-mortar bookstore plans

The store will be located in Southport Corridor, one of the city's most fashionable neighborhoods.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 25, 2016

Report: New national sales tax plan set to clarify online retail rules

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte is poised to introduce a new legal framework for cross-border tax sales following years of debate on the issue.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 24, 2016

Global e-commerce logistics market rolling toward $781B by 2024

Among factors stirring market growth, the number of cross-border e-commerce websites is expected to continue to explode.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 24, 2016

Amazon expands drive-up grocery to Seattle

Permit documents indicate the e-commerce giant is branching out beyond the experiment it started in the Bay Area.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 24, 2016

Wayfair enters virtual reality fray with Patio Playground

The app allows a customer wearing an Oculus Rift headset to virtually navigate a lakeside scene and select different outdoor products to create their ideal backyard setting.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 23, 2016

Amazon draws scrutiny over tech-related tax practices

Amazon is facing scrutiny for reportedly valuing its technology assets far higher in Europe to gain tax advantages.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 22, 2016

Amazon delivers Hyundai test drives to Prime members

The Prime Now, Drive Now on-demand test drive program spotlights the 2017 Hyundai Elantra.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 21, 2016

Dick's Sporting Goods buys Affinity for youth sports venture

The sports management software will bolster Dick's Team Sports HQ platform, which supports youth sports leagues with online registration and team/league websites among other services.  

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 21, 2016

Analyst: Retail job base shrinking due to online worker productivity

Because of e-commerce efficiency gains, there are about 1.2 million fewer retail jobs overall than there otherwise would be, an industry analyst suggests.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 18, 2016

How flash sales sites are winning retail's mobile app wars

Upstarts like Groupon and Rue La La may have lost a chunk of their cultural cachet, but their mobile apps are still generating user attention — and retention.

By Jason Ankeny • Aug. 18, 2016

Amazon's LaunchPad pairs with Product Hunt for featured products

The online retail giant is forming a co-marketing partnership with tech enthusiast community Product Hunt to help drive sales on its startup e-marketplace.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 17, 2016

Census Bureau: E-commerce made up 8.1% of all retail sales in Q2

The U.S. Dept. of Commerce Census Bureau reported that e-commerce hit $97.3 billion in the second quarter.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 16, 2016

Report: Groupon, One Kings Lane top retail mobile app rankings

As consumers increasingly shop on mobile, sticky apps have become a sort of Holy Grail for retailers. 

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 15, 2016

Agile Network bolsters e-commerce supply chain with Ajillus acquisition

The deal comes as the retail supply chain is becoming increasingly complex, with the industry now offering an abundance of shipping pricing models and a rising number of delivery options.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 15, 2016