Amazon to collect sales tax from almost three-quarters of US consumers

With Illinois’ new sales tax requirement, eight of the 10 most populous states now require online retailers to collect the tax.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 27, 2015

Poet launches indie bookseller site to compete with Amazon

The site, which eventually could expand to handle orders and fulfillment, is designed to help independent New York City booksellers.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 27, 2015

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

Tumblr introduces sponsored content, agency services

The blogging platform's new Creatrs Network will match its most popular content creators with potential advertisers.

By Ian P. Murphy • Jan. 27, 2015

Consumer use of mobile apps smaller than retailers believe: study

A recent study found that 42% of smartphone users prefer to search on the mobile web, compared to 20% that prefer apps.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 26, 2015

Online product reviews boosts conversion by 58%: study

A new study from Bazaarvoice also found that search engines favor the fresh, user-generated keywords customer reviews produce. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Jan. 25, 2015

Adobe debuts new mobile marketing tools

The location-based tools incorporate GPS and Bluetooth user data to help make personalized e-mails more effective.

By Ian P. Murphy • Jan. 23, 2015

YP to link mobile ads to desktop search

As omnichannel shopping becomes more commonplace, marketers are struggling to keep up with customers' cross-device habits. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Jan. 23, 2015

Why Target missed the bullseye in Canada

After less than two years in the country, Target announced that it would close all of its 133 stores in Canada. What does this less-than-stellar showing mean for the retailer going forward? 

By Kelsey Lindsey • Jan. 21, 2015

Retailers join 'super-coalition' against patent trolls

A large group of companies have formed a group called United for Patent Reform as the new Congress gears up to address concerns about patent lawsuits.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 20, 2015

Retailers, your customers want to 'click and collect'

A recent survey found that more than 75% of participants consider in-store pickup "important." Here's how retailers can achieve this omnichannel effort. 

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 15, 2015

Stylitics expands ClosetSpace app

Fashion analytics startup Stylitics has developed a new app for fashionistas that curates their closets and connects users to brands at key moments.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 15, 2015

Etsy planning IPO

The marketplace company is looking to raise $300 million in an IPO that could come this quarter.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 14, 2015

Instacart snags $220M investment

The grocery delivery service says it aims to be “the supermarket’s best friend” in more cities.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 14, 2015

Alibaba agrees to prevent sales of dangerous toys and other goods in US

The agreement with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is the latest move by Alibaba to clean up its grey market business.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 14, 2015

Amazon subsidiary plans store in Alibaba marketplace

Amazon and Alibaba may be rivals, but Diapers.com has applied to open a storefront on Tmall Global.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 13, 2015

Nasty Gal CEO steps down, names successor

#GirlBoss and founder Sophia Amoruso says she’s tapped Sheree Waterson as the company's next CEO.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 13, 2015

Big opportunity for retailers: Solving shopping cart abandonment

It's maddening that so many shoppers leave their online carts without buying. But the problem is fairly well understood, so there are things a marketer can do.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 12, 2015

Fab co-founder launching new flash-sales site

While the future of furniture flash-sales site Fab.com is uncertain, one of its founders Bradford Shellhammer has launched a similar site featuring industrial designs.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 11, 2015

Former Beats by Dre partner sues Apple unit

Audio tech company Monster says that Beats Electronics fraudulently ended a partnership between the two ahead of Beat's lucrative merger with Apple.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 7, 2015

Kickstarter leaves Amazon Payments for Stripe

The project-funding platform needs a payments service that makes it easy for people to contribute to the endeavors of artists and entrepreneurs from all over the world.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 7, 2015

Shopping apps led mobile app usage growth in 2014: report

Overall mobile app usage grew 76% in 2014 year-over-year, with shopping apps leading the pack. 

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 7, 2015

6 challenges retailers will face in 2015

From fulfillment to mobile commerce, retailers have their work cut out for them in the new year.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 6, 2015

Amazon's Marketplace has banner year

Sellers from more than 100 countries sold more than $2 billion worth of goods through Amazon in 2014.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 6, 2015

Textbook price-comparison software goes viral after legal threat

OccupyTheBookstore helps students avoid textbooks' notoriously steep prices—to the chagrin of textbook retailers. 

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 6, 2015

Lessons learned: 3 takeaways from the holiday season

Holiday sales pretty much lined up with expectations in 2014. But what lessons did retailers learn to help them succeed in 2015?

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 5, 2015