Direct retail sales outpaced total retail sales in 2013

Web, catalog and TV sales were 15.9% of total retail sales in the last two months of last year, the National Retail Federation reported Wednesday.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 15, 2014

Commerce Dept. says December retail sales rose

Low temps spur heavy online shopping for the strongest quarter of consumer spending in 3 years, but the good news is tempered by pressure for bargain prices.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 15, 2014

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

Report shows Free People winning at social media

The bohemian women’s clothing outlet shines on social media and its customers upload tens of thousands of images on its own website.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 15, 2014

Newegg Inc.’s victory against e-commerce patent troll stands: Supreme Court

An appeals court ruled that the patent was nothing but “the common sense concept of a shopping cart” brought to the Internet.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 15, 2014

Image recognition: Slyce shows us its pitch for retailers at NRF's Big Show

Retail Dive takes a peak at some visual search technology you may be seeing more of very soon.

By Brian Warmoth • Jan. 14, 2014

Target announces new $5M consumer protection and education program

The effort to boost cybersecurity and empower customers comes amid ongoing fallout from a massive credit card breach.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 14, 2014

Groupon buys flash-fashion retail outfit Ideeli for $43M

The acquisition of the discount fashion retailer comes with a strong mobile business.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 14, 2014

Digimarc unveils invisible barcode for speedier scanning

Datalogic, a maker of barcode readers, is to develop the retail point-of-sale systems.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 14, 2014

Sam’s Club online business gets a push

The warehouse retailer will now operate under Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s Global eCommerce unit.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 13, 2014

Overstock.com the first major retailer to accept Bitcoin

The company’s CEO says the digital currency is inevitable for Amazon and all major retailers.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 13, 2014

Barnes and Noble Inc. taps its Nook captain and company CFO as new CEO

The choice could bring big changes to the bookseller’s e-commerce operations, which are in free-fall.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 10, 2014

World Cup to give Brazilian e-commerce a big assist in 2014

The tournament is poised to help boost the already growing segment of Brazilian retail sales, thanks to investments in infrastructure and 4G

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 10, 2014

Cato Fashions launches first e-commerce storefront

The women’s specialty retailer now has an e-commerce solution to compliment its whopping brick-and-mortar footprint.

By Philip Nations • Jan. 10, 2014

New York's longtime Fifth Avenue Barnes & Noble closes

The bookstore chain turns another page in its efforts to meet readers’ changing habits.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 9, 2014

California judge rules Overstock.com, Inc. misleads shoppers on price comparisons

Overstock warns the ruling overly dictates how retailers advertise and says it will appeal.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 9, 2014

Giant Eagle, Safeway announce debut of inMarket Mobile app

Participating consumers will now receive a fully-customized in-store shopping experience.

By Philip Nations • Jan. 9, 2014

Amazon Prime hits 20 million members

The company’s roundabout confirmation of the data comes on the heels of its own announcement of a million new Prime members at Christmastime.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 8, 2014

Apple opens digital retail space on major Chinese e-commerce site Tmall

The latest move shows Apple isn’t being shy about taking on stiff competition in China.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 7, 2014

Customers feel neglected as brands increase omnichannel interactions, global study shows

U.S. shoppers in particular expect to be rewarded for loyalty, and their expectations are rising.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 7, 2014

H&M Super Bowl ad to feature in-TV purchases

The ad tech agency Delivery Agent hopes to change how online purchasing works with the new campaign for Beckham underwear.

By Brian Warmoth • Jan. 7, 2014

LightInTheBox reaches takeover agreement with specialty retailer Ador.com

The acquisition will provide the China-based retailer with a dedicated U.S. operation.

By Philip Nations • Jan. 7, 2014

Ahold invests heavily in online food ordering; opens tech-innovation center

The owner of online food retailer Peapod plans to triple Internet sales by 2016.

By Paul Conley • Jan. 7, 2014

vPersonalize launches online storefront for personalized merchandise

The new site will try out new tech and designs to facilitate product customizations for consumers.

By Philip Nations • Jan. 6, 2014

Amazon expands sales tax to 3 more states

The total number of states where Amazon must collect sales tax will reach 20 by 2016.

By Roger Riddell • Jan. 2, 2014

Macy’s has plans for new $170 million fulfillment center

The retailer continues to benefit from a staggering rise in e-commerce sales.

By Philip Nations • Dec. 27, 2013