ProFlowers enters chatbot frenzy with one-click buy button

​Most chatbots have suffered to deliver conversions, but one-click buying could be the answer to reducing friction and closing sales on Messenger.

By Dan O'Shea • Dec. 21, 2017

Santa's migrating his toy workshop to the cloud

At the North Pole, the elves were suffering and couldn't keep up with the high volume of orders. Because Santa failed to check the list twice, elves were fulfilling orders from Christmases long past, leading to inefficiency and wasted work.

By Naomi Eide • Dec. 21, 2017

Explore the Trendline➔

The state of holiday shopping and the consumer

Consumers are signaling they want value when it comes to quality, convenience and experiences. 

By Retail Dive staff

Holiday shoppers shift to long-term financing

Consumers are applying for financing even before they put items in their carts, and many want at least a year to pay, according to new research.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 21, 2017

How Toys R Us is letting Target and Amazon steal Christmas

The bankrupt toy seller is losing the pricing game and reportedly readying another round of store closures. Toys R Us is facing its biggest challenge yet.

By Ben Unglesbee • Dec. 21, 2017

12 news stories that shaped retail in 2017

From The Limited's bankruptcy to Terry Lundgren's Macy's retirement announcement, here's a look back at the biggest news events from the last 12 months.

By Corinne Ruff • Dec. 20, 2017

76% of online holiday shoppers headed to Amazon

The e-commerce giant is dominating this season thanks to free shipping perks and high conversion rates, according to CNBC's All-America Economic Survey.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 20, 2017

Amazon, Ralph Lauren, Gap show healthy overseas growth

Not surprisingly, the online giant has been the most popular U.S. website with international consumers this holiday season, according to a new report.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 19, 2017

Holiday 2017 may show strongest growth since 2010

Home-related purchases in particular are "way up," with home improvement sales up 11.6% and home furniture sales up 3.5% since November, according to a new report.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 19, 2017

Foot Locker returns to its roots with new West Coast flagship

The athletic shoe retailer is under pressure as sporty styles give way to more urban fashion, particularly with younger shoppers.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 19, 2017

Pop Box brings subscriptions to brick-and-mortar

The storefront showcases the contents of subscription boxes, allowing customers to see items in person before they buy.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 19, 2017

Amazon is bringing back 'digital day'

The Dec. 29 sale is the second manufactured promotional event from Amazon, which uses Prime Day to boost sales in July.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 19, 2017

Amazon, Target extend 'free shipping day' as Christmas approaches

Online sales have surged this holiday season and 94% have taken advantage of free-shipping offers. 

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 18, 2017

What nobody wants for Christmas: An Amazon-Walmart price war

The world's biggest retailer is closing the gap with Amazon in online prices and the technologies that control them. Can anyone keep up?

By Ben Unglesbee • Dec. 15, 2017

75% of holiday tech shoppers bought online

Most of the research for consumer electronics purchases also took place online, too, according to a study by GfK.

By Dan O'Shea • Dec. 15, 2017

November retail sales lift 0.8%

It's been a healthy start to the holiday, according to numbers from the U.S. Commerce Department and the National Retail Federation.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 15, 2017

Ivanka Trump opens a store in Trump Tower

The brand has struggled to make physical stores work, and its location of choice offers a mixed bag.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 15, 2017

Signet Jewelers losing customers over sexual harassment claims

The fallout has allowed rival Pandora to move ahead in certain brand awareness metrics, according to YouGov research.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 15, 2017

Retailers are understaffing stores — and losing sales

Store staffing is more important than ever yet one of the biggest expenses for retailers, and MIT researchers say they have developed a platform to achieve optimal staffing levels.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 14, 2017

Amazon expands same-day delivery for holiday procrastinators

The retailer will deliver holiday orders in 8,000 cities as late as 11:59 p.m. on Christmas Eve, and non-Prime customers can opt for a free trial in a bid to grow Prime. 

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 14, 2017

How Best Buy is winning against all odds

The electronics retailer is opening a new chapter in how to compete by taking advantage of opportunities everywhere. Even, sometimes, at Amazon.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 13, 2017

Toymaker Mattel warns of unhappy holidays

The brand has also been downgraded by Fitch for a series of "execution missteps" including its inability to adapt its strategy amid the Toys R Us bankruptcy.  

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 13, 2017

Westfield accepts $15.7B takeover bid

Pending regulatory approval, Europe's largest commercial property company will acquire the mall operator, whose top execs are all slated to retire.

By Corinne Ruff • Dec. 12, 2017

David Yurman unwraps holiday gifting bot

Yet another luxury brand is going the chatbot route. This one, on Facebook Messenger, offers a plethora of gift guides.

By Dan O'Shea • Dec. 12, 2017

Is Amazon losing its low-price edge?

Some deals weren't that different from a month before Black Friday, and while Amazon handily beat rivals on many items, it didn't always have the best price, research shows.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 12, 2017

Simon Malls unveils ‘Santa Messenger Bot,’ AR game

The features demonstrate how mobile tech can be used to entertain shoppers and urge them to visit brick-and-mortar malls during the holidays.

By Robert Williams • Dec. 11, 2017