Macy’s, Lowe’s hit by Black Friday technical glitches

Website crashes and payment processing failures darkened the big shopping day for some retailers, causing delays both online and in-store.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 27, 2017

How Walmart is using tech this holiday season

Advances such as virtual reality-based training and inventory-scanning robots have arrived just in time to make the holiday rush more manageable for staff.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 26, 2017

Explore the Trendline➔

How retailers can win over shoppers during the holidays

Retailers are pulling all the levers to drive loyalty during the industry’s all-important quarter.

By Retail Dive staff

Buoyed by mobile, Black Friday shopping off to strong start

Online sales — particularly mobile — appear to be powering the Black Friday weekend. 

By Laura Heller • Nov. 24, 2017

What 4 charts from Black Friday 2016 tell us about this year

The big shopping day is key for retailers across the sector. Here are some of the top trends we saw last year — and can expect to see again.

By Cara Salpini • Nov. 22, 2017

Cyber Monday emails convert 53% more than Black Friday ones

The online shopping day is having more success for marketers, although Black Friday still posts above average open rates, according a new study.

By Cara Salpini • Nov. 22, 2017

Adult entertainment site to open NYC shop on Black Friday

Pornhub will sell mostly apparel at its first retail store, but hopes to seduce shoppers with an experience designed to simulate the look and feel of its homepage.  

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 22, 2017

A retailer’s guide to Black Friday 2017: 3 trends to watch

The shopping holiday has turned into a month-long event culminating over Thanksgiving weekend. From which Twitter accounts to follow to trends to watch, here's what you need to know this year.  

By Corinne Ruff • Nov. 22, 2017

Target extends Cyber Monday to a week

CEO Brian Cornell predicted a very competitive holiday and is launching daily deals after Black Friday weekend, putting the Cartwheel coupon finder to work.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 22, 2017

The 2017 holiday rush could be proving ground for in-store innovations

From RFID to smart dressing rooms, retailers have been investing in and testing technology, but the holiday season will separate the gimmicks from the money makers, according to Forrester retail analyst Sucharita Mulpuru.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 21, 2017

Most shoppers plan to use rewards points on gifts

Loyalty and rewards programs are working, and shoppers seem eager to use their points this holiday season to buy gifts, according to a new survey.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 21, 2017

Most Americans will shop Thanksgiving weekend

Spending is increasingly going online, but 64% of consumers say they’ll still head to stores over the weekend, according to a recent Deloitte survey.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 21, 2017

Amazon, CVS roll out Pinterest tool for personalized gift ideas

Bed Bath & Beyond, Universal Pictures and other brands are also leveraging a "Secret Santa" feature that enables users to create custom idea boards. 

By David Kirkpatrick • Nov. 21, 2017

Walmart-owned Modcloth launches #BlackFridayBreakup

The company plans to stay closed for the biggest shopping day of the year in an effort to differentiate from its parent. 

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 21, 2017

Why REI and Modcloth will close on Black Friday, and prosper

Not all retailers are open on Black Friday, nor should they be. There are benefits to both, particularly when it comes to branding. 

By Cara Salpini • Nov. 21, 2017

Amazon opens 'home of Black Friday' pop-up in the UK

As the company expands its physical presence in the U.K., partnerships with department stores could be a logical next step, according to Planet Retail RNG Director of Retail Insights Natalie Berg.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 21, 2017

ShopSavvy app update adds product recommendations

The app, primarily known as a tool for scanning products to compare prices, is gaining a new dimension that could make it more useful to shoppers.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 20, 2017

Saks launches gift-themed Messenger chatbot ahead of Black Friday

The offering could help the retailer reach young shoppers earlier in the buying journey than the typical customer service bot. 

By Natalie Black (Koltun) • Nov. 20, 2017

Nearly half of young shoppers will spend more this holiday season

Some of the oldest Gen Zers and the youngest millennials are planning to increase their holiday spending this year, according to a study by the NRF and Prosper Insights & Analytics.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 20, 2017

Conversational Commerce: Black Friday predictions for 2017

With a fierce price war brewing this season, in-store and mobile experiences will be critical differentiators for retailers not named Amazon, Moody's Charlie O'Shea told Retail Dive on the podcast.

By Corinne Ruff • Nov. 17, 2017

Bankrupt Toys R Us wants $16M for executive bonuses

The request is being met with resistance as some wonder if the toy seller can navigate the holiday season and emerge from bankruptcy.  

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 17, 2017

Calvin Klein opens holiday pop-ups with Amazon

Like Nike and Kohl's before it, Calvin Klein is forging a partnership that brings a host of challenges.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 17, 2017

12 major retailers that could go bankrupt

With the Toys R Us bankruptcy highlighting the chaotic, risky world for some retailers, we revisited our list of big industry names who could go bust over the next year. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Nov. 16, 2017

Mall owner turns to sensor-based tech to improve parking

Technology from Park Assist is helping Towson Town Center improve a sometimes-overlooked aspect of the customer shopping experience — parking.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 16, 2017

Forever 21 investigating POS security breach

Encryption and other protective measures used by the retailer may not have been operating on affected point of sale systems when the breach occurred.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 16, 2017

Best Buy blames sales miss on late iPhone X

Despite missing projections for a 4.8% sales increase in Q3, the electronics retailer is well-positioned for the holidays, analysts say.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 16, 2017