Target opens next-day delivery pilot to Minneapolis shoppers

After a brief month and a half trial period with employees, the big-box retailer is rolling out its household essential delivery service in what is seen as a challenge to Amazon's Prime Pantry program.

By Dan O'Shea • June 27, 2017

Survey: Retailers struggle to keep up with demand for hyperlocal delivery

The age of Amazon Prime has retailers bringing faster options and greater flexibility to delivery, but new data show they're not doing it fast enough.

By Dan O'Shea • June 26, 2017

Explore the Trendline➔

The state of retail returns

Retailers of all sizes are streamlining operations so customers can have a smooth return experience. 

By Retail Dive staff

Amazon files patent for drone delivery 'beehive' fulfillment center

Following up on its patent for fulfillment blimps, Amazon has filed to patent another crazy idea — a vertical fulfillment center to support drone delivery in urban settings.

By Dan O'Shea • June 25, 2017

Etsy to cut staff by 22% in 2017 amid turnaround

The online artisan marketplace announced a second round of layoffs for the summer as the company tries to contend with Amazon's rival craft marketplace.

By Ben Unglesbee • June 22, 2017

6 ways the Amazon-Whole Foods deal could impact the grocery industry

Analysts say retailers can expect more pricing pressure, consolidation and higher consumer expectations for online shopping and delivery.  

By Jeff Wells • June 22, 2017

Transform your supply chain into a supply value ecosystem

The backbone of great, consistent customer experiences are efficient back-end operations, putting the supply chain front and center.

June 21, 2017

UPS to roll out peak shipping surcharges for the holidays

The surcharges underscore the high cost of holiday digital sales and the importance of careful logistics, including using minimal packaging for deliveries.

By Daphne Howland • June 20, 2017

Hubba launches group discussion forums for retailers, brands

Small merchants can trade learnings and share advice through new Hubba Group discussion forums on a variety of retail topics.

By Dan O'Shea • June 20, 2017

Walmart CFO Biggs touts retailer's e-commerce build-up

Walmart's Jet buy is already bearing fruit, and serving as a test lab of sorts as the retailer grows e-commerce. 

By Dan O'Shea • June 19, 2017

Warehouses to remain scarce and expensive despite new construction

Retailers may experience “sticker shock” as they attempt to expand e-commerce logistics or renew industrial leases.

By Daphne Howland • June 15, 2017

Is Walmart's new last-mile delivery program brilliant — or a disaster in the making?

The Uber-like program will have store associates delivering packages on their way home from work. Will it work for Walmart?

By Laura Heller • June 14, 2017

How package fulfillment impacts supply chain costs

Companies are experimenting with ways to lower supply chain costs.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • June 9, 2017

The real cost of e-commerce logistics

Two-day delivery and free shipping may be the new norm, but it's hardly a minor cost for retailers.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • June 8, 2017

UPS: Online shoppers expanding habits in mobile, ship-to-store

More shoppers are buying at online marketplaces and becoming more accustomed to buying on mobile apps, according to the sixth annual "Pulse of the Online Shopper" study.

By Dan O'Shea • June 7, 2017

Report: Returns are now a routine part of shopping

Returns are up, with online shoppers in particular using their homes as fitting rooms and ordering many items they don't intend to buy. 

By Daphne Howland • June 6, 2017

RILA: 'Fast or Free' delivery escalating supply chain costs

As retail fulfillment gets more expensive, it’s also getting harder to minimize costs, according to the latest Retail Supply Chain report from RILA. 

By Daphne Howland • June 6, 2017

Wal-Mart store workers now delivering packages

The brick-and-mortar giant is leveraging stores and making the task voluntary for workers to make more money.

By Daphne Howland • June 2, 2017

Amazon adds robots, 2K jobs to new Houston warehouse

Robots and humans will collaborate at the new facility to satisfy increasing demand for the Seattle behemoths' myriad products.

By Jennifer McKevitt • June 2, 2017

Wal-Mart seeks to patent blockchain-based drone tracking system

The big-box retailer is eyeing another use of the secure digital ledger technology, which would track, register and authenticate items of the payload moving through a supply chain.

By Dan O'Shea • May 31, 2017

Fitch: E-commerce fulfillment, retail locations are converging

Shopping centers have long been evaluated on demographic measures like population density and income, and e-commerce distribution centers should be similarly considered, according to Fitch Ratings. 

By Daphne Howland • May 31, 2017

Home Depot, Lowe’s flex omnichannel strength

Home improvement retailers are proving to be ahead of the game in executing omnichannel strategies, enabling shoppers to easily pick up online orders in stores, among other things.

By Dan O'Shea • May 30, 2017

Report: Alibaba doubles down on Chinese food startup, leads $1B funding round

The Chinese e-commerce juggernaut's investment in Ele.me may be part of a long-term strategy to boost its Alipay usage.

By Dan O'Shea • May 25, 2017

9 trends in last-mile delivery

From drones to in-city warehouses, e-commerce is forcing changes in how retailers and carriers do business.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • May 25, 2017

Bulletin draws seed funding to play host to startup retailers

The company raked in $2.2 million to construct more flexible rental spaces that allow e-commerce companies to rent on a month-to-month basis.

By Dan O'Shea • May 24, 2017

JD.com plots massive 'heavy-load' drone logistics network in China

The company aims to construct the country’s largest low-altitude drone logistics network for devices that can carry shipments weighing more than a ton.

By Dan O'Shea • May 22, 2017