Top News Tuesday: Maternity mergers and back-to-school preparations

Every Tuesday, Retail Dive gives you our picks for the week's top industry news. This week, we look at back-to-school sales tax holidays and an acquisition approval from the EU. 

By Kelsey Lindsey • July 29, 2014

Rue La La reportedly exploring sale

The flash-sale retailer is considering a sale, and sources say Gilt may be interested.

By Daphne Howland • July 29, 2014

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

San Francisco supervisor to introduce retail worker rights bill

If enacted, the bill would affect part-time workers in some 1,250 retail chain stores in the city.

By Daphne Howland • July 29, 2014

FTC attempts to head off mobile cramming as payments surge

The agency sent out guidelines for companies to follow in order to prevent unauthorized mobile charges.

By Daphne Howland • July 29, 2014

Few retailers prepared for Amazon Fire phone

Only one of five retailers have their mobile site optimized for the new smartphone, which began shipping last Friday.

By Daphne Howland • July 29, 2014

Inquire Within: 9 retailers in search of a CEO

A trove of retailers are looking for new executive leadership at a time of great flux.

By Daphne Howland • July 28, 2014

Survey identifies top retailers for delivery expectation fulfillment

While retail orders placed online largely met estimated delivery expectations, the study found that many retailers fail to send an estimate to begin with. 

By Kelsey Lindsey • July 28, 2014

Patent trolls' favorite prey? Retailers

A study says that retailers could get entangled in more than 525 patent lawsuits this year.

By Daphne Howland • July 28, 2014

RadioShack faces NYSE delisting

The struggling retailer’s stock has traded below $1 for more than 30 straight days.

By Daphne Howland • July 28, 2014

Study finds 90% of retail sales occur in physical stores

And physical stores also foster web and mobile sales, according to the report.

By Daphne Howland • July 28, 2014

Dollar Tree to merge with Family Dollar in $8.5 billion deal

The sale is something activist investor Carl Icahn has been advocating for Family Dollar.

By Daphne Howland • July 28, 2014

Obama and Dems aim to check tax inversions

President Obama called for Congress to pass legislation saying that companies with half of their business in the U.S. are to be domiciled here.

By Daphne Howland • July 25, 2014

For teenagers, malls trump e-commerce

While young teens especially love the mall, they’re also using phones to help them shop.

By Daphne Howland • July 25, 2014

Sam's Club to support child care businesses

The retailer has discovered that many of its customers are women who own micro-businesses, including small day care centers.

By Daphne Howland • July 24, 2014

Nearly a third of shoppers distrust retailers with data

With publicity around data breaches leading to distrust, brick-and-mortar retailers still have far to go to improve security.

By Daphne Howland • July 24, 2014

American Apparel appoints first woman to board

The retailer’s shake-up continues as the company appoints four new board members.

By Daphne Howland • July 24, 2014

Birchbox's brick-and-mortar store is a retail 'lab'

The online beauty retailer is leveraging activity in its first physical store to help it understand customer behavior.

By Daphne Howland • July 24, 2014

Judge says retailers can sue Visa, MasterCard over swipe fees

The credit card companies argued to dismiss the lawsuits in light of a class-action settlement reached in December.

By Daphne Howland • July 23, 2014

Amazon brings out minimalist wallet app

The beta release for Android works at point-of-sale, a new position for a retailer that dominates e-commerce.

By Daphne Howland • July 23, 2014

Crocs closing 100 stores worldwide on restructuring plan

The footwear brand has been facing falling sales and profits after a decade of expansion.

By Daphne Howland • July 23, 2014

Report finds Lululemon tops in profitability

Apparel Magazine ranked the top 50 apparel retailers in terms of profitability, growth, and other factors.

By Daphne Howland • July 23, 2014

In Your Opinion: When is the customer not always right?

Here's what members of LinkedIn's Retail Management Executive Group had to say about dealing with unruly customers in retail. 

By Kelsey Lindsey • July 22, 2014

GameStop's virtual currency? Other retailers' gift cards

The gaming retailer is accepting gift cards from other retailers using Cardpool.

By Daphne Howland • July 22, 2014

Lands' End plays with online 'pop-up' idea

Popular popsugar.com blogger moms are uploading photos and posts about the retailer's back-to-school offerings for kids.

By Daphne Howland • July 22, 2014

Target wants to play that showrooming game

The retailer is testing out its “In a Snap” app to combat showrooming and Amazon’s Firefly app.

By Daphne Howland • July 22, 2014