Theft-prevention tag maker Checkpoint acquired for $443m

Checkpoint Systems offers advanced RFID inventory control systems that help retailers track and secure merchandise from source to shelf.

By Ian P. Murphy • March 3, 2016

FTC enhances identity theft reporting site as problem grows

The FTC’s revamped approach to help consumers recover from identity theft could also help expose the problem in more detail.

By Daphne Howland • Feb. 1, 2016

Birchbox trims 15% of staff, halts Canadian operations

The moves come at a time when talk of a tech bubble burst heats up.

By Daphne Howland • Feb. 1, 2016

Louis Vuitton suing online sellers in China over fakes

Partnering with Alibaba’s Taobao or JD.com is an essential way for retailers to sell to China’s vast middle class. But many have had to become more savvy about battling counterfeiters. 

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 11, 2016

Apple veteran will help Alibaba head off counterfeits

IP wunderkind has helped Apple, Pfizer fight fakes in the past.

By Ian P. Murphy • Dec. 22, 2015

NRF: Holiday returns to cost retailers $2.2B this year

More shoppers will be attempting fraudulent returns this year, the NRF says. 

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 18, 2015

FTC doles out $1.3M in fines to retailers over bamboo rayon

Nordstrom, Bed Bath & Beyond, J.C. Penney, and Backcountry.com will collectively pay the fine to settle allegations of deceptive labeling.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 11, 2015

Macy's sued for minority shoppers' detention, fines

The retailer is facing a class-action lawsuit that alleges “coercive collection practices” of minority shoppers. 

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 7, 2015

Target reaches $39.4M settlement with banks over massive breach

Target’s nightmare from its December 2013 cyber breach isn’t over yet, but this settlement brings it that much closer. 

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 3, 2015

Massive hack of toy retailer VTech exposes children's data

The news could chill sales just when tech-based toys were poised to boost holiday toy sales.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 1, 2015

5 mistakes from Black Friday past—and how retailers can avoid them

The enormous opportunity that is Black Friday comes laden with potential pitfalls that retailers have experienced all too often. 

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 24, 2015

Report: Shoppers take their frustrations out on Black Friday/Cyber Monday

Consumers who have had bad experiences at retailers during the year are holding a grudge at the holidays.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 6, 2015

Survey: Most consumers don't trust retailers with their data

"Intrusive" activities also undermine consumer trust. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Oct. 26, 2015

Target to issue more secure chip-and-PIN cards

The retailer is one of the first to issue these type of chip-enabled cards in the U.S.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 15, 2015

FBI warns that EMV cards should have PINs

Many retailers have advocated for banks to issue cards with the full “chip-and-PIN” capabilities that are now familiar abroad.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 12, 2015

Ubiquitous Bed Bath & Beyond coupons hitting the company's margins

But the retailer faces other hurdles, too, including its slow work in e-commerce, its thin margins and its difficulty differentiating its merchandise.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 2, 2015

NRF warns retailers of rising organized crime

Organized crime accounts for some $30 billion of retail shrink, according to the National Retail Federation’s annual Organized Retail Crime Survey.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 16, 2015

Target experiencing supply chain troubles due to new initiatives

Target seems to be admitting that it has a problem, the first step in solving it.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 8, 2015

Wal-Mart working on reducing 'shrink' as theft hits earnings

The retailer cited problems with theft and poor inventory control three times in its recent quarterly earnings press release and another 13 during its conference call with investors Tuesday.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 19, 2015

Target, Visa agree on $67M to settle data breach

The retailer is in similar talks with MasterCard, the companies said. But some smaller financial institutions aren’t satisfied.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 19, 2015

Report: Only 10% of U.S. consumers have adopted EMV cards

The October deadline for compliance is looming, but most shoppers don't have EMV cards.

By Ian P. Murphy • Aug. 11, 2015

Nike getting assertive about cybersecurity recruitment

Retailers are realizing they must have the humans and technology that understand the unique needs of retail — stop the bad users, but let in the good customers easily.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 11, 2015

US accounts for 48% of all global card fraud damages

The Nilson Report found that worldwide losses resulting from fraud on credit, debit, and prepaid cards reached $16.3 billion in 2014.

By Ian P. Murphy • Aug. 7, 2015

The key to tight cybersecurity: Watch the vendors

In today's retail environment, retailers are really only as secure as their least secure vendor.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 6, 2015

Costco, Sam's Club, others caught up in photo services data troubles

The trouble at the retailers stems from a possible data breach at photo services company PNI Digital Media.

By Daphne Howland • July 21, 2015