Kantar: Back-to-school advertising drops 70% on national TV

Only six retailers are advertising nationally this year, compared with 100 in 2019, and the tone has changed to highlight personal safety and logistics.

By Robert Williams • Aug. 31, 2020

Walmart teams with Microsoft on TikTok bid, eyeing e-commerce, advertising opportunity

The deal has the potential to seriously shake up the digital media sector, as Walmart would gain access to a powerful wedge against rivals like Amazon. 

By Peter Adams • Aug. 28, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

Gen Z and millennials

If there's anything retailers want more than financial stability right now, it's to understand Gen Z. 

By Retail Dive staff

Retail Therapy: Lowe's project runway

In an unexpected move, the home improvement retailer is partnering with New York Fashion Week designers to help create backdrops for the outdoor shows.

By Cara Salpini • Aug. 28, 2020

Anthropologie wedding brand BHLDN launches plus assortment

The retailer has joined several digital upstarts in offering extended sizes for brides and bridesmaids, a path to a greater share of a shaken market.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 25, 2020

Report: Nike shutting down 9 wholesale accounts in shift to DTC

Among those closing are Belk, Dillard's and Zappos, according to an analyst note from Susquehanna Financial Group.

By Cara Salpini • Aug. 25, 2020

Mobile ad spend jumps 71% amid pandemic recovery: study

In-app ad spend on private marketplaces soared 391% during the period, outpacing the strong 52% gain for the mobile web, per PubMatic.

By Robert Williams • Aug. 25, 2020

Retail Therapy: Brach's looks for a spot at the Thanksgiving table

The candy brand recently released turkey dinner-inspired candy corn, including flavors like green bean, roast turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce.

By Caroline Jansen • Aug. 21, 2020

E.l.f. seeks brand ambassadors for TikTok reality show

The beauty brand is asking users to post videos showing why they should win a contract to be on "Eyes. Lips. Famous."

By Robert Williams • Aug. 18, 2020

Retailers' back-to-school ads resonate by empathizing with uncertainty, study finds

Ads from Kohl's, Walmart and others address uncertain times with upbeat messages during a markedly different back-to-school season.

By Dianna Christie • Aug. 17, 2020

Retail Therapy: The last Blockbuster lists itself on Airbnb

Because this is the year where apparently anything goes, the Bend, Oregon, store is inviting local residents to spend a night.

By Caroline Jansen • Aug. 14, 2020

What COVID-19 did to customer loyalty

As retailers grappled with out-of-stocks, research found that 75% of consumers opted to shop alternative brands.

By Caroline Jansen • Aug. 12, 2020

CVS to sell DTC brand Public Goods in bid for the healthy shopper

The two started a pilot in January, and have now expanded it to put the brand's sustainable, health-focused products into 2,000 stores nationwide.

By Cara Salpini • Aug. 11, 2020

Michaels adds new perks to its rewards program

The arts and crafts retailer aims to strengthen relationships with its customers digitally. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Aug. 7, 2020

Retail Therapy: Cheetos Mac n' Cheese gives humans a ray of hope during apocalypse

The pasta comes in three flavor varieties and is made with "authentic Cheetos cheesiness." 

By Kaarin Moore • Aug. 7, 2020

Fashion brands team up for flash sales event

Shopping platform BestKeptSecret aims to raise $1 million for charity with the help of multiple brands.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Aug. 6, 2020

Athleta names interim CMO

Gap Inc. has been shuffling its marketing leadership, with the head of Banana Republic's marketing taking over at its namesake brand in February.

By Cara Salpini • Aug. 5, 2020

Macy’s enlists influencers for its ‘Style Crew’

The department store is integrating shoppable content, and new fashion and beauty buffs into its program.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Aug. 5, 2020

Walmart fortifies ad platform with omnichannel analytics offering

Procter & Gamble, Mondelēz and Clorox beta tested Performance Dashboards, which could better position the retailer against rivals like Amazon and Google.

By Peter Adams • Aug. 4, 2020

Three years after Fenty Beauty, Rihanna debuts Fenty Skin

Aimed at inclusivity, the products were tested on all skin tones and types, and are also built around key trends like sustainability and clean ingredients.

By Cara Salpini • Aug. 4, 2020

PetSmart gamifies reptile adoption with Snapchat AR quiz

An immersive lens includes a discount on a pet reptile to drive store foot traffic, which rose during the pandemic's early days as people stockpiled supplies.

By Robert Williams • Aug. 3, 2020

BuzzFeed goes DTC with content-driven commerce deal

The media company looks to create its own e-commerce offering designed to turn readers into active shoppers.

By Dianna Christie • Aug. 3, 2020

Retail Therapy: Oskar Blues, French's brew up summer in a can

While absolutely nobody asked for it, the two brands teamed up to release a one-of-a-kind mustard-flavored beer.

By Caroline Jansen • July 31, 2020

Gen Z, millennials drive growth in mobile video during pandemic, Snap study says

Nearly three quarters of young consumers said they watched more video on their smartphones this year than in 2019, according to the report.

By Robert Williams • July 31, 2020

Old Navy partners with Popsugar on retailer's first tween collection

The collaboration is aimed at an underserved tween market during the critical back-to-school shopping season. 

By Robert Williams • July 29, 2020

Back-to-school marketing takes on a somber tone under COVID-19, but carries key silver linings

Ads addressing activism, mental health and remote learning arrive in place of typically sunny seasonal fare, but they might resonate more with grounded Gen Z teens. 

By Peter Adams • July 28, 2020