Amazon launches Spark, a shoppable social content feed

The company is dipping its toe into the social media pool with Spark, a feed in which users can "smile" at other users' posts and run product searches on items in photos.

By Dan O'Shea • July 18, 2017

NewStore lands $50M to fuel mobile expansion

Demandware founder Stephan Schambach's latest startup will use the funding to support its "Streaming Retail" mobile commerce vision.

By Dan O'Shea • July 18, 2017

Explore the Trendline➔

How retailers are thinking about in-store experience

Complementary shop-in-shops, age-appropriate experiences and integrated technology are just a few ways retailers are reworking stores to suit shoppers.

By Retail Dive staff

Nordstrom hones Snapchat strategy for annual anniversary sale

Snapcodes printed on coffee cups, catalogs, ad materials and at in-store locations unlock a custom branded lens. 

By David Kirkpatrick , Natalie Black (Koltun) • July 18, 2017

Virtual fitting room startup Metail raises $12.9M

The concept of a virtual fitting room is not new, but Metail just raised close to $12.9 million in funding for its ability to personalize the concept for each customer trying on clothes.

By Dan O'Shea • July 17, 2017

Study: 80% of Gen Z purchases influenced by social media

Over 80% of the younger generation says social media influences their shopping behavior, particularly on mobile.

By Cara Salpini • July 17, 2017

Famous Footwear parent taps retail veteran for men's brands

Caleres has tapped Malcolm Robinson as president of the new division.

By Daphne Howland • July 17, 2017

Lowe’s develops ultra-realistic 3D

Lowe's Innovation Labs is among the most productive of retail innovation units, and its latest is a 3D scanning technology that delivers a more realistic shopping experience.

By Dan O'Shea • July 16, 2017

Bon-Ton Stores chases curated outfit craze

The retailer is launching weekly online events to showcase outfits curated by store stylists available for one-click purchasing.

By Dan O'Shea • July 16, 2017

Amazon Echo/Alexa chief departs after nearly 2 decades at the company

Mike George, who has been with the company since 1998, is stepping down just as the smart assistant and its devices begin to see explosive growth.

By Dan O'Shea • July 16, 2017

Walmart expands back-to-school efforts to grow digital sales

The retail giant says it's making it easier to tick things off the list by spending the least amount of time and money as possible, even if that means keeping shoppers online and out of stores. 

By Daphne Howland • July 14, 2017

Apple brings smart home experiences to stores

The company is priming customers with interactive demonstrations for the release later this year of its HomePod smart home hub.

By Dan O'Shea • July 12, 2017

Walmart Store No 8 launches VR developer competition

As virtual reality lingers as a tech more promising than practical, Walmart and other partners are looking to breathe life into new VR concepts.

By Dan O'Shea • July 12, 2017

Ace Hardware builds up 'helpful place' brand with one-trip store policy

The hardware retailer's new "Extra Mile Promise" guarantees free delivery of paint supplies if customers don't get what they need in their trip to the store.

By Daphne Howland • July 12, 2017

New tools from Salesforce to help retailers manage their field forces

As retailers increasingly put their own employees in the field to provide on-site support services for customers, Salesforce has come up with tools to help them.

By Dan O'Shea • July 12, 2017

Qubit revamps product discovery for mobile shoppers

The company has released a beta version of a platform intended to revitalize product discovery for shoppers who have grown weary of clunky mobile search.

By Dan O'Shea • July 11, 2017

Walmart leans on machine learning across all channels

The technology has become a key tool for Walmart, perhaps to a surprising degree for a brick-and-mortar giant, as it looks to improve customer experiences.

By Dan O'Shea • July 11, 2017

L’Oréal gets mobile AR makeover

The renewed partnership with Perfect Corp. follows a May smartphone promotion tied to the Cannes Film Festival.

By Robert Williams • July 11, 2017

Office Depot amplifies loyalty program, renews competition with Staples

The new loyalty program is based on research, including a year-long pilot in several markets.

By Daphne Howland • July 11, 2017

Target takes Toca Boca from app to exclusive kid's line

The licensing deal expands a move to "reimagine" the big-box retailer's stable of brands.

By Corinne Ruff • July 11, 2017

Retailers run Prime Day 'me too' sales

In key categories like toys and electronics — and especially online — Prime Day isn’t just an Amazon event. But is that the smartest play?

By Daphne Howland • July 11, 2017

Apple retail strategy rolls on with US remodels, India plans

Plans for two giant stores in India, and re-openings of remodeled, expanded stores prove that Apple's retail rethink is strong .

By Dan O'Shea • July 10, 2017

Finish Line bets on mobile to boost sales amid store strategy overhaul

The retailer's mobile loyalty app was a bright spot on its most recent quarterly performance, even as it continues to remodel some stores and close others.

By Dan O'Shea • July 9, 2017

Amazon developer series aims to expand Alexa skills

A traveling series of learning events for developers is the latest step in Amazon's ongoing push to expand its Alexa ecosystem.

By Dan O'Shea • July 9, 2017

Is this the Amazon Century?

The e-commerce giant's dominance is about much more than the Whole Foods takeover, writes Lee Peterson at WD Partners.

By Lee Peterson • July 7, 2017

West Elm taps Pinterest images for product recommendations

The West Elm Pinterest Style Finder aims to give the retailer's customers an easy way to shop using Pinterest board images as inspiration.

By Dan O'Shea • July 6, 2017