Starbucks enabling ordering via voice in Alexa-enabled Ford vehicles

The coffee colossus said it now has about 9 million mobile paying customers, with one in three of those using its Mobile Order & Pay app.

By Dan O'Shea • March 22, 2017

Instagram expands shoppability after promising test

Facebook’s image-sharing unit is making social media an even more important tool for retail marketers.

By Daphne Howland • March 22, 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

Target's 'reimagined' store reinforces confidence in grocery business

The company’s redesign includes more grab-and-go foods, an enhanced produce section and pickup options for online orders. 

By Jeff Wells • March 22, 2017

Foursquare Analytics aims to help stores understand foot traffic

The platform, which puts data from a company’s location-based services into a dashboard format, helps break down foot traffic patterns at the store level.

By Dan O'Shea • March 21, 2017

Williams-Sonoma unveils augmented reality app for Pottery Barn brands

For now, the smartphone app's 3D Room View tool focuses on the living room, but the home decor retailer will add additional spaces later this year.

By Dan O'Shea • March 21, 2017

Costco goes to court to keep its golf ball in play

The warehouse retailer has filed a lawsuit against golf equipment company Acushnet for alleging that its Costco’s Kirkland Signature golf ball infringes on patents and promotes false advertising.

By Daphne Howland • March 21, 2017

Charlotte Russe fashion app speeds past 1M downloads

Since launching eight months ago, the fast-fashion retailer said its native app has hit a major milestone.

By Dan O'Shea • March 21, 2017

Adidas tries on in-store custom-knit sweater technology

The athletic apparel maker is testing “Knit For You,” an automated process that lets shoppers design a sweater and have it created on the spot.

By Dan O'Shea • March 21, 2017

Target's Victoria Beckham collection will include plus sizes in stores

The limited-edition collaboration, launching next month, represents Beckham’s first mass market effort and promises to eclipse the shopper fervor stoked by the retailer’s Lilly Pulitzer effort two years ago.

By Daphne Howland • March 17, 2017

Survey: 83% of shoppers think they know more than store associates

Almost half of consumers surveyed by Tulip Retail said they would be encouraged to shop in stores if knowledgeable associates could suggest products based on their purchase histories.

By Dan O'Shea • March 16, 2017

Adidas ditching TV ads to reach Generation Z on mobile

The sports apparel brand took back its number two spot behind Nike last year, and its plans for the future are ambitious — and focused squarely on digital.

By Daphne Howland • March 16, 2017

How E.L.F. Cosmetics builds community and drives results with micro-influencers

An in-person event fostered relationships among 50 of the beauty brand's best social media fans while supporting its goals around reach, authenticity and branding.

By Chantal Tode • March 15, 2017

CVS Health dedicates $10M to expand tobacco-free effort

New collaborations and programs will roll out throughout this year, emphasizing anti-smoking education, tobacco-control advocacy and healthy behavior programming. 

By Daphne Howland • March 14, 2017

Report: TJ Maxx's 'brand value' soars 79%

The off-price retailer was recognized as a highly valuable global retail brand thanks to its reputation for "exceptional value," according to a report by brand business valuation and strategy consultancy Brand Finance. 

By Daphne Howland • March 14, 2017

10 Items or Less: How FX and Costco make retail marketing weird and wonderful

Each week, Retail Dive Editor Jason Ankeny weighs in on the industry headlines and trends capturing his attention. This time around: sadcoms, speed and Sears.

By Jason Ankeny • March 14, 2017

Survey: Consumers want more integration between in-store, mobile capabilities

About 43% of consumers are receptive to personalized prices based on their shopping patterns, and 39% would visit a mall or shopping center more often if they received alerts about products they are interested in purchasing.

By Dan O'Shea • March 13, 2017

Sephora again makes over Virtual Artist augmented reality app

New features include eyeshadow virtual try-on, an Expert Looks preview and virtual tutorials for brows, contouring and highlighting.

By Dan O'Shea • March 13, 2017

Walgreens fills chief marketing, merchandising vacancies

Adam Holyk and Joe Hartsig will take over for outgoing executive Linda Filler as the drugstore chain awaits word on its planned merger with rival Rite Aid.

By Daphne Howland • March 13, 2017

Best Buy denies FBI, Geek Squad techs worked together without warrants

"We have not been trained by the FBI nor have we ever shared customer lists, conducted surveillance or searched customer computers for them," the electronics retailer maintains.

By Daphne Howland • March 13, 2017

Target ups data analytics game through series of 'acqui-hire' deals

"Acqui-hires allow us to accelerate both onboarding the right kind of talent, onboarding the right kind of technologies and getting to market much faster," said Target Senior Vice President Paritosh Desai.

By Dan O'Shea • March 12, 2017

Snap opens pop-up Spectacles shop in LA

This marks the second physical store to sell the hardware following the closing of the first, New York-based location on Feb. 20, and comes just one week after Snap's IPO.  

By David Kirkpatrick • March 10, 2017

Amazon to offer shopping in Spanish

The e-commerce giant’s move to reach Spanish-speaking and bilingual shoppers is a challenge to Target, which has focused several past marketing efforts on reaching Hispanic shoppers.

By Daphne Howland • March 10, 2017

eBay, Google demo ShopBot appraisal feature for Google Home users

The digital concierge service is capable of telling users how much various items in their possession may be worth.

By Dan O'Shea • March 9, 2017

Wal-Mart testing in-store touchscreens in challenge to Amazon

The interactive kiosks on trial at some Texas stores help toy shoppers identify what they might want, or order a specific item they can’t locate on shelves.

By Daphne Howland • March 9, 2017

Instacart adds $400M in Series D, plans expansion to 25 new markets

The funding vaults the estimated total value of the grocery shopping and delivery startup to $3.4 billion, up from $2 billion in its previous round.

By Dan O'Shea • March 8, 2017