Mobile Commerce

Deep Dive

The omnichannel age is here — and it's expensive

Store pickup of online orders grew by triple digits amid the pandemic. Retailers are now scrambling to become more efficient sellers across channels.

By Ben Unglesbee • April 05, 2021

Anthropologie unveils first digital-only catalog on Pinterest

The social media platform has seen 80% growth in engagement with shoppable items over the past year.

By Robert Williams • March 24, 2021

Perfect Corp, Mineral Fusion partner for virtual beauty try-on in Whole Foods

Using their smartphones, shoppers can scan QR codes on in-store displays to virtually test out the cosmetics. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • March 23, 2021

Afterpay shopping event to include physical retail for the first time

The installment payment platform has partnered with more brick-and-mortar retailers in pursuit of in-store transactions.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • March 22, 2021

Snap acquires sizing tech company Fit Analytics

The deal is the social media company's latest push to grow its e-commerce platform.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • March 18, 2021

Stripe reaches $95B valuation

The payments processing company's new valuation is based on raising $600 million in new capital that it plans to use for further expansion in Europe.

By Lynne Marek • March 16, 2021

Poshmark debuts listing videos feature to showcase sellers' items

Video appears to be a focus for the company after launching Posh Stories last spring.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • March 16, 2021

Chatbot startup Heyday raises $5.1M

Spending via chatbot is expected to reach over $140 billion by 2024 as the pandemic sped up the adoption of digital technology. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • March 15, 2021

Mobile wallet industry to reach $3.5 trillion by 2023: report

Western countries are behind in adopting the technology, but the pandemic accelerated the digital transformation of payments. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • March 12, 2021

Walmart returns to TikTok for beauty-focused shoppable livestream

The retailer's first livestream on the platform experienced seven times as many views as it had expected, and boosted its TikTok following by 25%.​

By Robert Williams • March 10, 2021

Best Buy Health, Apple partner on health tech tools for older consumers

The retailer is continuing its expansion into device-based emergency response tools and virtual care services to match doctors with patients.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • March 09, 2021

Ikea deals out digital card game on Instagram to fight domestic work inequality

FiftyFifty recognizes that women are doing up to three times as much unpaid care and domestic chores as men amid the pandemic.

By Peter Adams • March 09, 2021

Livestream shopping platform Whatnot raises $20M

Aiming to serve a niche, the company plans to expand into more collectible categories and emphasize the community element of collecting.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • March 08, 2021

Instagram launches Live Rooms in bid to expand livestreaming capabilities

Up to four people can livestream at once, and viewers can buy badges for hosts, as well as use other features such as Shopping and Live Fundraisers.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • March 03, 2021

Klarna raises $1B in funding, hits $31B valuation

The funding makes it the highest-valued private fintech in Europe and the second highest globally, according to the company. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • March 02, 2021

Fabletics releases fitness app

Like other activewear brands, the company is shifting its focus toward digital engagement and benefiting from the home workout trend.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • March 02, 2021

Study: 59% of US shoppers see Amazon Go as a threat to Walmart

A number of retailers are ramping up their cashierless payment systems as more tech companies offer the capability. 

By Catherine Douglas Moran • March 02, 2021

American Eagle creates AR shoppable jeans guide for Snapchat

With fewer customers shopping in-store, the retailer is leaning into social media experiences and its lingerie brand.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris and Cara Salpini • Feb. 26, 2021

Afterpay to offer installment payments to Stripe, Squarespace

The partnership comes as more consumers look to purchase goods online, and as many continue to reel from the financial impact of the pandemic.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Feb. 25, 2021

Walgreens expands same-day delivery with Instacart

Stores in Illinois will roll out the service Tuesday, and nearly 8,000 stores nationwide are slated to offer it in the coming weeks.

By Jeff Wells • Feb. 23, 2021

Klarna, Cosmopolitan co-host virtual shopping event

This year's "Hauliday" event features a new livestream shopping element following a period of growth for Klarna.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Feb. 23, 2021

Essie, ModiFace debut AR nail polish try-on tool

Unlike many virtual testing tools, Essie's does not require the customer to download an app to use it.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Feb. 22, 2021

BJ's Wholesale Club releases new app features

The retailer unveiled updates that make it easier for members to reorder products, clip digital coupons and access delivery and pickup options

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Feb. 22, 2021

Want a pandemic-friendly way to try on makeup? There's an AR solution for that.

Gone are the days where product testers are displayed in beauty aisles as more brands leverage the use of augmented reality.

By Maria Monteros • Feb. 17, 2021

Apple Pay to accept Bitcoin via BitPay cards

Samsung Pay and Google Pay will do the same later this year, as more retailers and their financial partners begin accepting cryptocurrency as payment.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Feb. 16, 2021