Google Home voice shopping to add local product inventory info

Consumers may soon query Google Home devices to determine whether items are available nearby, receiving responses complete with details like sizes and price as well as store hours and travel directions.

By Jason Ankeny • March 21, 2017

Wal-Mart launches retail technology startup incubator Store No. 8

At Shoptalk 2017, Marc Lore, head of Wal-Mart’s U.S. e-commerce unit, said the Silicon Valley-based initiative will help build “startups that have a responsibility to change the course of retail.” 

By Jason Ankeny • March 21, 2017

Explore the Trendline➔

How artificial intelligence is shaping retail

More retailers are leaning on AI as a tool, tapping into the tech to improve customer service and support supply chain functions.

By Retail Dive staff

10 Items or Less: How sluggish mobile apps are killing retailers in a matter of seconds

Each week, Retail Dive Editor Jason Ankeny weighs in on the industry headlines and trends capturing his attention. This time around: Speed, sunglasses and Spice Girls.

By Jason Ankeny • 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

Report: Digital commerce surges on mobile growth

Digital commerce grew 19% year-over-year in the fourth quarter, with mobile accounting for 52% of all shopping traffic and 30% of all orders, according to the Salesforce Shopping Index.

By Dan O'Shea • March 20, 2017

Calvin Klein owner PVH to acquire lingerie startup True & Co.

Like many pure-play e-commerce startups, True & Co. attracted attention from shoppers and investors, but that didn’t necessarily translate to profits.

By Daphne Howland • March 20, 2017

Study: Consumer adoption of major mobile payment apps stalls

A new study from PYMNTS and InfoScout warns that consumers who have the apps aren't using them when presented with the option.

By Dan O'Shea • March 19, 2017

Wal-Mart lands patent for in-store drones

The retail giant's patented system would have drones deliver merchandise between departments in its stores.

By Dan O'Shea • March 19, 2017

Amazon’s ‘Outfit Compare’ mobile feature tells users what to wear

The new mobile feature allows Prime members to share photos of themselves in different outfits and get advice from Amazon stylists.

By Dan O'Shea • March 19, 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

Amazon brings Alexa to its Apple iOS mobile app

Users will be able to tap the microphone icon to shop by voice and will have access to most of the virtual assistant's other search functions and skills as well.

By Dan O'Shea • March 16, 2017

Instacart's 'grocery nerd' talks about how to make e-commerce work

The web-based grocery service's Nilam Ganenthiran discusses how his company — and everyone in the space — can use technology to drive better sales and customer satisfaction.

By Keith Loria • March 16, 2017

Jo-Ann Fabric uses in-store Wi-Fi data to fuel targeted ad efforts

In recent months, the crafts chain also leveraged the Wi-Fi coverage in its 850 stores to create and run a successful targeted ad campaign on Facebook.

By Dan O'Shea • March 15, 2017

Visa may see bright future in pay-by-sunglasses concept

The prototype Ray-Bans integrate a payment-enabled chip to allow users to pay by tapping the eyewear on a Visa near-field communications payment terminal.

By Dan O'Shea • March 14, 2017

Bringg brings in $10M to further fund delivery management aims

The startup helps retailers, consumer products firms and others streamline their delivery ecosystem and last-mile efforts.

By Dan O'Shea • 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

RILA, Accenture launch tech innovation center

The initiative, which aims to bridge the gap between retailers and startups, includes an advisory council bringing together executives from Best Buy, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Lowe’s, Target, Walgreens, Westfield and Foot Locker.

By Corinne Ruff • March 13, 2017

Report: Amazon's Alexa on track to be $10B 'mega-hit' by 2020

Amazon is on track to sell 60 million Alexa devices by 2020, which would rake in roughly $5 billion, according to a note from investment bank RBC Capital Markets.

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

Adidas aims to open fitness app efforts to third-party partnerships

The sportswear brand is consolidating its digital efforts under the Runtastic platform banner and shutting down its miCoach platform of health and fitness products.

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

Study: 70% of retailers planning IoT investments

By 2021, nearly 80% of retailers will be able to customize in-store experiences by leveraging location technology that tells them when specific customers are in their brick-and-mortar sites.

By Dan O'Shea • March 9, 2017