'Disturbingly slow' e-commerce site load times turning away shoppers

An evaluation of 80 retailers showed One Kings Lane received the lowest score for site speed, and average load times were nowhere near the threshold at which customers tend to give up and visit other websites.

By Dan O'Shea • June 30, 2017

The latest UPS innovation to hit the road? A golf cart

A new law in Kentucky posits that if packages can arrive by flying drone, then why not by golf cart? 

By Dan O'Shea • June 29, 2017

Explore the Trendline➔

Digital innovation and technology trends in retail

Generative AI and TikTok Shop have replaced the metaverse and NFTs as the hot topics of the day — here’s a look at how brands are using them.

By Retail Dive staff

Carhartt adopts ‘Shop for Others’ for better gift recommendations

Carhartt is the first company to use a new feature from True Fit that improves recommendations when buying for others. 

By Dan O'Shea • June 29, 2017

Walmart celebrates 'Academy' graduates in revamped training effort

Walmart has plans for 200 "Walmart Academies" to be running revamped training nationwide by the end of the year.

By Daphne Howland • June 29, 2017

Nordstrom's latest pop-up stores will feature tech products

Next week, Pop-In@Nordstrom turns toward tech, with dedicated shops featuring 125 products in the home, fitness, health, travel, accessories and pet care categories.

By Dan O'Shea • June 28, 2017

Discount Drug Mart putting holographic kiosks in its stores

3D Savings Center kiosks are coming to the drug store retail chain courtesy of Provision Interactive Technologies.

By Dan O'Shea • June 28, 2017

Best Buy unveils Google Home, Amazon Echo smart home displays

In another move to become a dominant smart home player, the electronics retailer is rolling out new in-store displays touting smart assistant integration with connected home products.

By Dan O'Shea • June 28, 2017

Tommy Hilfiger adds chatbot to autoplay video ads

The clothing brand's TMY.GRL bot invites viewers in Facebook Messenger to engage directly over the on-screen action.

By Robert Williams • June 28, 2017

Facebook rolls out product video ads as mobile shopping’s ascent continues

Made.com is an early adopter of the video dynamic ads, while Airbnb and Netflix are leveraging new household targeting capabilities. 

By David Kirkpatrick • June 28, 2017

Study: How in-store, online shopping complement one another

Results of a massive new study gives retailers every reason to invest in omnichannel strategies that emphasize the store experience. 

By Dan O'Shea • June 27, 2017

Target opens next-day delivery pilot to Minneapolis shoppers

After a brief month and a half trial period with employees, the big-box retailer is rolling out its household essential delivery service in what is seen as a challenge to Amazon's Prime Pantry program.

By Dan O'Shea • June 27, 2017

More than 20% of Walgreens mobile app users are 55 or older

Mobile shopping apps generally don't draw usage from older consumers, except for Walgreens.

By Dan O'Shea • June 27, 2017

Mastercard offering merchants new payment tools

As electronic payment capabilities diversify, Mastercard is rolling out solutions that will help its merchant customers more quickly support new payment options on platforms.

By Dan O'Shea • June 27, 2017

Survey: Retailers struggle to keep up with demand for hyperlocal delivery

The age of Amazon Prime has retailers bringing faster options and greater flexibility to delivery, but new data show they're not doing it fast enough.

By Dan O'Shea • June 26, 2017

E-commerce startup ThredUP launches 'smart' brick-and-mortar store

The secondhand seller is using consumer data to personalize the shopping experience at its first store.

By Corinne Ruff, Dan O'Shea • June 26, 2017

The emerging portrait of Gen Z

Expect a change of direction as the world’s next most influential consumers — who combine technological prowess with an old-school mindset — grow up.  

By Laura Klepacki • June 26, 2017

Survey: Big data, predictive analytics top investment priorities

Retail professionals need to draw insights from massive amounts of collected data, making these technologies an area of major investment in the years to come.

By Dan O'Shea • June 25, 2017

Amazon files patent for drone delivery 'beehive' fulfillment center

Following up on its patent for fulfillment blimps, Amazon has filed to patent another crazy idea — a vertical fulfillment center to support drone delivery in urban settings.

By Dan O'Shea • June 25, 2017

Venmo reportedly testing physical debit card

The popular peer-to-peer payment unit isn't likely to stand still against a potential competitive threat from Apple Pay.

By Dan O'Shea • June 25, 2017

Marc Jacobs’ 6-hour Uber promotion drove 61M impressions

An experimental campaign for the brand's Daisy fragrance resulted in about 200 trips for a flower-filled car. 

By Robert Williams • June 23, 2017

China’s JD.com invests $397M in Farfetch

The U.K. luxury marketplace just got a big boost in China and across Asia.

By Dan O'Shea • June 22, 2017

Amazon's Echo Show can now watch over smart homes

Amazon's Echo Show may play a much large role in smart home security applications with the new ability to connect to smart cameras around a household.

By Dan O'Shea • June 22, 2017

Juniper: Retailers headed for $71B in e-commerce fraud losses

Numerous factors, including the growing popularity of click-and-collect programs, will expand retailers' card-not-present fraud losses over the next five years, according to the research firm.

By Dan O'Shea • June 22, 2017

Pinterest tweaks Lens feature for smarts and style

Over the last month, the social media platform has doubled the number of categories the mobile technology has been trained to recognize.

By Daphne Howland • June 22, 2017

6 ways the Amazon-Whole Foods deal could impact the grocery industry

Analysts say retailers can expect more pricing pressure, consolidation and higher consumer expectations for online shopping and delivery.  

By Jeff Wells • June 22, 2017