How retailers can protect themselves against cyber threats this holiday season

Retailers face a range of security threats, including point-of-sale issues, distributed denial-of-service attacks, inferior IT infrastructure and lax information security procedures. Here's how they can mitigate losses.

By Brian Dunphy • Nov. 30, 2016

EBay pop-up uses biometrics to ease gift-buying stress

A study from eBay and analytics firm Lightwave suggests the pressure of holiday shopping stress is akin to running a marathon, and that 60% of shoppers hit a "wall of disenchantment" after only about 32 minutes, feeling too fatigued to go on.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 29, 2016

Explore the Trendline➔

What's shaping the e-commerce landscape?

From pivots in digital strategies to challenges retailers must overcome with reverse logistics, here are some of the forces shaping online retail.

By Retail Dive staff

Shopping via mobile popular on Black Friday, paying by mobile definitely wasn't

Mobile payments were used for only 0.6% of in-store purchases nationwide, according to data from payments firm Cayan.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 29, 2016

Under Armour app tracks how much people ate — and exercised — on Thanksgiving Day

MyFitnessPal app users across the country burned more calories on Turkey Day than on an average non-holiday Thursday, the athletic gear retailer found.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 28, 2016

Dick's Sporting Goods' latest software acquisition is a GameChanger

The mobile scoring app gives users live updates on player performance and instant game recaps for 165,000 amateur baseball and softball teams.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 28, 2016

Forecast: Mobile payments to reach $314B by 2020, boosted by broad retail acceptance

Average annual spending per user employing proximity mobile payments is expected to increase from $721 this year to more than $1,230 next year, exceeding $4,133 by 2020, a new report suggests.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 27, 2016

Stripe raises more funding to pursue acquisitions, expansion

The startup surpasses a $9 billion valuation as it continues to chase PayPal, Square and other merchant payment platforms.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 27, 2016

Google Maps update steers shoppers during Black Friday traffic frenzy

The new Maps update is designed to help consumers more efficiently manage their time as they plan to visit stores, bars and other businesses likely to be crowded during the holiday season.  

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 23, 2016

Amazon reveals new partners, products in latest Dash Replenishment update

In addition to four new device manufacturer partners, Amazon announced new Dash-enabled products from Whirlpool and PUR.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 22, 2016

Lowe's, b8ta partner for smart home store-in-store program

The home improvement retailer is spotlighting its Iris home energy management line alongside more than 40 other products from companies like Amazon, Lutron, Nest and Ring.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 21, 2016

Chase Pay ready for download, comes to Best Buy, Starbucks

Support for the mobile payment application is slated to expand to retailers including ShopRite, The Fresh Grocer, Shell, Phillips 66 and Conoco.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 21, 2016

Google Shops set to roll out in Best Buy Canada locations

The stores-within-stores are designed to showcase consumer electronics like the Google Pixel smartphone and also intended to foster a community feeling.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 20, 2016

Lowe's promotes Black Friday deals via Facebook Live

The event, hosted by Drew and Jonathan Scott of the HGTV show "Property Brothers," revealed deals between comedy bits and interactions with viewers.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 20, 2016

EBay offers #GiftGoals guide to help with holiday shopping

The e-commerce marketplace is combining social media capabilities with practical advice for engaging friends and family in conversation to come up with holiday gift ideas mapped to 12 different personality types.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 17, 2016

Staples, Managed by Q partner to deliver more office services

The office supplies retailer will now connect customers in major U.S. cities to Managed by Q’s network of office services firms, including IT support staffers, cleaners, handymen and even workplace yoga instructors.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 17, 2016

Report: Google snaps up shopping search startup Undecidable Labs

The firm's online purchasing tool involves “a filtering system that takes 'nice to have' and 'ideal' into consideration” to make product searches more meaningful.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 16, 2016

Target enhances in-store order pickup program for holiday season

More than 90% of pick-up orders will be ready in an hour, up from last year thanks to program enhancements, team efforts and deployment of new technology. 

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 16, 2016

Wal-Mart denies urging workers not to download labor group app

The retail giant said that employees can decide for themselves whether to use WorkIt, but warned the advocacy app could pose privacy issues.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 16, 2016

Facebook testing multi-product retail ads in news feeds

The new ads use a primary image or video along with related product images underneath. Clicking brings up a second page with additional products, and another click leads to the retailer's website.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 15, 2016

EBay overhauls mobile shopping apps in sync with holidays

The digital marketplace has updated both its iOS and Android applications with new browsing capabilities, product viewing options and other features.  

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 15, 2016

How UPS stays steady in center of e-commerce shipping storm

Despite Amazon's shipping ambitions and myriad other forces driving market upheaval, UPS continues to invest in a future defined by e-commerce opportunities and obstacles.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 15, 2016

Samsung rolls out rewards program to Samsung Pay users

Enrollees earn points that may be redeemed for retailer gift cards, prepaid Samsung Rewards Visa gift cards, Samsung products and more.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 14, 2016

Sears, Activehours team to give Shop Your Way members, store associates paycheck advances

The mobile paycheck advance application allows rewards members and Sears and Kmart staffers to purchase products and services right when they need them.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 14, 2016

Wayfair expands virtual reality universe with IdeaSpace

The application, developed for Google’s new Daydream mobile VR platform, allows customers to shop a variety of virtual, custom-designed rooms.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 13, 2016

Citibank latest to unveil digital wallet with Citi Pay

Citi will launch online, in-app and in-store tap-and-pay capabilities in the U.S. in early 2017, with other markets to follow.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 13, 2016