LoweBot is ready to roll at Lowe's stores

The home improvement chain will deploy the retail service robot at 11 stores throughout the San Francisco Bay area over the next seven months.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 30, 2016

Experian: Personalization hikes retail email open rates 27%

Targeting email subscribers based on their social media interests can yield high engagement, Experian Marketing Services notes.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 28, 2016

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

FAA's first drone rules now in effect

Officials still have not decided on rules for many commercial drone flight applications, such as automated package delivery outside of a pilot's line of sight.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 28, 2016

Staples adds back-to-school shopping help to iOS app

Parents can send a photo of their child's shopping list to a Staples associate, who fills their online cart for them.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 25, 2016

Amazon includes Chicago in brick-and-mortar bookstore plans

The store will be located in Southport Corridor, one of the city's most fashionable neighborhoods.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 25, 2016

Why more and more retailers are outsourcing their IT

In outsourcing, retailers can experiment with a multitude of technologies to reinvent their businesses for the omnichannel era.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 25, 2016

Global e-commerce logistics market rolling toward $781B by 2024

Among factors stirring market growth, the number of cross-border e-commerce websites is expected to continue to explode.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 24, 2016

Wayfair enters virtual reality fray with Patio Playground

The app allows a customer wearing an Oculus Rift headset to virtually navigate a lakeside scene and select different outdoor products to create their ideal backyard setting.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 23, 2016

Survey: 19% of consumers would avoid a retailer after security breach

Another 33% of consumers said they wouldn't shop at a breached retailer for at least three months out of fear their personal data could be compromised.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 23, 2016

Costco customers erroneously receive Citi account closure notices

Citi, which provides the Costco Visa card, reportedly sent emails by mistake containing the partial card numbers of other Costco customers.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 22, 2016

Amazon draws scrutiny over tech-related tax practices

Amazon is facing scrutiny for reportedly valuing its technology assets far higher in Europe to gain tax advantages.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 22, 2016

Amazon delivers Hyundai test drives to Prime members

The Prime Now, Drive Now on-demand test drive program spotlights the 2017 Hyundai Elantra.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 21, 2016

Dick's Sporting Goods buys Affinity for youth sports venture

The sports management software will bolster Dick's Team Sports HQ platform, which supports youth sports leagues with online registration and team/league websites among other services.  

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 21, 2016

Analyst: Retail job base shrinking due to online worker productivity

Because of e-commerce efficiency gains, there are about 1.2 million fewer retail jobs overall than there otherwise would be, an industry analyst suggests.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 18, 2016

Apple takes the 'store' out of retail locations

Apple is removing the word "store" from its retail locations as it looks to rebrand them as community spaces offering entertainment and special events, along with tech support.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 18, 2016

How flash sales sites are winning retail's mobile app wars

Upstarts like Groupon and Rue La La may have lost a chunk of their cultural cachet, but their mobile apps are still generating user attention — and retention.

By Jason Ankeny • Aug. 18, 2016

Led by Adidas, athleisure brands are generating a lot of social chatter

Engagement Labs' TotalSocial rankings of online and offline social conversations show athleisure brands are sparking a lot of online conversation and offline word-of-mouth.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 17, 2016

Amazon's LaunchPad pairs with Product Hunt for featured products

The online retail giant is forming a co-marketing partnership with tech enthusiast community Product Hunt to help drive sales on its startup e-marketplace.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 17, 2016

Ford plans self-driving cars for commercial applications like package delivery

The auto giant sees a near-term future for driverless cars in ride-hailing or parcel delivery — and the latter application could have a major impact on retail, if it comes to fruition. 

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 16, 2016

Census Bureau: E-commerce made up 8.1% of all retail sales in Q2

The U.S. Dept. of Commerce Census Bureau reported that e-commerce hit $97.3 billion in the second quarter.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 16, 2016

Report: Groupon, One Kings Lane top retail mobile app rankings

As consumers increasingly shop on mobile, sticky apps have become a sort of Holy Grail for retailers. 

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 15, 2016

Agile Network bolsters e-commerce supply chain with Ajillus acquisition

The deal comes as the retail supply chain is becoming increasingly complex, with the industry now offering an abundance of shipping pricing models and a rising number of delivery options.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 15, 2016

Visa alerts merchants on Oracle POS security breach

The alert includes a list of Internet addresses believed to have been used in the attack, a list Oracle itself has yet to release.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 14, 2016

Amazon tries selling through one-click Prime Video product placements

Amazon and entertainment company Yoshimoto Kogyo are filming a series about Japanese cuisine that will enable Amazon Prime Japan viewers to use their TV remotes to purchase featured products.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 14, 2016

Wal-Mart halts price matching in another 300 stores

Instead of identifying which stores or regions are impacted by the move, Wal-Mart is only announcing the pricing program change inside the stores affected, with blue signs at registers alerting shoppers.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 11, 2016