How the future of fit could spell the end of retail returns

Merchandise returns accounted for more than $260 billion in lost sales last year. But new apparel and footwear fit technology, size-shifting robots and data analysis tools are changing the equation.

By Lara Ewen • July 7, 2016

J.C. Penney offshores some IT jobs, but plans to beef up tech effort

Some IT jobs at the retailer's Plano, TX headquarters that have been filled by contract employees likely will be cut and offshored to its new Bangalore, India office.

By Dan O'Shea • July 6, 2016

Explore the Trendline➔

How retailers are deploying in-store technology

Payment systems, self-checkout stations and home visualization tech are just a few of the areas getting attention from retailers as they rethink the store experience.

By Retail Dive staff

Sephora adds features, tutorials to Virtual Artist app

The beauty retailer continues to aggressively leverage new technologies to deliver an e-commerce impact.

By Dan O'Shea • July 6, 2016

Wal-Mart ramping up e-commerce strategy via marketplace

Walmart.com is planning to add a million products per month, primarily by expanding its third-party marketplace effort.

By Dan O'Shea • July 5, 2016

Facebook: 11,000 chatbots developed for Messenger app

Retailers and other businesses are turning to Facebook Messenger chatbots to improve customer service and drive sales.

By Dan O'Shea • July 5, 2016

Alibaba launches new system to combat counterfeits

The company has been under increasing pressure from brands as well as U.S. and Chinese regulators to curtail the volume of fake goods sold on its marketplaces.

By Daphne Howland • July 5, 2016

Honeywell buys into warehouse automation with $1.5b Intelligrated deal

Intelligrated serves customers including Amazon, United Parcel Service and Nordstrom.

By Dan O'Shea • July 4, 2016

UPDATE: Wal-Mart Pay now available nationwide

More than 20 million shoppers use the QR code-based Walmart Pay application each month.

By Dan O'Shea • July 4, 2016

Court rejects Visa, MasterCard swipe-fee settlement with retailers

The NRF applauded the move, saying the deal "failed to represent the interests of retailers."

By Dan O'Shea • June 30, 2016

UPS expanding locker pickup to 300 new locations

UPS's Smart Locker program offers an alternative package pickup location to e-commerce shoppers who live in residences where front-door delivery is not possible.

By Dan O'Shea • June 30, 2016

Why Apple Pay's move online means more drama in the payments space

Apple Pay's push into online transactions means facing a crowded payments segment at a key point in its evolution.

By Dan O'Shea • June 30, 2016

Visa accuses Wal-Mart of reconfiguring payment terminals

In a counterclaim to Wal-Mart's lawsuit over debit card security, Visa alleges that the retailer surreptitiously altered point-of-sale terminals to accept only PIN-based transactions.

By Dan O'Shea • June 29, 2016

Wal-Mart expands two-day shipping nationwide, offers free trial

Following a limited rollout, Wal-Mart's ShippingPass is launching across the U.S. just weeks before rival Amazon holds its next Prime Day sale event.

By Dan O'Shea • June 29, 2016

Report: Amazon Prime Day deals pale compared to Black Friday offers

Amazon Prime Day prices last summer were higher on average than during the company's Black Friday sales event.

By Dan O'Shea • June 28, 2016

Pinterest adds shopping cart, visual search in e-commerce push

About 30% of people who shop on Pinterest use search capabilities to find products of interest, while another 50% discover items through related pins or the site's homepage.

By Dan O'Shea • June 28, 2016

Kroger sues Visa over debit card policies

Kroger alleges that Visa's debit card fees and policies are threatening the retailer's livelihood and making it difficult to accept Visa cards at its stores.

By Dan O'Shea • June 27, 2016

Forever 21 loses shipping partner amid slowing business

EZ Worldwide Express claims it can't continue to support Forever 21 due to the fast fashion retailer's slowing business.

By Dan O'Shea • June 27, 2016

UPDATE: Amazon adds 50 brands to Dash buttons despite slow adoption

Dash buttons appear to have limited staying power with consumers: Fewer than half who bought a button since the March 2015 launch still use them to replenish goods.

By Daphne Howland • June 27, 2016

E-commerce growth driving investors to REITs

As e-commerce firms require more space for logistics and fulfillment, mutual funds are moving money into real estate investment trusts that own warehouse space.

By Dan O'Shea • June 26, 2016

Report: Brexit could put Amazon's U.K. growth on ice

Some market observers believe that the U.K. leaving the European Union will complicate expansion plans announced by Amazon earlier this year.

By Dan O'Shea • June 26, 2016

IBM and Apple sign Boots for Sales Assist app

IBM and Apple put their iPad-based sales assistance app into 2,300 Boots stores.

By Dan O'Shea • June 23, 2016

Pinterest bags Tote for social media merchandising strategy

Pinterest acquires the talent behind the Tote m-commerce app as it continues to push toward new forms of social media monetization.

By Dan O'Shea • June 23, 2016

American Express eases fraud liability for non-EMV merchants

American Express joins Visa in blocking counterfeit fraud charges under $25 for merchants that have not yet made the transition to EMV payment terminals.

By Dan O'Shea • June 23, 2016

Localytics CEO: 'Retail is in a mobile engagement crisis'

Mobile is revolutionizing how consumers shop, but retailers are struggling to capitalize on the enormous opportunities the platform offers. Their missteps could alienate loyal customers, says Localytics chief Raj Aggarwal.

By Jason Ankeny • June 22, 2016

How the fractured customer journey is decimating the value of your marketing dollars

If you cannot see a single customer from a unified point of view, you won't know when that customer is ready to make a purchase, writes Revmatrix's Hemang Gadhia. 

By Hemang Gadhia • June 22, 2016