Can multi-brand loyalty programs save American malls?

New loyalty programs have started to cover all stores at a single mall, incentivizing visits to a shopping destination in decline. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Sept. 16, 2015

Pinterest tells advertisers it's more search than social

With a 50-billion-pins database, the platform is looking for search revenues. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Sept. 16, 2015

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

How the Path-to-Purchase Funnel Became Obsolete

Leveraging the mobile device is becoming a necessary tactic for brands in their ability to interact with the customer on their path-to-purchase.

Sept. 15, 2015

Retailers among the first to test Facebook's 'immersive' mobile ads

Mr. Porter, Michael Kors, and others are taking advantage of the native functionalities offered by the social networking site. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Sept. 8, 2015

Report: Apple Pay driving growth in contactless payments

Mobile wallets with contactless payments will double in number by the end of 2016, Juniper Research says. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Sept. 8, 2015

Fashion start-ups pass on big retailers to rally demand

Thanks to crowdfunding platforms, smaller apparel makers are using on-demand strategies to sell limited-run items, foregoing the need for some retail partnerships. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Sept. 3, 2015

Amazon's Dash button getting a push, adding more brands

The retailer isn’t saying how many Dash buttons have been ordered so far, but is making them available to all Prime members, essentially for free.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 3, 2015

10 trends shaping the future of retail

The biggest challenges for retailers in 2015: New technologies, changing shopping habits, and the threat of disruptive competitors. 

By Kelsey Lindsey • Sept. 2, 2015

Neiman Marcus expands visual search function in app

The retailer's "Snap. Find. Shop" visual product search will help mobile users identify—and hopefully buy—items in more departments. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Sept. 2, 2015

Chrome to no longer support Flash ads

According to Google, the Flash replacement HTML5 offers better load speeds and lower battery consumption on mobile phones. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Sept. 1, 2015

Instagram adds to the square, rolls out horizontal and vertical formats

The move will likely enhance cross-platform campaigns in the photo-sharing app. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Aug. 31, 2015

Facebook's 'M' could bring voice-activated shopping to Messenger

The personal assistant, currently being tested in Facebook's Messenger app, could help accomplish tasks using human-trained AI. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Aug. 27, 2015

Women prefer to buy in-store, but digital gaining ground

74% of women surveyed said they use digital technologies to identify and research items before visiting a brick-and-mortar location to buy.

By Ian P. Murphy • Aug. 26, 2015

Top Amazon exec exits again, this time for Google

Jon McCormack spent a few weeks at Yahoo earlier this year, where his ideas to turn the company’s software unit around reportedly weren’t well received. But his return to Amazon didn't last long.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 25, 2015

How robots are ushering in a new era of retail customer service

While robots and technology may seem like a threat to human retail workers, their work could help free up employees to do what they do best. 

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 24, 2015

Retail analytics startup IntelligenceNODE raises $4M in funding

The analytics platform promises to streamline merchandising across channels. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Aug. 20, 2015

More companies look to chief data officers to help lead data efforts

57% of CIOs in the U.S. say that the amount of data they will need to manage is set to rise 33% in the next 12 months.

By Ian P. Murphy • Aug. 20, 2015

eTail East 2015: How data is changing the way retailers do business

As retailers continue to learn more about their customers through data, fundamental changes to their organizational structures and priorities could be needed. 

By Kelsey Lindsey • Aug. 13, 2015

Are hearables the tipping-point wearable device?

In-ear devices could soon be the portable Amazon Echo, allowing consumers to perform practically any shopping function with just a spoken request.

By Ian P. Murphy • Aug. 13, 2015

IPO filings reveal Neiman Marcus's omnichannel ambitions and strategy

The department store chain is focused on expanding its digital presence.

By Ian P. Murphy • Aug. 11, 2015

Target's print Vogue ads will be mobile friendly and shoppable

These images for Vogue’s all-important September issue do a world of good for Target — especially if they really work well on shoppers’ phones.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 11, 2015

IoT information at work in digital marketing

In a recent survey, more than half of executives say machine data is helping them target customers. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Aug. 10, 2015

The key to tight cybersecurity: Watch the vendors

In today's retail environment, retailers are really only as secure as their least secure vendor.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 6, 2015

Elizabeth Arden: Pinterest fails to create traction

The beauty brand quietly abandoned the platform, citing lack of engagement. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Aug. 6, 2015

Target testing beacons in 50 stores nationwide

TechCrunch reports that the system, limited to iPhones now but soon expanding to Android, could be in all stores by the holidays.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 6, 2015