Are robots the next step in the same-day delivery rush?

Entrepreneur Louis Borders hopes to pioneer robot-powered fulfillment. But his latest venture sounds a lot like another retailer we know.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 6, 2015

Advertising on Instagram just got easier thanks to new API

The move will automate campaign planning and open the platform to smaller advertisers. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Aug. 5, 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

Lowe's moves into Manhattan with high-tech stores

Window displays at the new Chelsea location feature live-animated Vine tutorial videos to help customers with various household tasks. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Aug. 4, 2015

Instagram click-to-buy feature on the way

The Facebook unit will introduce new ad formats in the months ahead, according to an investors' call last week. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Aug. 3, 2015

Yahoo buys social shopping site Polyvore

Flush with cash after Alibaba’s IPO last year, Yahoo is looking to buy its way out of some of the doldrums it finds itself in.  

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 3, 2015

Everlane debuts new app featuring one-click buying

The app was developed after the online retailer noticed that plenty of shoppers were browsing on its mobile website, but not converting. 

By Ian P. Murphy • July 31, 2015

Shopify beats estimates in first quarter

The storefront software firm saw growth in both client base and revenues. 

By Ian P. Murphy • July 31, 2015

CVS taps IBM's Watson for medical care and prevention

Putting the super computer in stores is a major milestone in CVS’s pivot to become a formidable healthcare service center. 

By Daphne Howland • July 31, 2015

Costco, dollar stores see more visits, sales than other retailers

A new attribution-measurement system found that shoppers spend 149% more money at Costco than the “average retailer.”

By Daphne Howland • July 30, 2015

Yozio raises $7M to beef up in-app attribution

The company is helping retailers track and source click-throughs, downloads, and sales in mobile apps. 

By Ian P. Murphy • July 29, 2015

As deadline looms, businesses still slow to prepare for EMV transition

58% of the companies surveyed say they are actively preparing for the EMV technology transition, while 55% would like to see the deadline postponed.

By Ian P. Murphy • July 28, 2015

Smartphones aid back-to-school shopping: study

Even bargain-hunters still buy most items in stores, however.

By Ian P. Murphy • July 27, 2015

Square said to be privately preparing IPO

The Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act allows businesses like Square that have reported less than $1 billion in revenue to privately work out the details of an IPO with the SEC.

By Daphne Howland • July 27, 2015

New measure tests retailers' web and mobile performance

Dynatrace tests site speeds in a variety of online environments. 

By Ian P. Murphy • July 24, 2015

Where will payment hackers go post-EMV?

One benefit of more secure credit cards will be less fraud at POS systems. But hackers aren't just going to quit, and there will be a whole new problem to solve on the security front.

By Daphne Howland • July 23, 2015

Forever 21 creates fabric mosaics from Instagram photos

Retailer teams with Brooklyn's Breakfast for massive thread screen. 

By Ian P. Murphy • July 23, 2015

Square launches real-time sales tracking app

Data and patterns are key to making business decisions and staying nimble. But the real challenge might be how to utilize the data once retailers have it. 

By Daphne Howland • July 23, 2015

RetailMeNot partners with Placed to provide enhanced marketing analytics

The new partnership between the promotions platform and Placed will provide marketers with further attribution information.

By Ian P. Murphy • July 20, 2015

StellaService scores $15M in venture capital

The customer service rating firm is growing fast. 

By Ian P. Murphy • July 17, 2015

Personal-shopper platform Scratch gets $3.6M in funding

The e-commerce app offers users shopping recommendations from live experts. 

By Ian P. Murphy • July 17, 2015

Google adds 'buy' function to mobile search ads

The feature, dubbed Purchases on Google, will help streamline mobile conversion and checkout. 

By Ian P. Murphy • July 16, 2015

Birchbox to deliver VR experience to male subscribers

The virtual reality selections included in each box will contain a Google Cardboard viewer and videos.  

By Ian P. Murphy • July 16, 2015

Apple Pay gets ho-hum reception in the UK

Contactless payments are old news in the United Kingdom, and on Apple Pay’s debut, British users took to social media to express their opinions. 

By Daphne Howland • July 15, 2015

Rakuten buys virtual fitting room company Fits.Me

Fits.Me offers 'robot mannequins' to help shoppers visualize how apparel items might fit. 

By Ian P. Murphy • July 14, 2015

UPDATE: eBay to sell eBay Enterprise for $925M

The news comes as eBay prepares for its imminent split from PayPal.

By Daphne Howland • July 13, 2015