US e-commerce sales growth projected to continue in 2021: report

Apparel, a category especially hard hit last year, is expected to have digital sales rise 18.9% once the pandemic subsides, eMarketer found.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • May 3, 2021

The coming retail renaissance

To excel, retailers must look to new technologies to enliven experiences and compete for the future beyond the pandemic, beyond shiny objects and act now to survive and thrive. 

By Brian Solis, Lumen • May 3, 2021

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

Shopify revenue rises with increased online sales, e-commerce boom

The company expects online sales to subside as the economy opens up, but anticipates business will continue growing this year. 

By Vaidik Trivedi • April 29, 2021

Algorithms vs. humans: Who’s better at predicting fashion trends?

These days data is plentiful, useful and fast. But some in the industry warn that old fashioned merchants are undervalued at a crucial time.

By Daphne Howland • April 29, 2021

Luxury accessories club Vivrelle raises $26M

The platform, which gives members access to a shared closet, plans to scale its operations as interest in circular fashion grows. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • April 28, 2021

Livestreaming popularity expected to grow in 2021: Coresight Research

Already a billion-dollar industry in China, the firm identifies live e-commerce as a trend to watch in the U.S. this year.

By Maria Monteros • April 28, 2021

Gopuff hires Amazon's VP of global logistics

Tim Collins, who spent more than 20 years at the e-tailer, will become Gopuff's senior vice president of operations and oversee its supply chain, customer service, real estate and launch teams.

By Jeff Wells • April 27, 2021

Madewell debuts mobile app

The apparel retailer moved to develop a frictionless shopping experience after seeing a dramatic increase in mobile traffic during the pandemic. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • April 27, 2021

Amazon's in-garage grocery delivery expands nationwide

After launching in five cities last November, the service is coming to all of the markets where Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods deliver.

By Catherine Douglas Moran , Jeff Wells • April 27, 2021

Tractor Supply app exceeds 1M downloads

Less than a year after its conception, the mobile app is becoming a key driver of the retailer's digital sales as customers demand contactless fulfillment options. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • April 26, 2021

Amazon lets advertisers send targeted messages for first time

The e-commerce giant is testing a tool that lets marketers reach consumers in their inboxes with details about new products and promotions.

By Robert Williams • April 26, 2021

How the pandemic changed retail supply chains

As the global health crisis sent e-commerce orders surging, retailers scrambled to adapt their operations to serve a more digital era.

By Cara Salpini • April 26, 2021

The consumer experience: From touch points to trust points

The consumer experience is rapidly evolving from a transactional process focused simply on buying to a model built on deep, enriching relationships at every step of the journey.

April 26, 2021

Square unveils inventory management features

The pandemic has been especially disruptive to inventory management — for small and large companies alike. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • April 23, 2021

Bed Bath & Beyond revamps supply chain with a tech stack and 4 warehouses

Regional distribution centers are the first step in cutting down store replenishment time from 35 days to under 10 days, the COO said.

By Shefali Kapadia • April 23, 2021

Florida is the latest state to create e-commerce tax

After the Supreme Court opened the door for online sales tax collection, most states have passed laws that do just that. 

By Ben Unglesbee • April 22, 2021

Affirm to acquire returns startup Returnly for $300M

The acquisition follows a surge in returns last year, particularly for online purchases.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • April 22, 2021

Amazon One palm payment tool expands to East Coast

The payment option is now available at the Madison Broadway store in Seattle and will roll out to seven more nearby locations in the coming months.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • Updated May 10, 2021

Amazon launches hair salon to test AR, point-and-learn tech

Offering hair care and styling services while testing in-store technology, the concept will debut in a two-story shop in London's Spitalfields district.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • April 21, 2021

Camping World brings on Ulta, Walmart vets

The retailer hired Elizabeth Garry and Jessica Wegner to focus on omnichannel growth and manage customer acquisition and retention, respectively.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • April 20, 2021

International players flock to US as consumers warm to buy now, pay later

European and Australian companies that dominate the BNPL marketplace are taking on U.S. rivals.

By Suman Bhattacharyya • April 20, 2021

Brands could lose fickle Gen Zers over poor digital experiences, survey finds

Eighty percent of younger consumers said they're more willing to try new brands online since the pandemic began. 

By Robert Williams • April 16, 2021

Walmart invests in autonomous vehicle startup Cruise

The venture will help the retailer's goals of developing a last-mile delivery system that's fast, low-cost and scalable. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • April 16, 2021

Gucci tops the list of most popular luxury brands online, study says

The popularity of high-end brands in 2020 was impacted by the same trends the rest of the industry saw, with loungewear and home collections critical.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • April 16, 2021

GreyOrange, Tompkins Robotics team up on 'zero walk' fulfillment

As retail companies try to keep up with rising e-commerce sales and increased operations, many are investing heavily in automation.

By Matt Leonard • April 15, 2021