US retail sales see surprise drop as consumers remain wary

Although employment has been steady or improving, incomes still must rise for Americans to widen their wallets.

By Daphne Howland • April 13, 2016

J.C. Penney launches Boutique+ plus-size lifestyle brand

"Project Runway" winner Ashley Nell Tipton, the first plus-size designer to top the TV competition, will create capsule collections for the fall and holiday seasons along with a full spring collection.

By Daphne Howland • April 13, 2016

Explore the Trendline➔

How artificial intelligence is shaping retail

More retailers are leaning on AI as a tool, tapping into the tech to improve customer service and support supply chain functions.

By Retail Dive staff

Lands' End re-introduces more youthful Canvas brand

The collection looks to attract a younger and more stylish Lands' End customer.

By Daphne Howland • April 11, 2016

From phone to store, the entire customer experience is the key

In an omni-channel world, retailers need to meet customer expectations across all platforms. Here's how they can do it.

By Ian P. Murphy • April 6, 2016

UPDATE: Pacific Sunwear files for bankruptcy

The teen retailer has been struggling, finding it difficult to meet competition as inexpensive, on-trend fast-fashion retail has grown.

By Daphne Howland • April 6, 2016

How gender-targeted marketing is hurting toy retail

Experts say that store shelves separating toys for boys from those for girls limit children's imaginations—and retailer revenues.

By Jason Ankeny • April 4, 2016

Mobile helps apparel reach top digital sales category in 2015

Mobile now accounts for 60% of time spent shopping online, but just 16% of all retail dollars spent.

By Daphne Howland • April 4, 2016

MasterCard: 67% of branded credit cards now feature EMV chips

About 1.2 million merchant locations nationwide now accept EMV-enabled payments, a 121% increase since October. 

By Jason Ankeny • April 1, 2016

Retail Therapy: The 'Beyhive' cometh for Lululemon

When Lululemon threw shade at Beyoncé's new athleisure line, Beyoncé fans were not amused.

By Kelsey Lindsey • April 1, 2016

Behind Amazon's bet on private label fashion

Amazon Fashion may not be cool yet, but the company is betting that millennials will be more concerned with looks and price than labels and logos—and it’s doubling down on this future of fashion.

By Lara Ewen • March 30, 2016

Lululemon testing fashion for outside the yoga studio

Some of its new apparel seems a lot like Kit and Ace, the performance fashion retailer launched by Lululemon founder and former-CEO Chip Wilson’s family.

By Daphne Howland • March 30, 2016

Spending muted in February as cautious Americans save more

Wage stagnation and timid spending has been the story for a while now, and American consumers are, apparently, sticking to it.

By Daphne Howland • March 28, 2016

Report: Mobile now dominates Chinese e-commerce

Almost two-thirds of Chinese e-commerce sales in Q4 2015 originated on mobile devices.

By Ian P. Murphy • March 27, 2016

Adobe opens tech-centric 'Store of the Future'

The prototype store features beacons, RFID chips, and an IoT-enabled shopping bag. 

By Ian P. Murphy • March 23, 2016

Target's Food + Future Lab testing new labeling, scanning options

The project changes up grocery display by boldly and clearly listing food ingredients on the front of packages.

By Daphne Howland • March 23, 2016

Todd Snyder to open first US store after American Eagle acquisition

The acquisition of Todd Snyder could help teen retailer American Eagle expand its customer base to more stylish (and wealthier) older men. 

By Daphne Howland • March 22, 2016

Survey: Spring fever driving shoppers to brick-and-mortar stores

Most consumers will be using their phones to check prices and shop ahead, and many plan to take advantage of “click and collect” services.

By Daphne Howland • March 22, 2016

Shoppers still want skinny jeans, and that's a problem for retailers

Apparel retailers selling jeans are eager for a new trend—but despite fashion gurus who say skinny jeans are out, consumers are hanging on to them.

By Daphne Howland • March 17, 2016

Los Angeles luxury malls getting makeovers to lure consumers

L.A.'s Beverly Center and Westfield Century City are set for massive renovations to maintain their commercial viability.

By Ian P. Murphy • March 16, 2016

FTC brings action against Lord & Taylor over deceptive ads

Legislators say the department store chain flouted disclosure regulations in promoting its Design Lab line. 

By Ian P. Murphy • March 16, 2016

NRF: Retail sales growth slows to near-standstill

Consumers didn’t readily fling open their wallets in Februrary, but the NRF is sanguine about the rest of the year.

By Daphne Howland • March 16, 2016

How Sports Authority went bankrupt—and who could be next to fall

Why did one of the country’s biggest sporting goods retailers fail?

By Lara Ewen • March 15, 2016

Survey: More online, in-store purchases driven by consumer reviews

A new study from Bazaarvoice found that 82% of in-store buyers have done their homework.  

By Ian P. Murphy • March 14, 2016

Forecast: Argentina's e-commerce market to reach $12.4b by 2019

Most of Latin America is poised for online commerce growth as the decade winds down. 

By Ian P. Murphy • March 11, 2016

Wal-Mart capturing millennials' attention as they get older

But can Wal-Mart be the omnichannel retailer they expect?

By Daphne Howland • March 11, 2016