Consumer Trends: Page 149
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Gap hikes hourly pay minimum
The retailer breaks with competitors and announces a new in-house minimum wage, amid what it says is a desire to “do more than sell clothes.”
By Daphne Howland • Feb. 20, 2014 -
Mobile gift cards are a Wonder
A free app from Wonder Technologies allows givers to instantly send gifts from participating retailers with no expiration date.
By Daphne Howland • Feb. 20, 2014 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Zapp2photo via Getty ImagesTrendlineHow 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 -
Big box chains lead flight from traditional grocers
Consumers are favoring convenience over quality when deciding where to buy their groceries.
By Kelsey Lindsey • Feb. 19, 2014 -
Retail customer satisfaction hits 77.9% benchmark
But disappointments over holiday shipping mishaps may have caused the worst level of satisfaction with e-commerce since 2001.
By Daphne Howland • Feb. 19, 2014 -
Online shopping grew 16% in 2013: Commerce Dept.
There was steady growth in e-commerce in 2013, including a strong Q4, according to new figures by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
By Daphne Howland • Feb. 19, 2014 -
Bump in divorce rate is good news for retailers
Valentine’s Day retail sales were disappointing, but the rising divorce rate is an indication that the economy is improving.
By Daphne Howland • Feb. 19, 2014 -
Whole Foods to use Square's iPad cash registers, no-line shopping
The move means employees can carry a cash register on their belt, and customers can avoid checkout lines.
By Paul Conley • Feb. 18, 2014 -
Deep Dive
Higher minimum wage: Boon or bust for retailers?
Retailers usually cry foul over minimum wage hikes, but some retail experts say a key source of revenue lies with well-compensated employees.
By Daphne Howland • Feb. 18, 2014 -
Uniqlo continues US expansion
The Japanese apparel retailer partnered with Square for a Valentine's Day in-store pickup service in San Francisco as it announced four new American stores.
By Daphne Howland • Feb. 18, 2014 -
Small retailers thrive on Amazon
But there are costs to doing business with online retail’s giant.
By Daphne Howland • Feb. 18, 2014 -
Sales cold for retail in January
Weather is an undeniable factor considering the Midwest and Northeast saw the worst weather and the worst retail performance.
By Daphne Howland • Feb. 18, 2014 -
H&M January sales up 15%, as expected
The fast-fashion retailer met its own and analysts’ expectations as it continued to add stores worldwide and incorporate sustainability and workforce well-being.
By Daphne Howland • Feb. 18, 2014 -
Presidents Day beats Black Friday on discounts and deals
Personal shopping site Shop It To Me examined more than a million items on sale in a full calendar year and found the February holiday beats all.
By Daphne Howland • Feb. 18, 2014 -
Instagram a handy retail marketing tool
Although it doesn’t get the kind of press that Twitter or its parent, Facebook, do, Instagram is a proven social media venue for getting customers’ attention.
By Daphne Howland • Feb. 14, 2014 -
January retail slump doesn’t bother Wall Street
The U.S. Department of Commerce's Thursday report was glum, but Wall Street seems to be shifting blame to the weather.
By Daphne Howland • Feb. 14, 2014 -
Deep Dive
Has the future of t-commerce finally arrived?
With its shoppable Super Bowl ad, H&M has ushered in a new era of interactive television-based commerce that retailers have been awaiting for decades.
By Daphne Howland • Feb. 13, 2014 -
Banana Republic announces Marimekko for summer
The partnership with Finland’s iconic fabric design house sees the usually staid apparel company upping the ante in the designer-retailer collaboration game.
By Daphne Howland • Feb. 13, 2014 -
$79 may just remain Amazon’s Prime number
A significant number of Prime members would balk at a fee hike, a UBS financial services survey has found.
By Daphne Howland • Feb. 13, 2014 -
To get the sales it wants, Prada lifts its nose in the air a little higher
Not in a position to compete with the likes of fast-apparel chains like H&M, Prada takes a cue from Apple and reserves its merchandise to sell in its own upscale stores.
By Daphne Howland • Feb. 13, 2014 -
Price competition a minefield for retailers
Strictly meeting consumer price demands not only digs into the bottom line, but can also create havoc with customer expectations and even brand loyalty, observers say.
By Daphne Howland • Feb. 12, 2014 -
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba to launch U.S. site
The site, 11Main.com, is part of an ongoing global expansion that last year included a major investment in Shoprunner.com.
By Daphne Howland • Feb. 12, 2014 -
Target taps top Pinterest “pinners” for design partnerships
The retailer’s collaboration with bloggers on the popular social sharing site is reminiscent of its ground-breaking collaborations with top fashion designers.
By Daphne Howland • Feb. 12, 2014 -
Shaq to bring his magic to Macy’s
The department store has drafted retired basketball player Shaquille O’Neal for an exclusive big-and-tall men’s collection.
By Daphne Howland • Feb. 12, 2014 -
Barnes & Noble fires Nook engineers
The move aimed at “rationalizing” its Nook business follows the January lay-off of the vice president of hardware.
By Daphne Howland • Feb. 11, 2014 -
Bitcoin tanks due to worrying glitch
The crypto-currency suffered another setback when its largest exchange suspended customer withdrawals and sent its value crashing.
By Daphne Howland • Feb. 11, 2014