Wedding registry startup Zola partners with Backcountry

The partnership comes as the outdoor gift category has grown 20% and the millennial penchant for experiences over stuff dovetails with the rising number of millennial marriages.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 3, 2017

Boxed closing in on 'autonomous shopping'

Boxed is ready to do your shopping for you, with two new features that use machine learning to predict and act upon customer's perceived product needs.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 2, 2017

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

Study: Prime week spiked mobile purchases for other retailers

While non-Amazon shopping apps took a hit on Prime Day itself, the day after saw a 70% surge in mobile app purchases.

By Cara Salpini • Aug. 2, 2017

West Elm to open new hotel in Portland, Maine

The furniture retailer's boutique hotels offer customers a unique way to purchase furniture — after actually using it.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 2, 2017

Tuft & Needle taps Amazon tech for new Seattle store

Many online sellers struggle with how much they should let Amazon take control of their sales and inventory, but Tuft & Needle is counting on the e-commerce giant for brick-and-mortar in-store tech and fulfillment.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 1, 2017

Amazon enables Alexa to control Fire TV

Can't find the remote? Fire TV owners can now let the virtual assistant take control of their TVs through any Echo device.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 1, 2017

Study: 72% of coupons used in 2016 affected shopping behavior

The majority of consumers would try a new product if they had a coupon for it, and 58% would abandon their regular brand for a coupon.

By Cara Salpini • Aug. 1, 2017

Study: Gen Z seeks more brand interaction

Members of the young generation don't just want to buy products — they want to be a part of the creative process that develops and markets them too.

By Cara Salpini • Aug. 1, 2017

Shopicks’ mobile shopping platform rebrands as Thinkover

The move aims to broaden the utility of the company's app across sectors as it aims to be a resource for shoppers mulling product purchases.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 1, 2017

Lowe's builds up in-home assistance for DIY contest winners

The retailer's Upskill Project aims to boost customer confidence about tackling home improvements tasks — and make loyal customers at the same time.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 1, 2017

Amazon Prime Day prompts decline in store visits

Several brick-and-mortar retail stores were quite a bit emptier than usual on Amazon Prime Day last month.

By Dan O'Shea • July 31, 2017

How mobile is changing back-to-school

Gen Z students and millennial parents comprise much of the back-to-school market, and having, or not having, a mobile strategy could make or break the season.

By Cara Salpini • July 31, 2017

In-app payments for retail rose 57% in a year

Mobile apps of all types are increasingly coming with payment features, a trend that is especially strong in retail, according to new research.

By Dan O'Shea • July 28, 2017

Walmart's ASDA launches gift card marketplace

ASDA opens a new avenue to B2B dollars by creating an e-commerce site that sells gift cards in bulk.

By Dan O'Shea • July 27, 2017

Retail Therapy: Are Asos' sunglasses a sight for sore ears?

Love is blind for a new pair of dark-tinted, round sunglasses that double as — wait for it — hoop earrings.

By Cara Salpini • July 27, 2017

Is Sears' Kenmore deal with Amazon a game changer, or a drop in the bucket?

A partnership to sell Kenmore appliances on Amazon could add new sales for Sears and expand Amazon's appliance ambitions. But will Amazon shoppers flock to a brand some say is dying?

By Ben Unglesbee • July 27, 2017

Target Twitter interactions drive up ‘brand love’ 11%

The big-box retailer used Promoted Tweets to drive an 8% increase in shopping intent among those who shop only once a month.

By Dan O'Shea • July 26, 2017

Study: 87% of retailers plan to use AI to drive customer engagement

Artificial intelligence is becoming a ubiquitous force in the industry, with many retailers using the tech to route customer service requests and develop product suggestions.

By Dan O'Shea • July 26, 2017

Shoppers have the answers, but brands need to ask the questions

Retailers no longer dictate trends, says Hannah Hale of Lucky Brand. It's time to shift from a "push" to a "pull" model by asking shoppers what they want.

By Hannah Hale • July 26, 2017

Study: 68% of shoppers leave retail sites due to these basic problems

Poorly designed menus, too-basic search capabilities and products buried too deeply behind branding are forcing customers to abandon purchases. 

By Cara Salpini • July 26, 2017

Gen Z twice as likely to convert on mobile

The young generation is eager for digital content, but is more demanding when it comes to app functionality and personalized content.

By Cara Salpini • July 25, 2017

Study: High expectations for Amazon-Whole Foods merger

As the companies proceed with their deal, shoppers expect Amazon to bring better prices and convenience to the upscale grocer, but they hope it won't change too much, according to new research.

By Daphne Howland • July 24, 2017

Rakuten Viber acquires mobile commerce partner

Rakuten Viber rolled out an Instant Shopping feature, a key technology developed by the year-old startup it now owns, Chatter Commerce.

By Dan O'Shea • July 23, 2017

Conduent earns facial recognition patent to measure shopper satisfaction

The technology, which identifies a person’s eyes from video camera footage to better understand facial expressions, is being patented just after reports surfaced that Walmart is seeking to patent similar tech.

By Dan O'Shea • July 23, 2017

Study: Brick-and-mortar integral to BTS

And be patient when the kids come along to the store, most parents spend more when they do, according to the annual survey by ICSC.

By Daphne Howland • July 20, 2017