CVS to freshen up beauty offering this spring

The drugstore retailer has often sounded more like a health care operation than a retail one, which some analysts see as a weakness. Upping its beauty game could help correct that.

By Daphne Howland • March 20, 2017

Amazon’s ‘Outfit Compare’ mobile feature tells users what to wear

The new mobile feature allows Prime members to share photos of themselves in different outfits and get advice from Amazon stylists.

By Dan O'Shea • March 19, 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

Retail Therapy: Social media rips up Nordstrom's 'clear' knee jeans — and not in a trendy way

Shoppers tore into the retailer's perplexing new style of jeans, Panasonic debuted a curry button for its Indian market washing machines and the curse of Amazon's Alexa continues.

By Corinne Ruff • March 17, 2017

Survey: 83% of shoppers think they know more than store associates

Almost half of consumers surveyed by Tulip Retail said they would be encouraged to shop in stores if knowledgeable associates could suggest products based on their purchase histories.

By Dan O'Shea • March 16, 2017

Why consumers prefer to shop for nearly all products online

Whether to research products, compare prices or actually make a purchase, shopping is increasingly going the way of the web.

By Sandy Skrovan • March 15, 2017

Survey: Consumers want more integration between in-store, mobile capabilities

About 43% of consumers are receptive to personalized prices based on their shopping patterns, and 39% would visit a mall or shopping center more often if they received alerts about products they are interested in purchasing.

By Dan O'Shea • March 13, 2017

Sephora again makes over Virtual Artist augmented reality app

New features include eyeshadow virtual try-on, an Expert Looks preview and virtual tutorials for brows, contouring and highlighting.

By Dan O'Shea • March 13, 2017

Adidas aims to open fitness app efforts to third-party partnerships

The sportswear brand is consolidating its digital efforts under the Runtastic platform banner and shutting down its miCoach platform of health and fitness products.

By Dan O'Shea • March 12, 2017

Retail Therapy: Wal-Mart's secret recipe for store traffic? Free cupcakes

Free food emerges as brick-and-mortar's savior, the paper towel industry gets its own Rosie Riveter, and more in this week’s Retail Therapy.

By Corinne Ruff • March 10, 2017

Study: 70% of retailers planning IoT investments

By 2021, nearly 80% of retailers will be able to customize in-store experiences by leveraging location technology that tells them when specific customers are in their brick-and-mortar sites.

By Dan O'Shea • March 9, 2017

Nike designs 'Pro Hijab' for Muslim women athletes

The hijab is made from dark, breathable but opaque polyester fabric and was designed in consultation with Muslim athletes who have struggled to maintain traditional garb while competing or working out.

By Daphne Howland • March 8, 2017

10 Items or Less: Why retailers need to rethink what they think about mobile

Each week, Retail Dive editor Jason Ankeny weighs in on the industry headlines and trends capturing his attention. This time around: Smartphones, shoes and solar power.

By Jason Ankeny • March 7, 2017

IBM Watson, Salesforce Einstein form AI dream team to aid retail, other industries

The tech giants will integrate and leverage one another’s artificial intelligence solutions to deliver new applications for customers in a variety of sectors.

By Dan O'Shea • March 6, 2017

Retail Therapy: Pizza-by-shoe, trashy fashion and DIY Oscars dresses

Forget smartphones — Pizza Hut is serving up sneakers that can order pizza. That, and more, in this week's Retail Therapy.

By Corinne Ruff • March 3, 2017

HowGood rakes in $4.2M to cultivate socially-conscious product rating platform

The company's platform analyzes and rates products based on environmental sustainability and other social values embraced by some consumers.

By Dan O'Shea • March 2, 2017

Starbucks' successful mobile ordering is causing in-store traffic jams

CEO Howard Schultz admitted the company's stores are getting congested with customers who have ordered and paid ahead of time via mobile.

By Dan O'Shea • Feb. 28, 2017

How Neiman Marcus is turning technology innovation into a 'core value'

From the Memory Mirror to the Fling Wall, the head of Neiman Marcus' iLab opens the vault on its latest experiments, the success stories and failures, and the process that got it there in the first place. 

By Corinne Ruff • Feb. 27, 2017

Motorola brings Amazon's Alexa to accessories, smartphones

Google made a similar announcement, making its Google Assistant available across smartphones running Android 7.0 Nougat and Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

By Dan O'Shea • Feb. 26, 2017

Retail Therapy: West Elm's Peggy problem

How an internet crusade brought down "one of history's worst couches."

By Corinne Ruff • Feb. 24, 2017

How retailers can survive social media controversy in the age of Trump

Consumers have seemingly split into two groups —  “them” and “us” — and emotions are running higher than ever before. Experts share how brands can navigate this increasingly sensitive landscape.

By Lara Ewen • Feb. 23, 2017

Costco, BJ's, Sam's Club: Why millennials love clubbing

Young parents with money to spend are the "center of the bullseye" for the large membership-based retailers.

By Jeff Wells • Feb. 22, 2017

Why most shoppers still choose brick-and-mortar stores over e-commerce

Online shopping has never been easier. But the majority of American consumers want the tactile experiences offered by physical stores, according to the first installment in Retail Dive's Consumer Survey.

By Sandy Skrovan • Feb. 22, 2017

10 Items or Less: When all else fails, embrace failure

Each week, Retail Dive editor Jason Ankeny weighs in on the industry headlines and trends capturing his attention. This time around: Agile thinking, mall options shrinking and craft (?) beer drinking.

By Jason Ankeny • Feb. 21, 2017

Retail Therapy: Love in the time of fast-food chains and retail supercenters

This year, Valentine's Day brought a singing telegram performer to Wal-Mart and sauce packet bouquets to Taco Bell.

By Corinne Ruff • Feb. 17, 2017

Study: CVS Health's tobacco halt reduces overall cigarette purchasing

The retailer is touting the public health benefit of its decision to stop selling tobacco, but analysts say it needs to focus on the rest of its retail performance. 

By Daphne Howland • Feb. 17, 2017