Amazon's sales — and costs — are going up

More than ever, Amazon’s report is a picture of burgeoning sales, with heavy investments hitting profits. But most analysts continue to see its potential.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 26, 2017

How chat and voice tech are changing retail

New chat channels are emerging as a real-time alternative to e-mail, along with other technologies, but a comprehensive view matters most.

By Dan O'Shea • Oct. 26, 2017

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What's shaping the e-commerce landscape?

From pivots in digital strategies to challenges retailers must overcome with reverse logistics, here are some of the forces shaping online retail.

By Retail Dive staff

Amazon puts Alexa skills behind subscription paywall

The e-commerce giant is loosening its leash on developers, letting them charge users via a subscription model for additional skill content.

By Dan O'Shea • Oct. 26, 2017

Amazon Fashion signs up Drew Barrymore's 'Dear Drew' collection

The new line from the actress follows a prior collaboration with Walmart, which debuted Barrymore's Flower cosmetics brand.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 26, 2017

Facebook could relegate retailer posts to a separate feed

The social network is looking to calm fears over a test which, if implemented, would pull public page posts from the personal news feeds of its users.

By Dan O'Shea • Oct. 26, 2017

Sears revives the Wish Book holiday catalog

Given its struggles, who could blame Sears for taking a trip back in time with the revival — in print and online — of the holiday-themed book. 

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 26, 2017

Google’s Showcase Shopping ads aim to lure shoppers early on

The format is available to all brands for the first time, enabling them to group related products to boost discoverability when shoppers search with broad terms.

By David Kirkpatrick , Natalie Black (Koltun) • Oct. 25, 2017

Target unveils AR mobile feature for furniture shopping

The "See It In Your Space" capability works with the retailer's Project 62 furniture line, part of its renewed commitment to differentiated merchandising.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 25, 2017

Amazon unlocks in-home delivery with ‘Amazon Key’

Just ahead of the holidays, Prime members in 37 cities will be able to give remote access to their homes for services and package delivery if they buy the company's latest device.

By Corinne Ruff • Oct. 25, 2017

Report: Amazon to control nearly 45% of e-commerce in 2017

Despite growth, online sales still account for less than 10% of U.S. retail sales, which may explain why Amazon is moving forcefully into brick and mortar, according to eMarketer.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 25, 2017

The fine print in leases could derail Amazon's grocery strategy

Some retailers like Target and Lidl are calling on clauses written into their lease agreements that lets them limit what Amazon can and can't do in nearby Whole Foods stores.

By Sandy Skrovan • Oct. 25, 2017

Amazon launches Prime for business customers

Amazon's swift expansion of its B2B business is exactly what Staples and Office Depot described to a skeptical Federal Trade Commission last year as their merger plans faltered.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 25, 2017

Walmart reorganizes Home with a group president and new top exec for Hayneedle

Walmart is strengthening the home category with new leadership across all digital properties while one of those units, Hayneedle, gains an exec with a millennial-focused brand history.

By Dan O'Shea • Oct. 24, 2017

Lord & Taylor could be the anchor to Walmart's web mall

A partnership with the upscale department store could allow the big-box retailer to tap into a wealthier market, but it also stands to dilute the brand.

By Corinne Ruff • Oct. 24, 2017

Online overtakes in-store holiday spend for the first time

It's a breakthrough, but the signs have been there for a while now, according to a study by Deloitte.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 24, 2017

Amazon extends order-and-pay feature

More restaurants in the U.S. are set to allow customers to order and pay for take-out via the e-commerce giant's mobile app.

By Dan O'Shea • Oct. 24, 2017

Target unveils mobile pay in time for the holidays

This season the mass merchant is betting that its new private label lines will balance the margin hit from its consumer goods price cuts.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 24, 2017

Jet takes on Amazon, Target with new private brand 'Uniquely J'

The e-commerce company's line targets Amazon Basics and enters a highly competitive consumer goods market.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 24, 2017

Orchard Mile upends luxury retail with new model

The startup is logging impressive sales growth, with a healthy average purchase price.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 23, 2017

Alipay banks on North American partnerships for growth

A number of new partnerships, including with JP Morgan Chase, aim to boost the number of Chinese natives paying with Alipay while traveling abroad.

By Dan O'Shea • Oct. 23, 2017

Alibaba tees off Singles Day 3 weeks early

More than 140,000 brands will participate in the shopping holiday, which last year shattered expectations with $18 billion in sales.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 23, 2017

Under Armour launches ArmourBox subscription service

Athletic apparel sales may be particularly well suited to subscriptions for customers who work out regularly.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 23, 2017

Most online shoppers view fraud as inevitable

But that doesn't mean they're happy about it. Nearly 60% of customers are willing to accept whatever security measures it takes to prevent fraud, according to new research.

By Dan O'Shea • Oct. 22, 2017

The definitive guide to generational marketing

A good marketer can kick it old school with the boomers and float the perfect hashtag to Gen Z — but what if it's time to get social with the boomers and bring Gen Zers into stores? Here's everything you need to know about marketing by generation.

By Cara Salpini • Oct. 20, 2017

Amazon holds 68% of smart speaker market share

Sales of the technology should hit 24 million by the end of 2017, but the online titan still controls the market, according to a Strategy Analytics study.

By Dan O'Shea • Oct. 20, 2017