PetSmart fetches Chewy for $3.35B in largest ever e-commerce acquisition

The hefty price tag even tops Wal-Mart’s $3 billion Jet buy last year.

By Daphne Howland • April 20, 2017

Pinterest, Michaels partner on trend-inspired DIY kits

The "Make It Kits" are inspired by crafts trending on the social media platform and include all the supplies needed to make the projects.

By Dan O'Shea • April 19, 2017

Explore the Trendline➔

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

Facebook tests integration between M virtual assistant, third-party apps

The test enables Messenger users chatting about ordering food to see an interface that allows them to order from Delivery.com.

By Dan O'Shea • April 19, 2017

Marketing spend on Google Shopping ads surpasses text ads

Google Shopping ads accounted for 16.1% of e-commerce sales in 2016, up from just 9% in 2015, according to new research from marketing company Sidecar.

By Dan O'Shea • April 19, 2017

Wal-Mart snags Shoes.com domain for $9M

The move is just the latest in Wal-Mart’s assertive play for apparel e-commerce, orchestrated by its new U.S. e-commerce chief, Jet Founder Marc Lore.

By Daphne Howland • April 19, 2017

Amazon wins patent for on-demand textile manufacturing

The patent describes a system that could batch orders according to a variety of categories, like type or delivery address, in order to improve efficiency of manufacture and order fulfillment.

By Daphne Howland • April 19, 2017

Etsy open-sources its sustainability software to developers

The code powering Etsy's waste management program could help fuel other businesses' sustainability programs.

By Dan O'Shea • April 18, 2017

Fashwire raises funding for app enabling consumer reviews of new fashion designs

The startup raised $725,000 in seed funding and is looking for more in a Series A round as it nears the launch of an app that will allow users to review new fashion designs posted by independent designers.

By Dan O'Shea • April 18, 2017

Rue21, mode-ai launch virtual stylist with Facebook Messenger group feature

The struggling teen retailer's push for digital engagements comes just days after it announced it will shutter roughly 400 stores.

By Dan O'Shea • April 18, 2017

Report: Cross-channel rises, seasonality fades for apparel retailers

A new report from Criteo outlines market trends forcing retailers to shift their focus away from seasonality and toward omnichannel support to gain customers.

By Dan O'Shea • April 18, 2017

Amazon invites device makers to use Alexa microphone and voice processing technology

In a bid to help develop new devices, outside hardware manufacturers will have access to Amazon's Alexa microphone and voice processing technology.

By Dan O'Shea • April 18, 2017

Amazon gains on Flipkart in India’s mobile commerce market

Amazon accounted for 30.3% of the country’s mobile commerce users as of last month, compared to 30.7% for market leader Flipkart, according to 7Park Data.

By Dan O'Shea • April 17, 2017

Report: Wal-Mart in advanced talks to acquire Bonobos

The retail giant has been on a shopping spree since acquiring Jet last year, scooping up e-commerce sites at a rapid pace in recent months.

By Daphne Howland • April 17, 2017

Bezos to shareholders: Amazon still on Day 1

“Day 2 is stasis. Followed by irrelevance. Followed by excruciating, painful decline. Followed by death. And that is why it is always Day 1,” Amazon's founder and CEO warned Wednesday in his annual letter to investors.

By Daphne Howland • April 13, 2017

Google moves Shopping List to Google Express, Home apps

The move comes a couple of months after the company enabled consumers to start using voice capabilities through Google Home's digital assistant to shop more than 50 Google Express retail partners.

By Dan O'Shea • April 12, 2017

Wal-Mart introduces discounts for in-store pickup of web orders

The “Pickup Discount” will be available for 10,000 items before expanding to a million products by the end of June, according to Marc Lore, president and CEO of the retailer's U.S. e-commerce unit.

By Daphne Howland • April 12, 2017

Google adds ‘Similar Items’ feature to Image Search capabilities

The new feature augments its Image Search capabilities through Android apps and the mobile web to help users find products similar to those they see in searched photos.

By Dan O'Shea • April 11, 2017

Jo-Ann Stores acquires Creativebug to boost crafting content game

Creativebug's subscription service allows crafting enthusiasts access to more than 1,000 high-definition video classes where they can learn how to paint, draw, sew, quilt, knit, crochet, throw a DIY party and more.

By Dan O'Shea • April 11, 2017

Forecast: Amazon will command half of US e-commerce market by 2021

Prime membership, mobile penetration, third-party marketplace sales and web services profits are poised to vault the e-commerce giant to a new level of market dominance, according to Needham.

By Daphne Howland • April 11, 2017

Flipkart acquiring eBay's Indian business

EBay also is paying $500 million for an equity stake in the Indian e-commerce giant, alongside major investments from Microsoft and China’s Tencent.

By Daphne Howland • April 11, 2017

Survey: Cross-channel commerce errors costing retailers millions

Product content network 1WorldSync also found that 51% of merchants can’t support mobile commerce, and 80% don’t integrate product information management across web, mobile apps and physical stores.

By Dan O'Shea • April 10, 2017

Mastercard brings 5 new startups into Start Path accelerator program

Three of the startups are focused on using AI to analyze consumer behavior, enhance in-store or in-branch customer engagement and compute bill and payment data.

By Dan O'Shea • April 10, 2017

Report: Amazon Marketplace sellers hacked, robbed of thousands in sales

Hacks of dormant third-party seller accounts also have been on the increase: In these cases, non-existent products are offered at steep discounts in an effort to steal payment information from customers who try to buy them.

By Dan O'Shea • April 10, 2017

Samsonite picks up eBags for $105M

The acquisition brings eBags full circle: It was founded in 1998 by former employees of Samsonite and other luggage companies who were intent on disrupting luggage retail.

By Daphne Howland • April 10, 2017

Valentino getting omnichannel upgrade through YNAP partnership

Customers will gain access to inventory from Valentino boutiques and logistics centers and YNAP's fulfillment centers, in addition to in-store mobile features.

By Dan O'Shea • April 9, 2017