FedEx: We cut ties with retailers over rates

The shipper seems quite confident that it can demand the prices it needs to protect its margins, signaling that e-commerce fulfillment costs are unlikely to fall any time soon.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 21, 2016

Bain: Traditional accounting methods aren't capturing omnichannel advantages

There’s a reason pure-play retailers are opening stores: E-commerce is expensive, store-based fulfillment is cheaper and stores boost orders in both channels, according to a new report.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 21, 2016

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

The new look of fashion: How 2016 made over apparel retail

Amazon disrupted and dominated apparel throughout the year, but it wasn't the only trendsetter: Mobile made waves, omnichannel became omnipresent — and much more.

By Lara Ewen • Dec. 21, 2016

Amazon Echo sold out online, only available at stores — and rivals

The Alexa-powered speakers are still for sale at many of its physical stores and pop-ups, as well as competitors Best Buy, eBay and Rakuten.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 21, 2016

Pew: 80% of Americans shop online, but most still prefer stores

Whenever Americans can comparison-shop on price, they will, including using their phones while in stores, according to a new Pew Research Center survey.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 20, 2016

12 news stories that shaped retail in 2016

From American Apparel's second bankruptcy to Amazon's blockbuster self-made holiday, here's a look back at the biggest events from the last 12 months.

By Corinne Ruff, Jason Ankeny • Dec. 19, 2016

American Eagle, Aerie debut bots for bra browsing, holiday shopping

Customers may browse bra styles using filters like fit, style or occasion. The bot also promotes company culture through photos, videos and social media.

By Dan O'Shea • Dec. 18, 2016

Amazon reportedly developing Uber-like app for truckers

The application would match truckers with the shippers that need them to move goods, also eliminating the 15% commission typically charged by third parties to broker such deals.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 16, 2016

Report: Few retailers are omnichannel 'leaders'

Just 6% of retailers rate as “leaders” in omnichannel, according to a report from brand intelligence firm L2.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 15, 2016

5 tech trends that transformed retail in 2016

Artificial intelligence and related breakthroughs steered retailers toward more effective customer engagement, while virtual reality and augmented reality redefined how shoppers experience the world.

By Dan O'Shea • Dec. 15, 2016

Amazon's Prime Air takes flight with first commercial drone delivery

The test flight involved an Amazon Fire TV device and a box of popcorn, and reportedly took about 13 minutes from the time of order placement to delivery.

By Dan O'Shea • Dec. 14, 2016

10 innovations that could disrupt grocery in 2017

The Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, droid delivery systems, mobile wallets and in-store gardens should be on every grocer’s radar in the year ahead.

By Sandy Skrovan • Dec. 14, 2016

Nordstrom rolls out CashStar eGifting service

The service, a more personal alternative to traditional gift cards, could help retailers increase sales conversion rates and reduce unwanted gift returns.

By Dan O'Shea • Dec. 13, 2016

Report: UPS, FedEx struggling to keep pace with holiday e-commerce explosion

On-time delivery rates have been down since Thanksgiving compared to other periods of the year.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 13, 2016

November retail hiring plummets to 6-year low

U.S. retailers added 521,800 workers during the first two months of the 2016 holiday season, plunging 14% from year-ago totals, according to global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 13, 2016

US Supreme Court declines comment on Colorado e-commerce tax

That brings the law, which has been held up amid various, sometimes arcane, legal questions in both state and federal courts, closer to implementation.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 13, 2016

Nordstrom launches its first chatbot for holiday push

Chatbot users will be prompted with questions about gift criteria and the chatbot will reply with multiple shopping ideas.

By Dan O'Shea • Dec. 11, 2016

Starbucks embraces conversational commerce, boosts personalization

The forthcoming My Starbucks Barista conversational ordering feature allows customers to place orders via voice command or messaging to improve efficiency and encourage stronger customer loyalty and engagement.

By Dan O'Shea • Dec. 7, 2016

Wayfair app lets shoppers visualize decor in their own homes

View in Room allows customers to envision furniture and other Wayfair items inside their own living spaces.

By Dan O'Shea • Dec. 6, 2016

Amazon launches Buttoned Down men's fashion line

The first offering is a series of no-iron shirts that will compete with a host of brands already for sale on Amazon’s site.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 6, 2016

Rent the Runway boosting physical store strategy with new flagship

Like many e-commerce startups, the apparel rental company believes that stores are important to growing sales and connecting with customers.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 6, 2016

Why Amazon is betting big on brick and mortar

The e-commerce giant has given physical retailers fits since its debut two decades ago. Now it wants to compete on their playing field. And Amazon plays to win.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 6, 2016

Amazon unveils futuristic checkout-free grocery store

The Seattle store, currently in a beta test open only to Amazon employees, upends the definition of the word “convenient.”

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 5, 2016

Wal-Mart testing free grocery pickup at new c-store formats

Employees will pick and pack orders from the Wal-Mart nearest the convenience store, bring them to the pickup area in refrigerated trucks and load them into customers’ cars.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 5, 2016

Amazon, Intel partner to enable more Alexa-driven devices, smart homes

The companies have teamed up on a form factor reference design to make it easier to create products leveraging the e-commerce giant's Alexa virtual assistant technology platform.

By Dan O'Shea • Dec. 4, 2016