UPS acquires insurer of precious items

Parcel Pro specializes in jewelry, watches, collectibles. 

By Ian P. Murphy • June 16, 2015

Net-a-Porter posts first profit on record sales

A formidable luxury e-commerce company is due to emerge once the company is acquired by Italian luxury retailer Yoox sometime later this year. 

By Daphne Howland • June 15, 2015

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

Amazon trying out Prime two-day 'ship-from-store'

The move could greatly boost the number of items eligible for Prime’s two-day shipping.

By Daphne Howland • June 15, 2015

Smartphones' share of e-commerce orders grows

But personal computers still lead conversion worldwide, Demandware says. 

By Ian P. Murphy • June 12, 2015

Etsy plans to speed content with server pods

The new strategy could also aid international growth for the handmade marketplace. 

By Ian P. Murphy • June 12, 2015

Amazon e-book contracts face EU scrutiny on anti-trust concerns

European regulators say Amazon’s requirement that publishers reveal terms they’re offering to other retailers could be a restrictive business practice.

By Daphne Howland • June 12, 2015

Personal shopping app Voonik wins $5 million in funding

The Indian retail app has been downloaded more than 1 million times. 

By Ian P. Murphy • June 11, 2015

Facebook, Shopify expand beta test for 'Buy' button

Many social media sites, seemingly anxious to increase ways to monetize their free services, are moving swiftly to install buy buttons.

By Daphne Howland • June 11, 2015

New York AG eyeing new eBay, PayPal robocall policies

New user agreements ahead of the companies’ split give each the right to use “autodialed or prerecorded calls and text messages” for marketing, research, and debt collection.

By Daphne Howland • June 11, 2015

Pinterest pivots into e-commerce with 'Buy It' pins

A "Buy It" button is coming to Pinterest by the end of the month, as the picture-pinning site pivots into e-commerce.

By Wendy Parish • June 10, 2015

Bigcommerce names Brent Bellm CEO

The executive previously held postions with PayPal and HomeAway.

By Ian P. Murphy • June 10, 2015

Amazon Prime membership in the US now at 41 million: report

A million people signed up for the membership in the first quarter of this year, even after some 10 million tried it for free over the holidays.

By Daphne Howland • June 10, 2015

Spring launches free shipping 'on everything. Forever.'

Shopping through the app will get users free shipping even from retailers that don’t offer it on their own sites.

By Daphne Howland • June 9, 2015

Facebook to offer free beacons to retailers using Place Tips

Beacons could drive some $4.1 billion of U.S. store sales in 2015, and Facebook's new initiative could propel that further. 

By Daphne Howland • June 9, 2015

Are your best customers cheating on you?

Customers are mysterious, fickle, and always right. But with the right data, you can predict and change their behavior until it’s “right” for you too.

June 8, 2015

Startup finds new buyers for returned merchandise

Optoro software is helping chains remarket some of the $500 billion worth of goods returned each year. 

By Ian P. Murphy • June 8, 2015

IRCE 2015 Roundup: Channeling change to stay relevant in retail

Conference speakers emphasized the digital revolution's accelerating rate of progress. 

By Ian P. Murphy • June 5, 2015

eBay Valet ventures into secondhand designer fashion market

The listing service allows sellers to handle auctions on consumers' behalf.  

By Ian P. Murphy • June 4, 2015

UPS' 4th annual 'Pulse' survey reveals advantage of multichannel approach

Mobile is driving changes in buyer behavior online and offline, the study released during IRCE found.

By Ian P. Murphy • June 4, 2015

OTA names most trustworthy online retailers

The announcement during IRCE revealed American Greetings leads in security, privacy and consumer protection. 

By Ian P. Murphy • June 3, 2015

Amazon introduces free shipping for smaller items

Thousands of popular products will ship from a specialized distribution center. 

By Ian P. Murphy • June 3, 2015

Pinterest offers peek into future 'Buy' button

A company exec showed developers a mock-up of the possible addition.

By Ian P. Murphy • June 2, 2015

Google's Android M update to include new pay option, Buy button

The platform will be released to consumer smartphones in the third quarter.

By Ian P. Murphy • June 1, 2015

Why omnichannel as you know it is 'dead'

Deloitte report: Retailers need to stop thinking exclusively about the 'buy'—and think more about the journey that got shoppers there. 

By Kelsey Lindsey • May 29, 2015

Retailers see Apple Watch as emerging marketing opportunity

Apps that perform a simple, specific function lead the way for wearables.

By Ian P. Murphy • May 29, 2015