US retail sales to decline 10.5% in 2020: eMarketer

E-commerce will be a bright spot, increasing 18% this year, but those sales won't make up for the ones lost while physical stores temporarily closed.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • June 10, 2020

Big Lots adds delivery service from Instacart

The deal expands Big Lots' customer base to those who prefer the convenience of delivery or aren't comfortable visiting stores during the pandemic.

By Robert Williams • June 9, 2020

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

How the pandemic could fundamentally alter grocery store layouts

Backrooms will grow to fill online orders and retail floors will become smaller and more focused on shopper experiences, according to one expert.

By Jeff Wells • June 9, 2020

Walking the walk: no greater time to lead with purpose

As a delivery service, we must continue to do what we do best: bring the store to our customers' door quickly, safely, and efficiently. But we must do more.

By Kelly Caruso, Shipt CEO • June 9, 2020

Instacart partnership boosts e-commerce for independent grocers

A deal with C&S Wholesale Grocers will offer services, including same-day delivery, to more than 3,000 local grocers supplied by the wholesaler.

By Jeff Wells • June 8, 2020

GameStop's e-commerce sales rose 519% amid closures

The digital gains weren't enough to offset a 30% drop in comparable sales.

By Ben Unglesbee • Updated June 10, 2020

Alibaba unveils digital tools for US small businesses

The platform is addressing logistics and in-person merchant-supplier connections, both of which were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • June 3, 2020

Pinterest adds shopping feature to visual search

A new Shop tab in Lens gives mobile marketers a way to showcase items in Product Pins when users are most ready to buy.

By Robert Williams • June 2, 2020

Reopening in the home category

From single-use slipcovers over furniture to appointments for shopping, retailers in the space must navigate how to resume operations.

By Caroline Jansen • June 2, 2020

UPS announces peak surcharges on certain domestic shipments starting Sunday

The fees can add up quickly for e-commerce shippers confronted with exceptionally high order volumes during the pandemic.

By Shefali Kapadia • May 29, 2020

Otrium raises $26.4M to sell end-of-season fashion

As retailers deal with inventory pileup, investors are betting on the platform's ability to help brands sell leftover product.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • May 28, 2020

6 strategies for grocers preparing for the new e-commerce future

Experts share insights into how food retailers can retool their online operations in response to the pandemic.

By Sam Silverstein , Jeff Wells • May 28, 2020

Walmart joins long line of retailers partnering with resale site ThredUp

The retail giant is selling the secondhand goods only online but will take returns in stores.

By Daphne Howland • May 27, 2020

Target to sell products through Instagram Checkout

The mass merchant is among the latest retailers to venture into social commerce. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • May 22, 2020

How to merchandise and market the virtual shelf

Marketers who facilitate more intuitive interactions in online environments are geared to win long-term.

By Blake Marts, Product Marketing Director, Inmar • May 21, 2020

Facebook debuts Shops e-commerce initiative for small businesses

New digital storefronts for Facebook and Instagram mark a significant bet to capitalize on e-commerce.

By Robert Williams • May 20, 2020

What the pandemic reveals about e-commerce

As stores were forced to close, digital sales were expected to take over. They've soared, but serious constraints are also now on display.

By Daphne Howland • May 20, 2020

Walmart nixes Jet as pandemic shopping pushes digital sales up 74%

Costs and sales surged as the COVID-19 crisis brought "the broadest set of challenges we've ever seen globally" to the retail giant during Q1.

By Ben Unglesbee • May 19, 2020

Apparel collapse drags down retail in April

A significant e-commerce boost and a rise in grocery were unable to make up for record declines in clothing, furniture and electronics sales.

By Daphne Howland • May 15, 2020

Adobe: COVID-19 spurs spike in e-commerce

Buy online, pick up in-store orders have dramatically increased and online apparel and electronic sales have gone up, according to a recent analysis. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • May 15, 2020

Grocers' fulfillment struggles are a windfall for online startups

Companies like Thrive Market and Imperfect Foods are racing to accommodate new shoppers and are focused on keeping them long term.

By Jeff Wells • May 15, 2020

Survival of the fittest for DTC brands

Before the current crisis hit, we were already seeing flaws in the DTC model, writes Alex Song, CEO of Innovation Department.

By Alex Song • May 14, 2020

Asos debuts AR tool for online shoppers

The apparel retailer is digitally mapping products onto models to generate images that better showcase size, cut and fit.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • May 12, 2020

How can mobile wallets get you a slice of a $467.3B pie?

Driven by smartphone ubiquity, mobile wallets are transforming the payment landscape at a staggering pace, and shoppers now expect it wherever they choose to buy.

May 11, 2020

Wayfair's revenue, net loss grow in Q1

CEO Niraj Shah said shelter-in-place orders drove new customers to its site, but mounting advertising expenses threaten future profitability.

By Caroline Jansen • May 5, 2020