Amazon Prime Day’s top tech successes: Echo and mobile

Technology devices registered big wins on Amazon Prime Day as mobile use skyrocketed.

By Cara Salpini • July 18, 2017

UPDATE: Prime Day could fetch Amazon $2B in sales

The e-commerce giant's holiday in July is expected to set new records as rival retailers take the day to promote their own deals.  

By Ben Unglesbee • July 11, 2017

Fourth of July sales to top $7.1B

More Americans traveling for the Fourth of July, as well as spending on food items, should lead to a lucrative holiday for retailers. 

By Cara Salpini • June 30, 2017

IBM, Visa partner to embed payment capabilities into Watson-enabled IoT devices

More than 6,000 companies with Watson-driven Internet of Things architectures can integrate payments across product lines using Visa Token Service technology.

By Dan O'Shea • Feb. 20, 2017

ComScore: Holiday spending topped $80B, driven by mobile commerce growth

Shopping via smartphones and tablets reached $17.1 billion over the last two months of 2016, corresponding to about 21% of total holiday digital spending, up from 17% in 2015.

By Dan O'Shea • Feb. 13, 2017

Why holiday marketing sparkled a little less brightly in 2016

Marketing efforts were mostly unremarkable during the recent holiday season as brands resorted to tried-and-true discounts to attract shoppers and few succeeded at making an emotional connection. 

By Chantal Tode • Jan. 18, 2017

Toys 'R' Us holiday sales fall flat

The toy retailer experienced the same increased competition and discounting that took a toll on many big-box retailers this holiday season.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 18, 2017

J.C. Penney's turnaround suffers holiday setback

After a slow start in the first three weeks of November, which included the U.S. presidential election, overall same-store sales rose between Thanksgiving week through the end of December.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 8, 2017

Coloring books, Adele leave Barnes & Noble hanging at the holidays

Without a hot gift trend or a blockbuster album, store traffic was slow, though the bookseller managed better-than-expected profits thanks to cost-cutting.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 6, 2017

Report: Holiday spending climbs 16%

Consumers surveyed by the International Council of Shopping Centers spent 4% more than they thought they would, but many of their dollars went to restaurants and entertainment.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 4, 2017

Discounts, e-commerce costs hit margins in otherwise solid holiday quarter

Holiday spending was up 3.8% to $196.1 billion in 2016, the strongest rate of growth since 2011, retail research agency and consulting firm Conlumino found.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 3, 2017

Amazon touts bountiful holiday season for Alexa-based devices

Sales of Amazon devices employing the company’s Alexa virtual assistant technology were nine times higher than during the 2015 holiday shopping rush.

By Dan O'Shea • Dec. 29, 2016

Study: Retailers kept late holiday shoppers happy with omnichannel services

While retailers were more cautious about making delivery promises they couldn’t keep, in-store pickup helped them make sales as late as Christmas Eve.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 28, 2016

Birchbox CEO: We're here for the 'beauty majority'

The company that launched subscription-based beauty retail believes brick and mortar holds real promise. And founder Katia Beauchamp is fine with giving rivals a few incremental sales.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 28, 2016

Report: Retailers killing margins with heavy promotions for holiday homestretch

Despite favorable economic conditions, consumers aren’t spending as much as expected this holiday season, and retailers are slashing prices to change the trend.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 23, 2016

UPS invests in reverse-logistics startup Optoro, readies for National Returns Day

Optoro applies algorithm-based analytics to determine where the retailer will best recoup its losses on unwanted items.

By Edwin Lopez, Jennifer McKevitt • Dec. 22, 2016

Amazon pays shipping on Goodwill donations packaged in e-retailer's boxes

Shipping platform Give Back Box has partnered with several other retailers since 2012, including Overstock, Ann Taylor, New Egg, eBags, Bonobos and REI.

By Dan O'Shea • Dec. 21, 2016

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

Wal-Mart holiday videos hit more than 75M views on YouTube

Paid media and a holiday-themed channel are driving views for the retailer. 

By David Kirkpatrick • Dec. 20, 2016

Starbucks, Walgreens use Promoted Places on Google Maps for holiday marketing

As location data becomes more essential during key moments, brands are staking out their territory. 

By David Kirkpatrick • Dec. 19, 2016

Short-staffed Amazon cargo pilots take concerns directly to Prime customers

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local Union 1224 says air carrier contractors Atlas Air WW and Air Transport Services Group “overcommitted their operations by taking on Amazon’s business.”

By Daphne Howland • 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

Report: Amazon widens lead on holiday sales

The e-commerce giant is this year’s top destination for gifts, widening its lead over once-dominant Wal-Mart, according to reports from Prosper Insights & Analytics and Moody’s released Thursday.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 16, 2016

Commerce Dept: November retail sales miss expectations

It was a tepid month for retail, with the launch of the holiday period chopped up by election jitters and early seasonal shopping promotions.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 15, 2016