MasterCard rolls out AI-based fraud detection and decision service

The value of false credit card declines is more than 13 times the total amount lost to actual card fraud, researchers estimate.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 30, 2016

How retailers can protect themselves against cyber threats this holiday season

Retailers face a range of security threats, including point-of-sale issues, distributed denial-of-service attacks, inferior IT infrastructure and lax information security procedures. Here's how they can mitigate losses.

By Brian Dunphy • Nov. 30, 2016

Amazon reportedly developing tech tools to fight counterfeiters

A suite of digital solutions dubbed Brand Central will help smaller Amazon sellers increasingly victimized by copycats.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 23, 2016

Staples, Managed by Q partner to deliver more office services

The office supplies retailer will now connect customers in major U.S. cities to Managed by Q’s network of office services firms, including IT support staffers, cleaners, handymen and even workplace yoga instructors.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 17, 2016

Primark finds payment card skimmers at US stores

Devices for stealing payment card data were illegally placed on "a limited number of card payment machines" in two of the retailer's Pennsylvania locations.

By Dan O'Shea • Oct. 31, 2016

Luxury handbag retailers scaling back assortments to revive demand

Competing on price can kill margins for any retailer, but it’s especially problematic for high-fashion companies because big price tags are part of their brand identity.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 31, 2016

Trade groups lobby for Alibaba's return to USTR Notorious Markets list

Counterfeit sales are at “crisis levels,” according to a letter signed by 18 trade groups from across North America, Europe and Asia.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 27, 2016

Report: Nine West gets financing reprieve to ride out the holidays

The struggling accessories and footwear maker is loaded with about $1.7 billion in debt and faced a downgrade over the summer.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 25, 2016

Cyberattacks knock out Etsy, Shopify, others as e-commerce security fears mount

Hacker group New World Hackers unloaded 1.2 trillion bits of data traffic on web domain company Dyn's servers, making its customers' sites crash.

By Dan O'Shea • Oct. 23, 2016

Why retailers' cybersecurity vulnerabilities could hurt holiday sales

Merchants keep falling prey to cybercrime, but retail executives keep diverting attention and funding elsewhere. The problem is it could cost them customers — in some cases, forever.

By Jason Ankeny • Oct. 19, 2016

Alibaba delivery partner ZTO Express readies big NYSE IPO

The Chinese logistics firm derived 75% of its business during the first half of 2016 delivering parcels for Alibaba.

By Dan O'Shea • Oct. 16, 2016

Researcher: Thousands of shopping sites hacked, card data skimmed

Multiple culprits likely were able to skim credit cards used at online stores run by retailers, consumer brands, automakers, government entities and other parties.

By Dan O'Shea • Oct. 13, 2016

How technology will shape the future of retail loss prevention

Innovations in technology are rapidly evolving the stealth and skills of cybercriminals. But merchant loss prevention strategies are making dramatic strides as well.

By Richard Mellor • Oct. 4, 2016

Court: Costco should pay Tiffany $5.5M for trademark breach

While “Tiffany” describes a ring setting many jewelers now use, a federal jury ruled Costco went too far in labeling its diamond rings with the iconic brand name.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 3, 2016

Report: Retailers caught in bankruptcy spiral have lost 'reason to exist'

Half of retailers that file for bankruptcy won't make it out alive, a percentage much higher than in other industries, according to a study of 30 recent retail bankruptcies conducted by Fitch Ratings.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 29, 2016

Experian: E-commerce fraud attack rate up 15% over 2015

Data suggests that stolen credit and debit cards, card numbers and identities are fueling incidents of "card not present" fraud.

By Dan O'Shea • Sept. 22, 2016

MasterCard joins push into biometric security for online purchases

The credit card giant is planning to roll out solutions like fingerprint scanning and facial recognition as part of an increasing effort to bolster e-commerce security.

By Dan O'Shea • Sept. 15, 2016

How EMV is fueling an e-commerce fraud frenzy

The rollout of EMV-enabled credit and debit cards is driving a sharp decline in brick-and-mortar transaction fraud. But now fraudsters have a different target: online retailers.

By Jason Ankeny • Sept. 14, 2016

Bangladesh packaging factory fire kills 33

The South Asian country is home to thousands of garment and packaging factories that supply global retailers like Wal-Mart and H&M. 

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 13, 2016

Study: Retail risk costs to hit $23B in 2016

Not only has the average cost of injuries risen, but retailers also face additional risks like cyber breaches, according to a new report.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 7, 2016

6 retailers that went bankrupt and never recovered — and lessons from their demises

Whether they missed the beat on major trends or chose the wrong investors, retailers from Borders to Mervyn's met their match

By Corinne Ruff • Aug. 30, 2016

Survey: 19% of consumers would avoid a retailer after security breach

Another 33% of consumers said they wouldn't shop at a breached retailer for at least three months out of fear their personal data could be compromised.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 23, 2016

Eddie Bauer stores fall victim to malware attack

The payment card data breach was part of a much larger coordinated attack on a range of retailers, restaurants and hotels, according to the outdoor apparel retailer. 

By Jason Ankeny • Aug. 19, 2016

Wal-Mart takes law into its own hands with 'Restorative Justice' program

A controversial new program to cut down on shoplifting could help the retailer and local law enforcement, but some experts question where it is the best remedy to Wal-Mart's "shrinkage" problem.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 16, 2016

Claire's looks to unload heavy debt

The struggling teen accessories retailer is working on a plan to restructure its debt, but CFO J. Per Brodin won't stick around to see it through.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 15, 2016