Simon installs ‘concierge’ chatbots in 208 malls

The chatbot evolution has been on the move for quite some time — and now the technology has made it into shopping malls.

By Dan O'Shea • Sept. 12, 2017

Coty joins 'Story' boutique's beauty round

The beauty conglomerate, previously dependent on retailers, joins a growing throng of consumer brands trying to go it alone.  

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 12, 2017

Explore the Trendline➔

The latest in experiential retail

From new store concepts to accessibility efforts, retailers are constantly shifting their approach to better cater to shopper needs.

By Retail Dive staff

Amazon's Whole Foods price cuts boosted store traffic 25%

But can the e-commerce giant and grocery novice maintain its momentum?

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 12, 2017

How Rent-A-Center leverages its online community for brand decision-making

The furniture and electronics firm has an "Inner Circle" of more than 3,000 members to help guide choices on products, pricing and more.

By Shane Schick • Sept. 11, 2017

Lowe’s crams DIY microvideos into Instagram Stories

The move underscores the potential of mobile video marketing, especially as more brands begin to take advantage of smartphones' full-screen vertical format.

By Robert Williams • Sept. 8, 2017

Bloomingdale’s, Cotton Inc. roll out 1-minute shoppable fashion show

The interactive video targets "Generation App" — millennials and Gen Z — by merging a unique digital experience with e-commerce.

By David Kirkpatrick • Sept. 8, 2017

CVS brings vending machines to 25 non-store locations

The machines will dispense more than 70 CVS-brand products, from bandaids to batteries.

By Dan O'Shea • Sept. 8, 2017

Amazon rebrands Shopbop

The apparel retailer is well known in fashion circles, but doesn't have the reach of Zappos — these updates could help.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 8, 2017

DemandJump debuts cloud-based web traffic tracker

The tool allows retailers to see the path of an average website visitor, which could help retailers develop more appropriate marketing efforts.

By Dan O'Shea • Sept. 6, 2017

Sierra Trading Post dives into social media campaign

The comical video, called "Cliff, Diving," helps separate the outdoor outfitter from its competition and attempts to drive off-price traffic online.

By Cara Salpini • Sept. 6, 2017

88% of holiday shoppers want ads from their favorite brands

Holiday shoppers aren't against targeted advertising — they just want it from brands that they care about, according to a new study.

By Cara Salpini • Sept. 6, 2017

Walmart’s Hayneedle debuts app with visual search

The home furnishings and decor retailer's app is armed with visual search capabilities, which could become a must-have for merchants.

By Dan O'Shea • Sept. 6, 2017

What retailers can learn from REI's marketing success

Two years after the launch of its celebrated Opt Outside campaign, the outdoor retailer is engaging customers with a new brand message.

By Corinne Ruff • Sept. 6, 2017

3 trends from back-to-school marketing offer holiday preview

ASMR, social influencers and Hollywood-like content emerge as key tactics that could steer strategy for the holidays as well.

By Kayla Matthews • Sept. 6, 2017

Amazon, Target, Walmart rank in top 10 millennial brands

Almost a third of the top 100 millennial brands were retailers — and many of the top 10 were digital-first companies.

By Cara Salpini • Sept. 5, 2017

Study: 57% of Google search traffic is mobile

Google's move to make its search results more mobile-friendly seems to be resonating as mobile search traffic outpaces traditional desktop traffic.

By Dan O'Shea • Sept. 5, 2017

Walmart's new restaurant tie-up is a feast for the young and wealthy

The retail giant is partnering with Grown, a new fast-casual concept with a much higher price point than Walmart's customers may be used to.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 1, 2017

A retailer's guide to the holiday season

After a deep look at the NRF’s 2017 Retail Holiday Planning Playbook, here are the top four wants on consumers' wish lists this holiday season.

By Cara Salpini • Sept. 1, 2017

Casper Mattress opening pop-ups in 15 US cities

The mattress startup has a partnership with West Elm and Target to showcase its wares, but the company will open its own doors in October.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 1, 2017

Levi Strauss’ chatbot helps jeans buyers find the right fit

Chatbots are becoming more common, but the new Virtual Stylist could be the next generation of the technology.

By Dan O'Shea • Sept. 1, 2017

Men give Lululemon a boost in Q2

The athleisure innovator isn’t slowing down, despite its higher prices and more muted demand in the category.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 1, 2017

Payless is the first of its peers to exit bankruptcy. Now what?

The discount shoe seller filed for Chapter 11 prepared and is now a smaller, healthier retailer. But it still has to win customers in a chaotic retail world.

By Ben Unglesbee • Aug. 30, 2017

Amazon expands programmatic offerings as its platform gets more competitive

Recent updates paint a clearer picture of how the company's Whole Foods acquisition might increase its digital advertising stature.

By David Kirkpatrick • Aug. 30, 2017

Grocery is driving e-commerce success at Walmart

A new study shows 26% of the retail giant’s e-commerce sales came from food and beverages in Q2, a sign that its efforts in the online marketplace are paying off.  

By Sandy Skrovan • Aug. 30, 2017

Unilever turns to pop-ups for CPGs

St. Ives has been running a summertime "mixing bar" in New York City where consumers can get advice, make custom blends and — of course — buy soap.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 30, 2017