Stripe raises more funding to pursue acquisitions, expansion

The startup surpasses a $9 billion valuation as it continues to chase PayPal, Square and other merchant payment platforms.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 27, 2016

Google Maps update steers shoppers during Black Friday traffic frenzy

The new Maps update is designed to help consumers more efficiently manage their time as they plan to visit stores, bars and other businesses likely to be crowded during the holiday season.  

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 23, 2016

Explore the Trendline➔

How artificial intelligence is shaping retail

More retailers are leaning on AI as a tool, tapping into the tech to improve customer service and support supply chain functions.

By Retail Dive staff

Amazon reveals new partners, products in latest Dash Replenishment update

In addition to four new device manufacturer partners, Amazon announced new Dash-enabled products from Whirlpool and PUR.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 22, 2016

Lowe's, b8ta partner for smart home store-in-store program

The home improvement retailer is spotlighting its Iris home energy management line alongside more than 40 other products from companies like Amazon, Lutron, Nest and Ring.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 21, 2016

Chase Pay ready for download, comes to Best Buy, Starbucks

Support for the mobile payment application is slated to expand to retailers including ShopRite, The Fresh Grocer, Shell, Phillips 66 and Conoco.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 21, 2016

Google Shops set to roll out in Best Buy Canada locations

The stores-within-stores are designed to showcase consumer electronics like the Google Pixel smartphone and also intended to foster a community feeling.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 20, 2016

Lowe's promotes Black Friday deals via Facebook Live

The event, hosted by Drew and Jonathan Scott of the HGTV show "Property Brothers," revealed deals between comedy bits and interactions with viewers.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 20, 2016

EBay offers #GiftGoals guide to help with holiday shopping

The e-commerce marketplace is combining social media capabilities with practical advice for engaging friends and family in conversation to come up with holiday gift ideas mapped to 12 different personality types.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 17, 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

Report: Google snaps up shopping search startup Undecidable Labs

The firm's online purchasing tool involves “a filtering system that takes 'nice to have' and 'ideal' into consideration” to make product searches more meaningful.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 16, 2016

Target enhances in-store order pickup program for holiday season

More than 90% of pick-up orders will be ready in an hour, up from last year thanks to program enhancements, team efforts and deployment of new technology. 

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 16, 2016

Wal-Mart denies urging workers not to download labor group app

The retail giant said that employees can decide for themselves whether to use WorkIt, but warned the advocacy app could pose privacy issues.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 16, 2016

Facebook testing multi-product retail ads in news feeds

The new ads use a primary image or video along with related product images underneath. Clicking brings up a second page with additional products, and another click leads to the retailer's website.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 15, 2016

EBay overhauls mobile shopping apps in sync with holidays

The digital marketplace has updated both its iOS and Android applications with new browsing capabilities, product viewing options and other features.  

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 15, 2016

How UPS stays steady in center of e-commerce shipping storm

Despite Amazon's shipping ambitions and myriad other forces driving market upheaval, UPS continues to invest in a future defined by e-commerce opportunities and obstacles.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 15, 2016

Samsung rolls out rewards program to Samsung Pay users

Enrollees earn points that may be redeemed for retailer gift cards, prepaid Samsung Rewards Visa gift cards, Samsung products and more.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 14, 2016

Sears, Activehours team to give Shop Your Way members, store associates paycheck advances

The mobile paycheck advance application allows rewards members and Sears and Kmart staffers to purchase products and services right when they need them.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 14, 2016

Wayfair expands virtual reality universe with IdeaSpace

The application, developed for Google’s new Daydream mobile VR platform, allows customers to shop a variety of virtual, custom-designed rooms.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 13, 2016

Citibank latest to unveil digital wallet with Citi Pay

Citi will launch online, in-app and in-store tap-and-pay capabilities in the U.S. in early 2017, with other markets to follow.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 13, 2016

Ikea calls Uber and influencers for hearty 'Friendsgiving' promotion

The retailer’s partnership with Uber suggests it's looking to reach the ride-sharing app’s urban customers where they are spending time — on their phones. 

By Chantal Tode • Nov. 11, 2016

Kohl's takes aim at urban millennials, fast fashion with k/lab

The "trend" team behind the new line will scour social media to determine what designs are hot and what kind of clothes it should be selling, then move quickly to get them into the production pipeline.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 10, 2016

Alibaba's Singles Day nears record sales, boosted by virtual reality

Shoppers wearing Buy+ virtual reality headsets experienced Singles Day from a 360-degree perspective, exploring merchandise from Alibaba partners across the globe, including Macy's in New York.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 10, 2016

Reports: With Trump in White House, Amazon could face antitrust probe

President-elect Donald Trump earlier this year blamed Amazon's "monopolistic tendencies" for "the destruction of department stores and the retail industry.”  

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 9, 2016

Survey: Retailers progressing on omnichannel, but not fast enough

While omnichannel adoption is growing, almost half of merchants believe they are making little headway in their omnichannel efforts.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 9, 2016

Facebook enables retailers to link newsfeed ads to chatbots

Brands that operate chatbots on Messenger can now buy targeted newsfeed ads that link directly to their bots, allowing them to immediately initiate conversations.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 8, 2016