Mobile accounted for two-thirds of Black Friday traffic

However, 60% of purchases are still made via desktop, a recent Bloomreach report found.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 5, 2019

Checkout-free startup secures $30M in funding

Accel Robotics joins a growing number of companies touting technology that can deliver frictionless shopping experiences. 

By Jessica Dumont • Dec. 4, 2019

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

American Eagle embeds QR codes in shirts for Giving Tuesday

Select items sport an icon people can scan to activate Delivering Good's donation website.

By Robert Williams • Dec. 4, 2019

J.C. Penney hires new chief digital officer

The previous digital chief of Pandora Jewelry is stepping into the role at the department store chain, which has been losing online share for years.

By Ben Unglesbee • Dec. 3, 2019

Secondhand apparel platform Vinted raises $141M

Lightspeed Venture Partners, which led the funding round, has also invested in Stitch Fix, Rothy's and Bonobos.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 3, 2019

Secret opens Instagram directory, shoppable videos bolstering women-run businesses

The P&G brand wants to help female leaders score a fair share of the $730 billion forecast to be spent around the holidays.

By Peter Adams • Dec. 3, 2019

Retailers to spend $1.5B on AR/VR in 2020

A new study forecasts that worldwide spending on augmented and virtual reality will soar to $18.8 billion next year, an increase of nearly 80%. 

By Robert Williams • Dec. 3, 2019

Retailers boosted social commerce ads for Cyber Weekend

Retailers funneled 45% of their online media budgets into paid social ads, which accounted for 33% of total revenue from Thanksgiving to Sunday.

By Robert Williams • Dec. 3, 2019

PayPal: Consumers plan to ramp up social shopping this holiday season

Nearly two-thirds of Canadian social media shoppers said they are more inspired by gift recommendations on the platforms than those in stores.

By Robert Williams • Dec. 2, 2019

Mobile shopping to drive in-store visits

A new survey from The NPD Group reports that one in five online purchases will be picked up in stores.

By Lisa Rowan • Nov. 27, 2019

Black Friday cybersecurity responsibility falls to customers

Cybercriminals feed on shoppers with weak personal cyber hygiene. Have companies done enough to protect customers?

By Samantha Schwartz • Nov. 27, 2019

Want to appeal to young holiday shoppers? Invest in tech

Shoppers under the age of 35 will spend more this season but want streamlined technology and environmentally friendly practices, a survey found.

By Lisa Rowan • Nov. 27, 2019

Pensa Systems raises $10M to expand its inventory management tech

The technology uses computer vision, AI and autonomous drones to track what's on store shelves, allowing retailers to better manage merchandise.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 26, 2019

Pinterest’s new curated marketplace gives smaller merchants a holiday boost

Pinterest Shop gathers hundreds of shoppable posts from 17 hand-picked businesses ahead of Small Business Saturday.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 25, 2019

Over half of consumers plan to buy gifts via smartphone this year

Additionally, 41% of consumers have a better perception of brands that offer multiple payment options, according to a BillTrust study.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 25, 2019

Will retailers avoid Black Friday website outages?

A new survey reveals that nearly one-quarter of retail companies don't have a plan in place if their websites go down.

By Lisa Rowan • Nov. 25, 2019

How mobile ads are powering a social commerce surge this holiday season

Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are increasingly blending ads and shopping.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 25, 2019

PayPal buys rewards app Honey for $4B in e-commerce push

As the payment company's largest acquisition to date, the deal adds product discovery to its platforms and expands merchant services.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 22, 2019

JC Penney rings in holiday proposal season with AR ad driving virtual try-ons

The mobile campaign with Verizon Media includes immersive, full-screen spots and a "wedding personality" quiz.

By Natalie Black (Koltun) • Nov. 22, 2019

Amazon introduces smart shelf reordering system for businesses

The Dash Smart Shelf measures designated products by weight to determine when it's time to replenish supply.

By Lisa Rowan • Nov. 22, 2019

Simon Property Group launches GuesstHouse space for DTC brands

The space at The Westchester shopping mall is the latest move Simon has made to woo brands and further blend the offline and online experiences. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 21, 2019

Instagram curates shoppable holiday collections inspired by 2019’s top trends

Popular hashtags on the platform like #PartyLewk and #NewParents informed a selection of products users can purchase directly in-app.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 21, 2019

Target bets on homegrown inventory system, distribution automation

With shelves stocked and replenished more efficiently, employees are free to take on more important tasks. 

By Samantha Schwartz • Nov. 21, 2019

Adidas’ AR activation drops shoppers into a trash-filled virtual ocean

Immersing app users in a littered ocean around the holidays highlights environmental issues and shows how the brand turns plastic waste into shoes.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 20, 2019

7-Eleven’s delivery app now handles Alexa, Google Assistant orders

New convenience-minded features arrive months after the chain debuted delivery hot spots, mobile checkout and AR loyalty tie-ins.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 20, 2019