Retailers cheer as Biden's $1.9 trillion pandemic relief clears the US Senate

The legislation supports consumers and speeds up vaccinations, which some economists say could lead to the fastest economic recovery in years.

By Daphne Howland • March 8, 2021

Dollar Tree eyes at least 3K locations for rural concept stores

A new format that combines the retailer's namesake brand with Family Dollar's blends their assortment and aims for smaller, underserved markets. 

By Ben Unglesbee • March 5, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

How retailers are thinking about in-store experience

Complementary shop-in-shops, age-appropriate experiences and integrated technology are just a few ways retailers are reworking stores to suit shoppers.

By Retail Dive staff

Report: Most consumers abandon a brand after 3 bad experiences

Many disappointed customers don't complain directly to brands about negative interactions, costing companies revenue, a Coveo report found.

By Maria Monteros • March 4, 2021

The health, social and economic pandemic triad brings a watershed moment to retail in 2021

Retailers cannot focus on getting shoppers back into stores until health and social concerns are solved, writes SSA & Company's Matt Katz.

By Matt Katz • March 4, 2021

How Amazon and Walmart's head-to-head competition is changing retail

The evolution of the two shows that being a retail giant means more than selling merchandise.

By Maria Monteros • March 3, 2021

Finding Rae Dunn

Dunn's minimalistic approach to home goods has a community of collectors who hunt, and sometimes compete, for her products at off-price retailers.

By Kaarin Moore • March 2, 2021

Nordstrom partners with at-home fitness startup Tonal

The deal helps the retailer meet escalating demand for workout gear and reflects its willingness to work with up-and-coming brands.

By Daphne Howland • March 1, 2021

3 ways ignoring the weather costs retailers

No other external variable shifts demand trends as immediately, frequently and meaningfully as the weather.

March 1, 2021

Retail Therapy: ThirdLove encourages women to end their bad 'bra-lationship'

The company launched a humorous ad campaign that depicts a support group for women enduring toxic affairs with bras.

By Maria Monteros • Feb. 26, 2021

NRF: 2021 retail sales could rise more than 8% on vaccine rollout

The trade group estimates that the figure could top $4.3 trillion as consumers return to stores and the economy bounces back. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Feb. 26, 2021

The outdoors boom spared many retailers from the harshest impacts of COVID

Outdoor companies faced their share of ups and downs during the pandemic, but a tidal wave of new customers could prime the space for future growth.

By Cara Salpini • Feb. 23, 2021

Retail Therapy: The Girl Scouts step further into fashion

The organization teamed up with shoe brand K-Swiss to create a special collection of footwear inspired by its famous cookies.

By Caroline Jansen • Feb. 19, 2021

P&G's Old Spice to open first barbershop

The brick-and-mortar location is a way to directly engage consumers and marks a return to experiential stunts paused by the pandemic.

By Robert Williams • Feb. 18, 2021

DTC soap brand's first Super Bowl ad reaps rewards in market share

Dr. Squatch's top seller gained 200% in market share in its category on Amazon, according to Profitero.

By Maria Monteros • Feb. 17, 2021

One year later: How COVID-19 upended retail and what it means for 2021

Temporary store closings in March were the kickoff to a brutal year, but businesses learned a few things about what it takes to stay afloat.

By Cara Salpini • Feb. 16, 2021

Which consumers will lead the retail recovery?

When it comes to restoring customer traffic, the task for marketing will be to connect with the first wave of consumers venturing out.

Feb. 15, 2021

Walmart+ gains traction 5 months after launch

Less than a year after its release, the subscription service has attracted up to 8.2 million members, a CIRP study found.

By Maria Monteros • Feb. 12, 2021

L.L. Bean unveils athleisure collection

The launch comes "at a time that feels especially relevant" from a retailer that has sold outdoor and comfortable apparel for more than a century.

By Daphne Howland • Feb. 12, 2021

Retail Therapy: A chimp sanctuary will help heal the brokenhearted

Get a piñata with your ex's name on it from Save the Chimps, and a chimpanzee will break it — for a cause, of course.

By Maria Monteros • Feb. 12, 2021

Pre-pandemic profitability could be 5 years out

Radical strategies are needed around consumer engagement to get back to pre-pandemic profitability, write Kearney's Michael Brown, Suketu Gandhi, Cara Cole and Natalie Shield.

By Michael Brown, Suketu Gandhi, Cara Cole and Natalie Shield • Feb. 12, 2021

Forrester: Few brands can anticipate and act on consumer needs

Gathering customer data can bolster a quick response, but many companies still rely on manual collection and few firms automatically update existing data. 

By Maria Monteros • Feb. 10, 2021

What awaits retail on the other side of the pandemic

Everyone wants to get back to normal. Except maybe retailers.

By Daphne Howland • Feb. 8, 2021

Retail Therapy: Lowe's wants couples to celebrate Valentine's Day in its stores

The home improvement retailer is hosting a "Night of Lowemance" where 50 couples will be invited to an in-store splash painting date night.

By Caroline Jansen • Feb. 5, 2021

8 DTC trends to watch in 2021

While the broader industry outlook remains uncertain, one thing is clear: Digitally native brands will continue to adapt and evolve in the year ahead.

By Caroline Jansen , Cara Salpini , Maria Monteros • Feb. 3, 2021

GameStop's stock exploded, but traffic to its stores is still down

Over 2020, visits to the retailer were down more than 27% at the gaming retailer, according to Placer.ai. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Feb. 2, 2021