The tricky business of retail marketing in a pandemic

Even with most transactions frozen, this can be a good time to talk to customers, experts say. But retailers need to send the right message.

By Daphne Howland • April 16, 2020

What retail could look like when stores reopen

Retailers have closed their doors to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. But things might not revert back once they open again, according to experts.

By Caroline Jansen • April 15, 2020

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

The retail & hospitality industry and COVID-19: Prepare for the future of work

Retail expert John Orr shares how retailers can best prepare themselves for the future of work and adapt to a new normal.

By John Orr, SVP of Retail, Ceridian • April 15, 2020

COVID-19: The ultimate stress test for retailers

The novel coronavirus is the latest reminder that companies need to plan and prepare for the unexpected, writes Gartner's Kelsie Marian.

By Kelsie Marian • April 9, 2020

Teen spending hits lowest point in nearly a decade as coronavirus concerns grow

Categories like cosmetics experienced a blow from Gen Z this spring, while some food and apparel brands fortified their lead, Piper Sandler found. 

By Peter Adams • April 9, 2020

The consumer after COVID-19

Shoppers will return. But they're living through a pandemic that will change them, maybe forever.

By Daphne Howland • April 8, 2020

How to deliver incredible CX for retail customers during the COVID-19 health crisis

Learn the four ways the right technology can help your brand navigate a rapidly changing marketplace.

April 7, 2020

Retail Therapy: 'Stay the F* home'

Designer and illustrator Jennifer Baer reimagined vintage travel posters for a new era.

By Caroline Jansen • April 3, 2020

What the coronavirus means for DTC brands

Digital natives may not face the massive store closures brick-and-mortar retailers are grappling with, but they have their own obstacles.

By Caroline Jansen • April 2, 2020

What do department stores do now?

With too many stores and not enough customers, the segment was flirting with disaster. Then came COVID-19.

By Daphne Howland • April 1, 2020

Retail Therapy: McDonald's promotes social distancing

The fast-food chain in Brazil separated its iconic golden arches as a reminder for everyone to keep a safe distance during this time.

By Caroline Jansen • March 27, 2020

How small retailers are coping with the pandemic

Local stores are closing, without the financial cushions enjoyed by their larger rivals, and face even more unknowns in a post-COVID-19 future.

By Daphne Howland • March 23, 2020

Retail Therapy: Ikea enters the streetwear scene

Designers like Balenciaga have used the retailer's iconic blue shopping bag as inspiration for products. Now, the furniture brand is selling its own accessories.

By Caroline Jansen • March 20, 2020

Retailers brace for the impact of coronavirus

While consumers' appetite for discretionary shopping has decreased substantially, mass merchants and grocery stores grapple with new demands.

By Caroline Jansen • March 18, 2020

Retail at risk as consumers hunker down

The industry is reeling as the U.S. takes precautions and shoppers adopt new habits. What is the new normal, and how long will it last?

By Daphne Howland • March 17, 2020

July retail sales rise 6%, but growth slows

Last month’s results are a solid start to the next half of the year, analysts say.

By Retail Dive Staff • Updated Aug. 15, 2025

Retailers implore consumers to avoid panic buying as shelves swiftly empty

The National Retail Federation and Retail Industry Leaders Association said supply chains are strong, and cautioned against closing stores.

By Daphne Howland • March 16, 2020

Retail Therapy: Ikea creates larger-than-life pizza fixture

In a collaboration with Pizza Hut Hong Kong, the Swedish furniture retailer flatpacked a lifesize version of the tiny tables found inside pizza boxes.

By Caroline Jansen • March 13, 2020

Can retailers win consumers with voice technology?

To harness the potential of voice tech, companies need to improve user experience and be transparent around data collection. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • March 12, 2020

Coronavirus is hurting store traffic and e-commerce won't help much, analysts say

The spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. is keeping consumers from spending, though a recession isn't yet likely, according to reports Wednesday.

By Daphne Howland • March 11, 2020

Retail Therapy: Crocs hops into Easter

The shoe brand teamed up with Peeps, the maker of marshmallow bunnies and chicks, to create a one-of-a-kind take on the classic clog.

By Caroline Jansen • March 6, 2020

Gen Z relies on influencers for purchase decisions, Kantar says

Seventy percent of the demographic follow at least one influencer on platforms like Instagram or YouTube, according to a recent Kantar study.

By Robert Williams • March 2, 2020

Coronavirus is already impacting malls

The spread of COVID-19 began changing U.S. consumer habits at the end of February, and physical retailers are taking the brunt of that.

By Daphne Howland • March 2, 2020

NRF says retail sales this year could top $3.9T despite coronavirus woes

The organization calculates growth of 3.5% to 4.1%, but some analysts warn that uncertainty around the growing pandemic could hit hard.

By Daphne Howland • Feb. 28, 2020

Forever 21's new owners face a slowdown in fast fashion

The retailer, with rivals Zara and H&M, revolutionized apparel sales. Now they must change. 

By Daphne Howland • Feb. 25, 2020