7-Eleven unveils mobile wallet to enable contactless payments

The retailer aims to bring cash users into the digital wallet space and make its rewards program more accessible.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 8, 2020

Levi’s unveils clothes for Snapchat Bitmoji and their real-life counterparts

The Levi's x Bitmoji collection includes 12 curated looks and a link to the brand's website so users can dress like their avatars.

By Robert Williams • Dec. 7, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

What's shaping the e-commerce landscape?

From pivots in digital strategies to challenges retailers must overcome with reverse logistics, here are some of the forces shaping online retail.

By Retail Dive staff

Walgreens debuts retail media network, with revamped loyalty program front and center

The pharmacy chain follows chief rival CVS in pushing an ad engine that looks to seize on growing marketer demand for first-party data to support digital ads.

By Peter Adams • Dec. 7, 2020

Gucci perfume opens Snapchat portal to virtual ‘garden of dreams’

After exploring the augmented reality garden, users are steered toward the luxury brand's website to purchase Bloom fragrances directly.

By Robert Williams • Dec. 4, 2020

Belk offers virtual festivities for the holidays

Activities include phone calls from Santa, a social media decorating contest and surprise gift cards tied to its in-store and curbside pickup services. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 4, 2020

Is cashierless tech ready for prime time?

The pandemic has juiced demand for automated checkout systems, but the technology still has to prove itself over the long term.

By Sam Silverstein • Dec. 3, 2020

LVMH's chief digital officer leaves for cryptocurrency startup

The move comes as other brands and retailers retool their executive hires for the digital era.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 2, 2020

Smartphone shopping surged 25% to $3.6B on Black Friday, study finds

Mobile made up 40% of the day's overall online spending, while in-store and curbside pickup increased as consumers avoided in-store shopping.

By Robert Williams • Dec. 1, 2020

Facebook buys omnichannel customer service startup Kustomer for reported $1B

Kustomer's focus on supporting customers' online conversations with businesses advances Facebook's efforts to expand into social commerce.

By Robert Williams • Dec. 1, 2020

Shopping apps hit record 2.8M installs on Black Friday: report

Companies spread out deals in the weeks leading up to Black Friday which resulted in a surge of first-time installs of retail apps. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 1, 2020

Francesca’s launches app

The apparel retailer is moving forward with a new channel to engage shoppers as speculation over a possible bankruptcy lingers. 

By Kaarin Moore • Nov. 30, 2020

Drive business growth with machine learning personalization

Studies show that organizations that have implemented personalization have seen 5-15% increases in revenue.

Nov. 30, 2020

Winners and losers of Black Friday 2020

Online sales, curbside and store pickup all surged as a sales event defined by the pandemic took shape. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Nov. 28, 2020

Black Friday 2020 online sales on pace to grow as much as 42%

While COVID-19 rages across the U.S., consumers are staying home — but still shopping. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Nov. 27, 2020

Walmart boosts shoppable videos with Tastemade cooking shows

Tastemade's "Struggle Meals" series lets viewers text an on-screen number to add suggested ingredients to a virtual shopping cart.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 24, 2020

Study: Most retailers will boost ad spend on Facebook next year

Ninety-three percent of retail brands currently buy ads on the social network, Smarly.io found, despite a media boycott against it over the summer.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 24, 2020

Walgreens revamps app, loyalty program

Mobile users can now chat with a pharmacist, book medical care and vaccination appointments and obtain real-time flu alerts. 

By Kaarin Moore • Nov. 24, 2020

Walmart adds to its last-mile arsenal with acquisition of startup assets

The retailer will purchase select properties, including talent and technology, from peer-to-peer delivery firm JoyRun.

By Jeff Wells • Nov. 24, 2020

TJX retailers launch ‘Carol for a Cause’ holiday campaign

In an effort to raise money for Feeding America, the brands are encouraging consumers to use Instagram Reels to record videos of themselves caroling.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 23, 2020

Study: Two-thirds of shoppers concerned about holiday data breaches

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced reluctant shoppers to spend online, but many remain concerned about cybersecurity risks.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 19, 2020

RadioShack brand acquired by new owner of Pier 1, Modell's IP

Retail Ecommerce Ventures has been on a buying spree of distressed retail intellectual property. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Nov. 19, 2020

Joann rolls out BOPIS tech that identifies order pickup time

The retailer introduced technology that gives a customer ETA on pickups and prioritizes fulfillment based on those arrival times.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 18, 2020

Gap, H&M open mobile storefronts on Group Nine’s new Swipe.Shop platform

The publisher of NowThis and Thrillist will provide 20 million impressions' worth of free ad space to 10 small businesses affected by the pandemic.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 17, 2020

Best Buy taps Instacart for same-day deliveries

The platform will now also guarantee high-priced purchases delivered from the retailer.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 17, 2020

Facebook debuts shoppable livestreams with Anne Klein

The social network kicked off a four-part "Celebrate the Holidays" series of live shopping events with the fashion company.  

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 17, 2020