Nordstrom brings Santa visits virtual

Customers can video call with Santa, for a fee, or deliver letters to the department store's locations in person or via curbside pickup.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 17, 2020

Amazon expands in-garage delivery to 4K cities

The company is also adding grocery options in five cities, which allows Prime members to receive orders from Whole Foods or Amazon Fresh to their garage.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 16, 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

5 ways retailers have adapted to a Black Friday unlike any other

Curbside sales, staggered discounts, websites that hold your place in line — retailers are reinventing Black Friday for a pandemic. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Nov. 16, 2020

Walmart taps self-driving vehicle startup Cruise for autonomous deliveries

The collaboration is part of the mass merchant's effort to modernize deliveries and lessen environmental impact.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 12, 2020

Lululemon to sell Mirror devices in stores, add community features

The home workout platform, which the athletics retailer acquired in the midst of the pandemic, will be initially available at 18 stores this holiday season.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 11, 2020

Nuro nets $500M in new funding

The autonomous delivery company is planning on a commercial rollout of its fully self-driving vehicle in the coming months. 

By Jeff Wells • Nov. 11, 2020

Guitar Center looks to inspire music buffs with new social video series

A series featuring 25 musicians could help the retailer reach potential customers as it prepares for an unusual holiday season.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 10, 2020

NBCUniversal ramps up shoppable content with new platform, PayPal deal

One Platform Commerce unifies the broadcaster's e-commerce efforts as consumers are shopping online and brands seek alternatives to pricey TV ads.

By Aaron Baar • Nov. 10, 2020

Verishop debuts social shopping app

New features allow users and brands to upload photos and videos, tag products and shop content on their personal feeds.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 10, 2020

Rite Aid leans on pharmacists in rebranding effort

The drugstore is also embracing its potential as a beauty retailer, placing beauty ambassadors in some stores with a "spa-like" environment.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 9, 2020

L’Oréal offers first line of virtual makeup for social media, video calls

As consumers stay connected via mobile, the company's AR filters let them sport digital looks on Instagram, Snapchat, Snap Camera and Google Duo.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 9, 2020

Alibaba, Richemont pour $1.1B into Farfetch

The move underscores China's importance to the luxury market and perhaps a newfound level of urgency for upscale brands to embrace digital.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 6, 2020

Amazon releases Dash Smart Shelf for consumers, small businesses

The smart shelf reordering system was released last year to aid independent companies, but may be useful to individuals seeking to make fewer store trips.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 5, 2020

Dior activates Snapchat e-commerce for new sneaker

The luxury brand showcases six styles of the men's sneakers in an AR experience that guides users to the point of sale.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 4, 2020

Amazon and Williams-Sonoma settle legal battle over IP

The home retailer and e-commerce giant reached an undisclosed agreement over a lawsuit that delved into Amazon's use of brand names on its site. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Nov. 4, 2020

Walmart ends aisle-scanning robot contract

The retailer is no longer working with Bossa Nova Robotics, reversing course on plans to roll out the company's shelf-scanning machines to 1,000 stores.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • Nov. 3, 2020

GameStop, Klarna team up on installment payments

The partnership is part of the gaming retailer's ongoing efforts to modernize its digital operations.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 3, 2020

The decade of VC funding that shaped e-commerce and DTC brands

Direct to consumer might be the buzziest trend in retail over the past 10 years, but it's not where all the money's going.

By Cara Salpini • Nov. 3, 2020

Chico's shores up finances, digital operations amid store closures

With stricter attention to profitability, the company has permanently closed 28 locations this year and plans as many as 50 more. 

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 2, 2020

Saks Fifth Avenue relaunches website with emphasis on personalization

More robust shoppable content, and filters for fulfillment options like BOPIS, are a few of the features on the department store's new website.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 2, 2020

B8ta acquires retail-as-a-service startup Re:store

The deal comes after B8ta announced corporate layoffs during the early days of the pandemic.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 2, 2020

Last-mile tech firm Onfleet raises $14M as interest surges in delivery services

The company, which provides software to help retailers manage drivers and communications with customers, will use the funds to support expansion.

By Sam Silverstein • Nov. 2, 2020

Online holiday sales to reach $189B, Adobe says

E-commerce sales are expected to surpass $3 billion daily between Nov. 22 and Dec. 3. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 30, 2020

Under Armour to exit up to 3K wholesale doors, sell MyFitnessPal

The moves come as the retailer looks to shift to a more DTC-centered approach and drop undifferentiated partners.

By Cara Salpini • Oct. 30, 2020

Shopify, TikTok partner on shoppable video ads

The collaboration will help Shopify's merchants advertise on the social media app. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 29, 2020