Editor's Note: Key Retail Trends From eTail West

I’m writing this Editor’s Note from the eTail West conference in sunny Palm Desert, Calif., and I’m dizzy with excitement over all of the new and fun things I’m hearing about in the cross-channel retail industry. Here are two key themes I’ve heard while at eTail that I think you should be aware of:

Digital Disruption: A key trend for cross-channel retailers to keep their eyes on is the growth of direct-to-consumer selling. “Big brands are building online more quickly than ever before,” said Dana Settle, founding partner of Greycroft Partners, a venture capital firm that focuses on companies in the digital media space. “All of the pieces are in place in terms of infrastructure for them to do so. They can source product very easily with very little capital, for example.”