Shipping

Retail is having a moment, to say the least. But an increase in sales, which are up 14.5 percent so far this year compared to 2020 in almost all categories, combined with major transportation delays that are clogging the supply chain, points to a tumultuous holiday season. And the industry is still coming off the…

Remember last year’s “Shipageddon,” when many delivery providers struggled to meet demand in the lead-up to the holidays? Well, like a sequel to a movie that no one enjoyed the first time around, Shipageddon 2 could be coming soon. But the good news for retailers is that if you play it smart, you can avoid…

Walmart said yesterday that it has started using fully driverless trucks in its online grocery business in an effort to increase capacity and reduce inefficiencies. Walmart has partnered with Gatik, a middle mile logistics provider that delivers goods safely and efficiently using its fleet of light and medium duty trucks that operate daily without a driver.…

Bed Bath & Beyond has partnered with Uber Technologies to launch a baby and kids vertical on the Uber Eats app, the companies announced Monday. Through the partnership, Uber will deliver baby and home products from 120 BuyBuy Baby and 750 Bed Bath & Beyond stores in the U.S. The selection includes essentials ranging from diapers and…

‘Tis the season to start thinking about your last-mile deliveries for the holidays. While the end-of-year cheer and festivities might seem like they're still far off, it’s never too early to strategize the best course of action for your business’ last-mile holiday deliveries. What is Last-Mile Delivery? Also referred to as final-mile delivery or final-mile…

External consumer-facing challenges and internal (sometimes immediate) strategic pivots have made the retail vertical very exciting to watch in the past 18 months. On one side, consumers have a major upper hand when it comes to purchasing decisions as there are many retailers that offer the same products, have similar pricing, and offer a variety…

Retail sales increased in September as worries about the COVID-19 delta variant pushed consumer spending toward merchandise rather than services like dining, entertainment or travel — despite supply chain disruptions and inflation, the National Retail Federation (NRF)said last week. NRF’s calculation of retail sales — which is based on U.S. Census Bureau monthly retail data but excludes automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants…

In this episode of Retail Right Now, Total Retail's Kristina Stidham and Marie Albiges discuss an article recently published by Total Retail, “Creating Fulfillment Independence to Reduce Shipping Challenges,” authored by Aimee Tierney, vice president of sales at Logistyx Technologies. Shipping challenges are top-of-mind for retailers preparing for holiday season demand with a COVID-impacted supply…

The Home Depot on Wednesday became the first retailer to announce it was using Walmart's new delivery business, GoLocal, and would engage Walmart's drivers to deliver home improvement products purchased online to customers' doors in the coming weeks. In a press release Wednesday, Stephanie Smith, senior vice president of supply chain for The Home Depot,…

Fedex recently announced the largest general rate increase in nearly a decade. Effective Jan. 3, 2022, shipping rates will increase by an average of 5.9 percent for Express, Ground, Economy, Home Delivery and Freight. The changes are complex. Many companies will be hurt with increases greater than 5.9 percent as this is an "average" increase for all weights, zones,…