Shipping

Amazon.com on Tuesday announced that Key by Amazon In-Garage Grocery Delivery is expanding to everywhere grocery delivery from Amazon is available, providing service to more than 5,000 U.S. cities and towns, according to a company press release. Originally launched in five cities last November, Key In-Garage Grocery Delivery can now be used by millions of…

The retail world was rocked this past year with pandemic-led surges in demand for e-commerce and at-home delivery. While many retailers were successful in making the pivot or ramping up their delivery cycles to meet capacity, it certainly didn't come without its challenges. The interesting aspect to the surge in e-commerce we experienced this past…

The spread of the pandemic has dramatically changed the way shoppers purchase goods. While there was already an increase in online shopping prior to the pandemic, that has jumped to record numbers amid shutdowns. Customers have grown accustomed to the convenience of receiving their products straight to their door. An Oracle survey reported that not…

Walmart is lifting the $35 minimum order required to use its Express Delivery service, which brings items to customers in less than two hours. Express Delivery allows customers to order items from Walmart’s food, consumables and general merchandise assortment such as produce, pantry staples, everyday essentials, toys and electronics, and is currently offered in 3,000 Walmart stores. Express orders are…

With COVID-19 restrictions driving a shift to online shopping, shipping and logistics were a nightmare this past holiday shopping season. However, for some retailers, “dark stores” have proven to be a key tactic for combatting the madness. Dark stores are physical store locations that have been turned into fulfillment centers, taking pressure off the supply…

Amazon.com's new Seller Fulfilled Prime (SFP) requirements went into effect on Feb. 1, 2021. Third-party SFP sellers must now show a nationwide one calendar-day or two calendar-day delivery promise on their Amazon product detail pages. Also, they must meet the strict delivery speed metrics on all such orders. For more details on the new SFP…

Holiday shopping 2020 looked very different than prior years. COVID-19 turned Cyber Monday into Cyber Week and beyond, as we continue to deal with an extended e-commerce boom. The “Cyber Season” that COVID has created is here to stay, even with an expected return to normalcy in 2021. With an overwhelming reliance on online shopping…

In part one of this three-part series, I will decode Amazon.com's latest and most radical changes to its Seller Fulfilled Prime (SFP) program. I will share what merchants can do to adapt and thrive in the new one-day e-commerce delivery world. On August 20, 2020, in a post titled Important Updates to Seller Fulfilled Prime…

GNC and Shipt announced a new partnership that will for the first time bring same-day delivery of GNC health and wellness products to consumers across the country, according to a company press release. Shipt customers can select GNC in the user-friendly app and on Shipt.com to add any products to their order, including vitamins and supplements,…

The COVID-19 pandemic created a major spike in outsourced delivery services as restaurants, grocery stores and retailers rushed to adapt to an overnight shift in consumer behavior. Months later it has become clear that the home delivery shift is here to stay, and the high fees and unpredictability of outsourced services are no longer tenable.…