Shipping

Kohl's Adds Same-Day Delivery Via Instacart
May 8, 2024 at 5:19 pm

Kohl's customers can now get same-day delivery thanks to a partnership between the department store chain and Instacart, the companies reported last week. Customers can now place scheduled or same-day delivery orders for 1,172 Kohl’s locations nationwide. Kohl's rewards can also be earned through Instacart purchases . “With Kohl’s as one of the first department…

Walmart Increasing Return Shipping Rates for Third-Party Sellers
April 3, 2024 at 12:15 pm

Walmart is raising its return shipping rates for seller-fulfilled orders, citing "changing market conditions," according to an update posted this month on the Walmart Marketplace website. While the retailer doesn't make its return shipping rates public, the company told Talk Business it’s the first rate increase in two years. Walmart marketplace allows third-party sellers to…

Small Businesses Should Be Diversifying Their Supply Chains, Too
April 2, 2024 at 11:24 am

Businesses are constantly having to navigate unexpected issues with their shipping processes and the real consequences that come to their bottom line. From upstream disruptions such as havoc in international waters that clog ports and upend access to goods, to downstream disruptions like inclement weather that mess with on-time-delivery (OTD) rates, the supply chain as…

DoorDash Adds Lowe's as First Home Improvement Retail Partner
April 1, 2024 at 7:15 pm

DoorDash has entered the home improvement category with a new partnership with Lowe’s Companies. The delivery aggregator announced yesterday that it will offer on-demand delivery from more than 1,700 Lowes' stores nationwide. This partnership marks DoorDash’s first foray into the home improvement category and builds on the significant selection offerings on the platform, with more than 99…

Retail’s Great Balancing Act and Why Crowdsourcing is Key
March 14, 2024 at 11:59 am

Consumers want convenience, personalization and value — it’s what pushed the U.S. retail market to a record $5.13 trillion in 2023. As inflation subsides, what shoppers want and how they spend will keep playing a big role in how the market evolves. Retailers need to keep pace with a more connected, savvy and discerning customer…

No Fast Shipping? No Problem. How SMBs Can Navigate the Amazon Effect
February 27, 2024 at 2:21 pm

COVID-19 may have started the fire, but the online shopping boom is showing no signs of burning out. As consumer expectations grow alongside this blazing industry, many are placing a stronger focus on the shipping experience itself. This is why retail giants like Amazon.com are making fast and free shipping incentives table stakes, with recent…

Emerging Technologies in Last-Mile Delivery
February 7, 2024 at 9:40 am

The explosive growth in e-commerce that flowed from the COVID-19 pandemic has made last-mile delivery more important than ever in the retail industry. Companies that meet consumer expectations when it comes to last-mile delivery will be well-positioned to thrive. Meeting those expectations, however, is easier said than done, as consumers want delivery to be fast,…

Beyond the Cart: Top Trends Shaping the Delivery Experience
January 25, 2024 at 10:58 am

E-commerce brands have been through a tumultuous few years. The pandemic in 2020 brought a surge in online shopping which has never subsided. As consumers have increased their online purchases, their expectations for low cost, simple, fast and reliable delivery have also grown. Retailers are recognizing that the delivery experience can have a huge impact…

The Evolution of Same-Day Delivery: How E-Commerce Brands Are Meeting Instant Gratification Needs
January 22, 2024 at 2:32 pm

Traditional delivery methods, once the norm in e-commerce, are rapidly being replaced by a standard that prioritizes immediacy. Retail giants and small businesses alike have recognized that today's consumers expect their online purchases to arrive not in days, but hours. This seismic shift is redefining logistics, compelling companies to innovate and adapt at breakneck speeds…

Is This the Beginning of the End for Free Shipping?
January 15, 2024 at 11:49 am

Shipping, and whether or not it’s free, has been the de-facto decision maker for online shopping conversions ever since Amazon.com introduced its Prime membership in 2005. What started out as a way for non-Amazon retailers to remain competitive and to incentivize shoppers to buy more online has now become a very expensive customer expectation. In…