Shipping

Amazon Expands Delivery Trial That Could Hurt FedEx, UPS
January 30, 2018 at 12:47 pm

Amazon.com is is expanding a service launched to make more groceries, cleaning supplies and other products available for quick delivery directly from merchants without overwhelming the e-commerce giant’s warehouses with additional inventory, according to documents reviewed by Bloomberg. The trial pushes Amazon’s logistical reach beyond its own facilities and into those of its merchants, encroaching on…

Target is Launching Same-Day Delivery Next Week
January 26, 2018 at 11:48 am

Target is launching a same-day delivery service sooner than expected. CNBC reports in the wake of its $550 million acquisition of Shipt, Target will be launching same-day shipping technologies in 57 stores across Alabama and South Florida, starting Feb. 1. Later in February, Target’s website announced Shipt's service will expand to areas of Georgia, North…

Amazon Raises Monthly Prime Membership Price by 18%
January 19, 2018 at 12:54 pm

Amazon.com said today that it's raising its monthly Prime membership rates. The premium membership that grants faster shipping and access to Amazon Video will now cost $12.99 per month, up from $10.99, an 18 percent increase. Amazon is also increasing the discounted student monthly rate from $5.49 to $6.49 per month for new sign-ups.The cost…

Retailers Must Get Delivery Right, or Risk Losing Customers
January 3, 2018 at 1:19 pm

Today’s sophisticated cyber shoppers continue to transform the retail landscape. Demanding innovation and excellence in every channel, they expect to take control of their online retail experience — and that includes where, when and how delivery happens. In fact, according to MetaPack's 2017 State of eCommerce Delivery Consumer Research Report, which collates the views of…

Wal-Mart Developing Personal Shopping Services, Cashier-Free Stores
December 21, 2017 at 2:46 pm

Wal-Mart's Code Eight, the first portfolio company in its newly launched incubator, Store No. 8, has started testing personal shopping services for moms in New York City, Recode reports. The  service is targeted to “busy NYC moms ” who are "high net worth urban consumers" and will enable them to get product recommendations and make purchases simply through text messaging. The…

Holiday Shopping & Consumer Expectations: How Same-Day Delivery Drives Purchase Intent and Brand Loyalty
December 14, 2017 at 9:44 am

Wal-Mart’s Code Eight, the first portfolio company in its newly launched incubator, Store No. 8, has started testing personal shopping services for moms in New York City, Recode reports. The  service is targeted to “busy NYC moms ” who are “high net worth urban consumers” and will enable them to get product recommendations and make purchases simply through text messaging. The […]

Target Buying Delivery Platform Shipt for $550M
December 13, 2017 at 1:44 pm

Target announced today it has agreed to acquire Shipt, Inc., an online same-day delivery platform, for $550 million in cash. The retail chain said it will use its network of stores and Shipt’s proprietary technology platform and network of more than 20,000 members to bring same-day delivery to customers across the country. Shipt differs from other…

5 Benefits of Parcel Lockers Every Retailer Should Know
December 11, 2017 at 1:11 pm

There are many reasons why customers opt to use parcel lockers, but the greatest appeal is that they're convenient and cheaper than home delivery. Customers not only want to use these click-and-collect solutions as a final-mile delivery option, but also as a way to handle returns. To gain a competitive advantage and offer customers the…

Wal-Mart's E-Commerce Rush Slows Delivery Network
December 8, 2017 at 11:52 am

Wal-Mart said on Wednesday that an increase in online orders have caused delays in its distribution network, according to Reuters. "The week of Thanksgiving is an incredibly busy time for all of retail. With massive volume going through our system, there were some orders that took extra time, much like other major e-commerce sites,” Wal-Mart…