Supply Chain

Endless articles and news coverage about the supply chain have surfaced over the last six months, so what's left to be said about the topic? Actually, a lot. The real issue with the supply chain begins at the source and, sourcing, at most companies, rarely has a seat at the proverbial table. Much like the…

While only a few months ago U.S. retailers were scrambling to fill their shelves due to supply chain delays, many are now facing inventory surpluses and having to discount unsold goods, according to a Reuters report. Average retail inventories have been rising quickly, too. The Reuters article cited research from Citi that found 11 of…

Buying goods online is now easier than ever before — but customers expect a smooth shopping experience at every step. The e-commerce industry is growing at a rate of about 20 percent per year. In fact, it’s estimated that this year alone, it will account for $1.0 trillion in the United States. But how often…

As last-mile delivery services have expanded, so too have the demands and priorities of consumers. In a recent consumer survey, we found that 76 percent of respondents said that an unacceptable delivery experience would strongly or somewhat affect their decision to order from that company again. Poor experiences can cause shoppers to choose another online…

In episode 350 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Kadian Langlais, chief marketing officer of Renfro Brands, a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of quality socks and legwear products. Langlais discusses the 100-year-old brand (1:02), her professional background in retail (3:12), and the impact that inflation and supply chain disruptions are having on…

How Integrated Technology Can Deliver for Retailers

Side hustles and e-commerce have sparked a surge in drop-shipping. One report even predicts the market size value to grow to $476.1 billion by 2026. However, while drop-shipping continues to make its way into the mainstream, most people still have no idea what it is or how to get started. So, What is Drop-Shipping? In…

It’s no secret that large e-commerce companies like Amazon.com thrived over the past two years. In a time of high demand and short supply, Amazon was able to provide what people wanted, when they wanted it. The secret is in how it was able to do that when supply chain problems were hitting all companies.…

Ultrafast delivery — same-day or next-day — is now the new normal. Amazon.com and other leading retailers have reset customer expectations with shipping options that the rest of the industry must match to stay competitive. The good news for omnichannel retailers is that their brick-and-mortar outlets can help them win the last-mile delivery race. By…

Amazon.com will let other online merchants piggyback on its Prime service to deliver goods quickly to their customers, reports CNBC. The company on Thursday launched a new service, Buy with Prime, that lets third-party merchants use Amazon’s vast shipping and logistics network to fulfill orders on their own sites, while also appealing to Amazon’s 200…