Supply Chain

The Retail Reverse Logistics Reckoning: Brands Cast Eyes to Returns Amid the E-Commerce Swell
November 1, 2021 at 7:54 pm

As a long-time supply chain professional, it was humbling and exciting to watch the revolutions that took place amid the huge shift in consumerism over the past 18 months. Unfortunately, the circumstances were dire and distressing. But the agility, the innovation, the resiliency that consumer-facing brands showed in finding new ways to serve their customers…

Uber, Bed Bath & Beyond Partner to Deliver Baby and Kids’ Essentials
November 1, 2021 at 7:29 pm

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…

Forecasts Point to a Strong Holiday Season, But Shopper Behavior Will Be Anything But Typical
October 28, 2021 at 3:33 pm

Retailers and brands are expecting strong consumer demand this holiday season, with major forecasts predicting a 7 percent to 9 percent increase in sales. Even with prices continuing to rise due to higher materials, labor, shipping and marketing costs, consumers seem unfazed and set to celebrate and spend. However, shoppers’ shifting behaviors and ongoing supply…

Why Faster Time to Market is the Ultimate Retail Differentiator
October 28, 2021 at 1:05 pm

At the forefront of evolving customer expectations, the retail industry has weathered several waves of disruption. Retailers have been quick to adopt digital, setting the ball rolling on customer centricity. They were also the ones to brace-up for a pandemic no one saw coming and keep up inventories and essentials despite never-seen-before turmoil. What kept…

A Checklist for Stepping Up Your E-Commerce Game
October 26, 2021 at 8:18 pm

American consumers spent a whopping $861.12 billion with online retailers in 2020, up 44 percent from the previous year. Amazon.com, the largest North American online retailer, reported a significant rise in site visits in January 2021, up 20 percent from the year prior. It’s plain to see that e-commerce is blowing up, and we don’t…

Naughty or Nice? Getting Last-Mile Delivery Right for the Holidays
October 25, 2021 at 12:26 pm

‘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…

The True Winners of the Democratization of the Last Mile Are Your Customers
October 21, 2021 at 4:57 pm

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…

Adobe Forecasts Record Online Sales, Continued Supply Chain Issues
October 20, 2021 at 3:03 pm

Adobe Analytics is out with its latest holiday shopping forecast, and the analytics firm is predicting record online shopping sales even as supply chain issues continue to challenge retailers. “We're entering a second holiday season where the pandemic will dictate the terms,” Patrick Brown, vice president of growth marketing and insights at Adobe, said in…

3 E-Commerce Tips to Win This Holiday Season
October 19, 2021 at 2:26 pm

Every holiday season is a championship race for e-commerce retailers. As the Covid-19 Delta variant continues to spread, this year's race becomes even more fierce due to the challenges with logistics and the booming of online shopping. While customers are striking another item on their shopping list before the "Sale" countdown ends, merchants are having…

NRF: Delta Variant Pushed Consumer Spending Toward Merchandise in September
October 18, 2021 at 8:16 pm

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…