Supply Chain
March 16, 2021 at 4:43 pm
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…
March 11, 2021 at 10:12 pm
Soon after the holidays are over we shift from the season of giving to the period of returns. The 2021 returns period post-holidays was different from others; extended return deadlines caused a massive backlog with regards to shipping and processing. In addition to the extended deadlines, retail companies such as Walmart made it easier for…
March 9, 2021 at 11:52 am
RC Willey Home Furnishings is a Furniture Today Top 100 retailer owned by Berkshire Hathaway and based in Salt Lake City. Offering exceptional selection, value, and service for over 80 years, it currently operates 13 stores and three distribution centers in Utah, Nevada, Idaho, and California. Unlike many home furnishings retailers, RC Willey sells appliances,…
March 3, 2021 at 5:21 pm
With the pandemic keeping individuals around the world sheltered inside for much of 2020, the retail experience has largely shifted online — and it’s expected to stay that way moving forward. According to PYMNTS’ Black Friday 2020 Report, more consumers shopped online this Black Friday than ever before. While 47 percent of shoppers surveyed did…
March 1, 2021 at 4:16 pm
The challenges retailers are facing in 2021 aren't simply regional anomalies. From the economic instability and demand volatility caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to sustainability concerns from rising levels of waste, these obstacles exist on a global scale and will only continue to evolve in the years to come. Finding the right answers requires an…
February 24, 2021 at 4:31 pm
Recent changes to Amazon.com's Seller Fulfilled Prime (SFP) program has sent sellers and the entire e-commerce industry scrambling. Merchants must quickly adapt to the new norm of nationwide one-day delivery or risk losing sales on Amazon. Offers from third-party sellers which include free Prime shipping can no longer be offered just regionally; they must now…
February 23, 2021 at 6:38 pm
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…
February 15, 2021 at 4:51 pm
Following a record year, imports at the largest U.S. retail container ports are expected to set new monthly records from now into the summer as the nation’s economy continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report from the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates, a maritime strategy and…
February 14, 2021 at 11:44 am
From small local boutiques to iconic department stores, no corner of the retail sector has been untouched by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the separation between winners and losers has never been so stark. For every mall chain declaring bankruptcy, there’s a competitor that’s quickly responded to the new normal and is reaping the revenue benefits.…
February 10, 2021 at 3:06 pm
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…
