Supply Chain

For 44 percent of respondents to one survey, the “Amazon effect” is having a dramatic impact on more than their logistics, supply chain and transportation operations. It begins with e-commerce, where consumers are able to find whatever they want, whenever they want, place their order, and then receive what they want within two days, or…

Part one of this series can be read here. The industry was reaching the age of next-generation fulfillment even before the global health emergency. Now fulfillment innovation is driven by surges in customer demand and dramatic market shifts. Companies that are able to answer the call for convenience will find lasting success. In this new retail…

In the last installment of this 10-part series, I focus on emerging technologies and trends that will shape fulfillment in the coming months and years. These innovations enable merchants to fulfill orders faster while reducing costs, especially in the last mile and warehouse operations. Many large e-commerce merchants have started to adopt these technologies, and…

The current pandemic has caused major disruption across the globe, especially for retailers relying on supply chains to keep essential products on shelves for consumers in a time of critical need. Many businesses are quickly shifting their focus toward maintaining supply to meet demands, which are rapidly shifting. However, leaders should also view this as…

In episode 247 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Ismail Ozokur, CEO of Oz Medical Supply, a family-owned and operated medical supply and equipment distributor to all segments of the healthcare industry. Listen in as Ozokur discusses his career background, the history of the company, and Oz Medical's primary customers and products. He shares…

The COVID-19 outbreak has created unprecedented challenges for sellers of all sizes around the world. There are many businesses that have taken a hard hit as a result of these circumstances, but some sectors of the economy, like e-commerce, have experienced a boom in sales during the pandemic. Due to stay-at-home orders and social distancing,…

The COVID-19 pandemic has been causing havoc across the globe, with countries, economies, people and businesses all bearing the brunt of this unforeseen crisis. The retail industry has been turned upside down, and retail businesses are scrambling to adapt to this new reality by finding sustainable ways to ensure business continuity. With home quarantines and…

COVID-19 has upended the way consumers shop for everything, especially groceries. Last year, delivery represented 3 percent of U.S. grocery sales; in the last month, grocery delivery services like Instacart have shared statistics showing that 9 percent of U.S. grocery sales are now via delivery. As many consumers hesitate to return to any kind of…

COVID-19 has brought new challenges to every aspect of life, and at the same time created opportunities and momentum for new trends and innovations. In an age of social distancing, D-to-C brands are deprived of their routine face-to-face interactions with customers. While a myriad of products are available online, creating differentiation and providing value to…

In episode 245 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Paige McFarling, director of mission advancement at Ten Thousand Villages, a nonprofit fair trade organization that markets handcrafted products made by disadvantaged artisans from more than 120 artisan groups in more than 35 countries. Listen in as McFarling shares the brand's story and mission;…