Supply Chain

The ongoing tough economic climate is seeing retailers constantly seeking ways to control costs while protecting the experience their customers expect. One interesting trend is the emergence of "nearshoring" — i.e., locating key operations closer to the final point of sale. Rather than having large, centralized warehouses, paying duty and customs charges, dealing with lengthy and…

In today’s landscape, retailers already know how valuable data can be. Many are compiling ever-increasing amounts of data that reveal precious insights into customer shopping habits. In fact, 62 percent of retailers report gaining a competitive advantage due to data analytics, according to IBM. But what might be less obvious is how data can overhaul…

The retail landscape is swiftly gearing up for its busiest time of year, punctuated by Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM). New research paints a picture of an industry feeling the pressure, grappling with economic hurdles, data inconsistencies, and rising costs. Amidst global supply chain disruptions, fluctuating consumer demands and spending, the urgency for brands…

In today's ever-changing business landscape, a one-size-fits-all approach to supply chain planning is more than just a strategy for consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies. Unforeseeable disruptions can occur anytime, leading to missed sales opportunities, sluggish supply chains, and mismatches between inventory capacity and consumer demand. According to McKinsey & Company research, earnings not only shrink upward of…

Reports of an easing supply chain crisis may be greatly exaggerated. While the media has highlighted the many ways that pandemic-spurred supply chain problems are lifting, those on the front lines are still uneasy as they face rising costs, inflation and economic concerns, continued unpredictability, and employee shortages. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York…

Executives don’t get where they are by jumping on every passing trend. True business leaders are the people who can assess all of the options in front of them and make choices that enable their companies to stay current and continue growing. Strategic timing is key to this process, and sometimes the right choice for…

Supply chain disruptions and delays have been rampant since the beginning of the pandemic, wreaking havoc across industries worldwide. In an attempt to mitigate the struggles of the past few years, a new trend has emerged among retailers: owning and operating in-house supply chains. Some retailers have taken an acquisition approach by first acquiring supply…

Each year customers are getting younger. Savvy brands are now focusing their efforts on appealing to the next generation of shoppers, including tweens, teens and young adults. As of 2022, Gen Z (currently aged between nine and 24 years old) made up 20.88 percent of the U.S. population, so it makes sense that brands are turning…

While holiday shopping sprees are still months away, it’s prime time for brands to evaluate their fulfillment needs. Whether a brand is in the market for a new third-party logistics (3PL) partner or plans to bring on additional fulfillment support to manage peak season, it’s critical they conduct their due diligence now. Before diving head…

Amazon.com has revived its shipping service, paused during COVID-19's onset, competing with FedEx and UPS. Amazon Shipping lets sellers ship Amazon and external platform orders. Businesses must sell on Amazon to be eligible for the service. Amazon already provides shipping to merchants who use its storage and delivery service, Fulfillment by Amazon. Amazon Shipping allows…