Warehouse Management
July 19, 2019 at 10:26 am
Ikea plans to close its only U.S. factory site and shift operations to Europe. The Swedish furniture company’s Danville, Virginia, manufacturing facility will close in December, cutting about 300 jobs, The Wall Street Journal reported. The company said its production costs in Europe will be lower and that importing the goods will make its products more affordable in North America,…
July 9, 2019 at 9:50 am
Amazon.com warehouse workers in Minnesota plan to strike during the online retailer’s summer sales extravaganza, a sign that labor unrest persists even after the company committed to paying all employees at least $15 an hour last year. Workers at a Shakopee, Minnesota, fulfillment center plan a six-hour work stoppage on July 15, the first day…
March 14, 2019 at 10:32 am
As 2019 continues, many retailers are preparing for a post-season pause and an off-peak lull. However, others must plan for peak periods that go beyond the traditional holiday season. Different types of companies experience seasonal peaks at different times of the year, and even “micro-peaks” throughout the year. Whether, for example, it’s New Year’s galvanizing…
February 28, 2019 at 8:47 am
Four key factors can help online entrepreneurs decide if a 3PL will be a good fit for the next chapter in their company’s success.
November 28, 2018 at 10:10 am
According to the World Economic Forum’s 2018 Future of Jobs report, machines will eliminate 75 million jobs by 2022. However, robotics will also lead to 133 million new jobs, many of which will require new skills. The biggest question now: how will today’s employees adapt to tomorrow’s technologies? Unfortunately for warehouses and fulfillment centers in…
October 18, 2018 at 12:54 pm
Qurate Retail Group (QRG) announced several initiatives designed to better position its HSN and QVC U.S. businesses for long-term growth. Most important is the formation of an integrated business unit called QXH, which Qurate said will ensure an aligned approach to the U.S. market. As part of the transformation, Qurate will eliminate 350 positions by the…
August 6, 2018 at 2:21 pm
Walmart is testing the use of storage and retrieval robotics, called Alphabot, to increase the speed of online grocery order pickup, according to a company blog post. The technology, which was developed in collaboration with retail automation company Alert Innovation, is being installed in a section of a Salem, N.H. supercenter, which will also be a dedicated…
June 28, 2018 at 12:57 pm
Amazon.com announced today the launch of a new offering designed to help individuals build their own companies that deliver Amazon packages. With the offering, Amazon will provide an active role in helping interested entrepreneurs start, set up and manage their own delivery businesses, even with little or no logistics experience. Amazon will offer the couriers — who…
May 14, 2018 at 12:26 pm
Target is testing a new product distribution strategy aimed at cutting down its replenishment cycle from days to hours while reducing overall inventory at stores, especially at small-format ones. Preston Mosier, Target's senior vice president of global supply chain and logistics field operations, made the announcement last week during a keynote presentation at the Retail Supply…
April 3, 2018 at 10:43 pm
The retail industry often serves as a principal driver of supply chain innovation, with companies continually looking for ways to get products to consumers faster and more efficiently. The key to a happy customer experience at a brick-and-mortar or online store lies in an effective and reliable supply chain. Automating certain supply chain processes can…
