Federal Express

While its rivals FedEx and UPS are working to encourage more U.S. online retailers to consider marketing their products abroad — thereby expanding international shipping volumes — the U.S. Postal Service has been taking a different approach in its response to the potential for growth in the e-commerce package business. 

Big package shipping companies are forecasting a surge in international online retailing while working to avoid pitfalls that, for some, turned explosive growth in U.S. e-commerce into a low-margin commodity delivery business.

A fast-paced session titled 60 Ideas in 60 Minutes for Your Distribution Center at the National Conference on Operations & Fulfillment in Las Vegas, left attendees with a bevy of new strategies and solutions that they can implement in their businesses. Timothy Holody, COO/general manager of cross-channel retailer Seta/Palm Beach Jewelry, Lance Curran, warehouse director of online apparel retailer Threadless, dispensed the tips in rapid-fire format.

Almost two weeks after Egyptian President Hosni Mubarek resigned following the high profile protests against his regime, the country is now under military rule. The United States Postal Service said the situation is now sufficiently stable for all its services to recommence.

A lot has certainly changed in a year. Following a dismal 2009, stock valuations at FedEx and UPS are approaching 2008 highs. Given the current environment, it's hard to remember that only a year ago FedEx froze bonuses and management salaries, rationalized networks, and suspended 401K contributions along with other measures to control costs.

Online jewelry retailer Blue Nile relied heavily on promotions this past holiday season to attract new customers. Beginning on Cyber Monday (Nov. 29) and running through Dec. 23, Blue Nile rolled out a new deal on its website each day at midnight. Consumers had 24 hours to purchase the "Holiday Exclusives" at a significant discount. All orders placed on Cyber Monday were upgraded to free FedEx Priority Overnight shipping as well.

The U.S. Postal Service is temporarily suspending acceptance of inbound mail from Yemen in response to potential terror threats from the country.

Wal-Mart is experimenting with allowing customers to buy merchandise online and have it delivered free to urban FedEx locations, a bid to boost sales in big cities where the retailer has little to no store presence.

Fighting for freight, retailers are outbidding each other to score scarce cargo space on ships, paying two to three times last year’s freight rates — in some cases, the highest rates in five years. And still, many are getting merchandise weeks late.

In a session at last month's National Conference on Operations & Fulfillment in Orlando, Fla., a panel of cross-channel marketers spanning a wide array of product categories presented tips on how their companies survived the economic pressures of 2009 to see the promise of 2010.