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Amazon.com is making Fresh grocery deliveries available to more non-Prime members. In an update on Thursday, Amazon said that it’s expanding the offer to non-Prime subscribers in all U.S. states where Fresh orders are available for delivery and pickup. While Amazon previously only offered Fresh delivery to Prime customers, it opened up the service to non-Prime members in August.…

The shipping disruptions that proliferated during COVID-19 permanently altered the global supply chain landscape. These changes are continuing to transform the way manufacturing companies operate in today’s economy. In particular, more businesses have come to realize the benefits of producing goods in nearby countries, commonly known as nearshoring. For the first time in 2023, Mexico became…

It’s officially fall 2023: leaves are turning, festive lattes are brewing, and retailers everywhere are bracing themselves for the holiday onslaught. Even in the best years, it’s a stressful time for retailers, their employees, and shoppers alike. There’s no telling exactly what this season will hold. Indeed, any retailer that knows what’s going to happen…

In the ever-evolving landscape of holiday shopping, consumers' behaviors and priorities are set to change this year. To stay competitive, brands must closely examine these shifts and tailor their strategies accordingly. A recent survey uncovered a few key trends that are expected to reshape the holiday shopping experience. Change in Delivery Expectations Once a significant…

Cyber Monday is fast approaching, and retailers are gearing up to take advantage. Last year’s Cyber Monday sales broke records, and experts predict this year will as well. The problem? Many small companies trying to place their products with large retailers are simply not prepared to cope with the Cyber Monday demand, and this can…

All of us are familiar with the phrase, "Nothing in life is free," (including lunch), but this sentiment truly resonates when examining the intricacies of free shipping in e-commerce. What if we changed the script on free shipping, viewing it not merely as a business maneuver, but instead as a catalyst for eco-conscious evolution? It…

Every retailer with a well-run transportation fleet regularly reviews its operational and systematic data to identify key trends and opportunities to improve its overall efficiencies and the bottom line. However, with so much change taking place within the transportation and equipment finance industries, how can retailers be sure they're evolving and adapting in the right…

With the leaves turning colors and the arrival of cooler temperatures, retailers are turning their attention to ensuring their e-commerce systems are ready for holiday 2023. The complex, fluctuating economic conditions this year mean they’re facing a distinct set of challenges: ever-present inventory planning and delivery logistics challenges alongside a prediction of flat or modest…

The United States Postal Service (USPS) will not raise pricing by applying a peak season surcharge this holiday season. Wait, what? 2023 will be the fourth peak season since COVID temporarily forced volume surges on the package carriers, and the carriers forced “peak” surcharges on the shipping public. This year, however, the USPS is making…

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…

The U.S. Postal Service, fresh off several consecutive significant price hikes, will not include a surcharge this peak season for mailers and shippers sending items during the holidays. The announcement marks a departure from recent USPS strategy, which has increased its prices between early October and mid-January for the last few years. Postal management pointed…

While Amazon.com's impact on e-commerce is sizable, arguably one of the most impressive parts of the company has less to do with selling products and more about delivering them. In 2014, the company had a 0 percent logistics market share. As reported by Axios in 2020, just six years later, Amazon’s logistics arm overtook FedEx…

In a world where customer experience (CX) is paramount, harnessing the power of personalized shipping can be a game-changer for retailers seeking to create lasting customer relationships. Today’s online shoppers consider the shipping experience to be a key component of their CX, with 90 percent of respondents stating that it accounts for at least half…

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…

The LEGO Group announced last week its pledge to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 as part of its continued efforts to reduce environmental impact. The pledge is an extension of its existing near-term climate target to reduce GHG emissions by 37 percent by 2032 from a 2019 base, according to a company…

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…

Walmart announced last week that it's teaming up with Wing, an on-demand drone delivery provider powered by Google’s parent company, Alphabet, to offer drone delivery from two stores in the Dallas metro area in the coming months. The move will enable the retail giant to deliver products to an additional 60,000 homes in under 30…