E-Commerce/Omni-Channel

Neiman Marcus Turns to Technology to Solve Home-Delivery 'Exceptions'

March 7, 2018

Neiman Marcus Group Ltd. is trying to remove the pain from growing online sales that trigger big, bulky items and high financial stakes for the retailer.

Bit by Bit, Whole Foods Gets an Amazon Touch

March 7, 2018

The New York Times

Some signs are subtle, like the “Whole Foods + Amazon” one near the bananas. Others are more obvious, like the kiosk with Amazon devices for sale.

Four Ways Amazon Disrupting Customer Expectations

March 5, 2018

SupplyChainBrain

Amazon is the great disruptor, in part because innovation is built into their culture. It’s in their DNA to try new things knowing some of them will fail, and they are experimenting and learning all the time. This cycle of innovation has enabled them to disrupt retail by raising customer expectations – anticipating what customers want and responding with new products and services before anyone else. Amazon is resetting customer expectations around convenience, speed, price and selection. -Robert Dold, Retail Industry Leader, Fortna

Mattress Start-Up Casper Is Opening Its First Store — With Complimentary Naps

March 1, 2018

The Washington Post

Online mattress start-up Casper is opening its first permanent store, a 3,000-square-foot location in New York, where shoppers are invited to not only look at the company’s mattresses, pillows and bedding, but also to use them. Dozing off is encouraged, executives say.

'Sooner, Faster, Now': The Companies Surfing the E-Commerce Wave

February 26, 2018

Reuters

Amazon’s assault on the retail industry has brought misery to traditional retailers without a strong web presence.

Walmart's E-Commerce Challenge to Amazon Gets a Reality Check

February 22, 2018

Fortune

Walmart proved to be the victim of its own success on Tuesday.

For This Start-Up, the Secret to Selling Wine Online Is Making It Yourself

February 21, 2018

Los Angeles Times

In 2012, a Los Angeles start-up named Club W set out to help millennials find and buy decent wine on the internet. With bottles from a few boutique vintners, a slick web platform and a simple recommendation algorithm, the company had a propitious plan.

What Stores Do With $90Bn in Merchandise Returns

February 21, 2018

The Wall Street Journal

Retailers still celebrating their strongest holiday sales in years now face the less-pleasant task of disposing of billions of dollars in returned merchandise.

How E-Commerce Has Changed the Landscape of the Parcel Industry

February 16, 2018

SupplyChainBrain

The parcel industry is projected to grow 9 percent annually to more than $343bn globally by 2020, according to Accenture, thanks to the increase in e-commerce orders, which are forecast to surpass $600bn by 2021 in the US alone. Parcel carriers are challenged in this era of explosive e-commerce growth to maintain historic profitability as the number of stops per delivery and the size of packages increase, while customer expectations for speedier deliveries continue to heighten. -Dan Clark, Founder and President, Kuebix

Sam's Club, Vying With Costco and Amazon, Offers Free Shipping to Premium Members

February 16, 2018

Los Angeles Times

Sam's Club is offering free shipping for premium members and simplifying its membership tiers.

E-Commerce/Omni-Channel

The latest supply-chain news, analysis, trends and tools for executives in the e-commerce/omnichannel industry — which consists of companies engaged in internet retailing, including those with auxiliary brick-and-mortar stores. Learn how e-commerce/omnichannel companies and their suppliers around the world are managing the flow of products across all channels of the enterprise. Experts sound off on forecasting and demand planning, supply-chain visibility, logistics outsourcing, inventory optimization, transportation management, warehouse management, supply-chain security, corporate social responsibility and more.