3 Strategies for Reaching the Connected Consumer from the Cloud

| Keith McCall

There is a real need for retailers to find shipping solutions that can help evolve them and manage costs as they deploy new stores and warehouses. Here are three strategies that retailers can take to better manage their complexities.

The Top 5 Considerations in Finding an Omnichannel Fulfillment Partner

| Robert Hartley

As the volume of online sales continues to rise, companies are struggling to manage the difference in B2B and D2C operations. If you’re searching for an omnichannel fulfillment partner, here are the top 5 things to consider in finding the right one.

Sports Authority Calling it Quits

| Tim Parry

Sports Authority won’t come out of bankruptcy as an independent company and instead wants to sell off all its holdings, according to a report from The Denver Post.

O+ F Advisor 4-27-16

| Chris Intili

Multichannel Merchant Operations & Fulfillment Strategies & Tactics week of 04/27/2016 BJ's Wholesale Club Adds Buy Online, Pickup in Store Joining a growing trend, BJ's Wholesale Club has introduced buy … Continue Reading →

MCM Outlook 2016: Amazon Has a Major Effect on DTC Operations

| Mike O'Brien

MCM Outlook respondents said that Amazon had a major impact on their on their DTC business. This includes the pressure to ship faster, as well as the need to offer free or reduced shipping guarantees – both reactions to Amazon Prime and Prime Now services.

Need for Delivery Speed Driving Ecommerce Distribution Investments

| MCM Staff

The need for speed in ecommerce distribution, driven largely by Amazon Prime’s two-day promise, is behind increased investments in distribution center technology as well as a trend toward more smaller, forward-based facilities closer to the customer, according to a new report. Find out what other topline results came from the survey of 1,400 IT and warehouse professionals around the globe.

Use of a 3PL A Small But Growing Option for Merchant Shippers

| Mike O'Brien

While there are many clear advantages to using a third-party fulfillment (3PL) partner for outsourcing some or all of your operations, the majority of merchant companies still opt for keeping these functions in house and firmly within their control. According to respondents to the MCM Outlook Survey, 26.5% of respondents said they use a 3PL in 2016, up from 21.2% in 2015, while the rest said they handle fulfillment internally. Of those who said no, only 2.9% said they are considering use of a 3PL, down from 6.2% in 2015.

Ulta Beauty Named Retail Innovator of the Year

| Tim Parry

Ulta Beauty was named Retail Innovator of the Year at the 2nd annual Excellence in Customer Experience Awards, held April 14 at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati as part of Multichannel Merchant’s Operations Summit 2016. Here’s why the editors of Multichannel Merchant recognized Ulta Beauty as the most innovative retailer in the past year.

O+F Advisor 4-20-16

| Chris Intili

Multichannel Merchant Operations & Fulfillment Strategies & Tactics week of 04/20/2016 Bubble Wrap Maker Says the Lack of Pop is Good for Business Sealed Air President, Product Care Ken Chrisman … Continue Reading →