Mike O'Brien
Mike O’Brien has worked in journalism, marketing and public relations for … well, quite a while. At Multichannel Merchant he focuses on the world of direct-to-customer operations and fulfillment, editing MCM’s weekly O+F Advisor newsletter, and programs the annual Ecommerce Operations Summit conference. Previously Mike was a senior account executive for Marx Communications, a boutique public relations firm working with marketing and advertising technology companies. Other past work includes stints as a media relations consultant for a concert promoter, a marketing communications specialist for a pharma software firm, a research analyst covering corporate e-learning and a daily newspaper reporter on every beat imaginable – except sports.
Parcel shipping volume grew 17% in 2017 across 13 major geographies tracked by Pitney Bowes, from 64 billion to 74 billion items shipped, with China the largest shipper at 40 billion items, followed by the U.S. (12 billion) and Japan (10 billion). See what other key data was pulled out of the annual survey.
A Senate hearing on a task force report recommending U.S. Postal Service reforms, scheduled for Sept. 5, has been postponed as President Donald Trump is delaying release of the report. No new date has been set, indefinitely postponing any legislative action, including possible raising of postal rates or even privatization.
Best Buy reported strong topline, earnings and comp growth in the second quarter as its omnichannel focus, ecommerce sales and categories like appliances continued to be bright spots. See what executives had to say about the Q2 results and what the company is doing to improve the customer experience.
After various acquisition offers didn’t work out, club-based grocery and CPG ecommerce startup Boxed has secured a $110 million funding round, validating the company’s technology and market position as the e-grocery space continues to heat up.
Target continues to fire on all cylinders in terms of fulfillment, delivery and omnichannel, expanding its delivery from store and curbside pickup programs ahead of the holidays and seeing strong growth in its Shipt same-day delivery service.
As he reviews the report from his U.S. Postal Service task force and weighs next steps including possible privatization, President Donald Trump has now set his sights abroad in pursuit of more equitable international postage rates from the Universal Postal Union or UPU, according to media reports.
Startup online mattress seller Tuft & Needle will be acquired by old-line mattress company Serta Simmons Bedding for an undisclosed sum, according to various media reports, as Serta looks to bolster its digital presence and gain back share grabbed by new online players.
Making good on an announcement it made in January, Sam’s Club is converting a second shuttered store location into an ecommerce fulfillment center, this time in Chicago. The first one opened in Memphis in June.
UPS has filed a U.S. patent application for a technology that would use blockchain and its shared distributed ledgers to more efficiently track and manage packages shipped within its network as well as those handed off to other carriers worldwide.
Cincinnati-based grocer Kroger will start selling online into China through a new partnership with Alibaba, testing some of its natural foods line first as it makes its first international move in the expanding grocery wars. See what else the company is up to, including its pilot of driverless delivery in Scottsdale, AZ and same-day delivery.