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.
UPS Looking to Enter Fast-Growing White Glove Delivery Market
UPS is considering a move into the fast-growth white glove delivery market through a trucking partnership, which would enable it to handle larger, bulky items like furniture, appliances and home entertainment that often require special handling and some in-home installation.
Consumer Activity, Humming Economy Driving Tight Ecommerce Warehouse Market
After a brief period of parity for industrial space in the U.S., demand once again outpaced new supply in the first quarter according to a report from commercial real estate firm CBRE, with consumer behavior leading to a tight ecommerce warehouse market.
A Snapshot of How Merchants Are Doing in Post-Purchase
In the latest MCM CommerceChat podcast, Manish Chowdhary, CEO of Pulse Commerce, discusses the company’s recent study that tracked live orders of leading merchants and analyzed 50,000+ purchase path data points. Learn what these results mean in terms of addressing the post-purchase performance gap.
Firing on All Cylinders, Amazon Raises Prime Price by $20
In the midst of reporting a blowout first quarter, Amazon announced the first price hike for Prime’s annual membership since 2014, citing rising fulfillment costs and service value. Observers believe it won’t lead to any kind of dent in Prime’s 100 million members.
Alibaba’s Tmall Reportedly Punishing Retailers Who Won’t Sign Exclusives
Five major U.S. retailers who sell on Alibaba’s Tmall marketplace have reportedly run into headwinds when they refuse to sign exclusive agreements with the Chinese ecommerce giant. See what this dustup means for the parties involved, and how rival JD.com has been making hay over merchant issues with Alibaba.
As If In-Home Delivery Wasn’t Enough, Amazon Key Now Brings It to Your Trunk
Building off its Amazon Key offering last fall that lets couriers open smart locks and enter homes to drop off orders, Amazon is now enabling deliveries to the trunks of late-model GM and Volvo vehicles, the company announced.
Blockchain: Coming to a Supply Chain Near You
The advent of blockchain technology as a tool to enable secure, accurate sharing and verification across entire supply chains is fast approaching, moving it beyond the realm of Bitcoin transactions, attendees were told at Home Delivery World in Atlanta.
Retail and Ecommerce Distribution Center Roundup, 4/24/18
Sears, American Girl, iHerb and FedEx are among the companies making changes to their distribution network in Multichannel Merchant’s latest distribution center roundup.