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.
Amazon, Wayfair, Best Buy, Ulta Beauty and IKEA are among the major retailers announcing new distribution center or fulfillment center activity to meet consumer demand, in Multichannel Merchant’s periodic roundup of facilities news.
Cincinnati-based grocery chain Kroger has reportedly expressed interest in acquiring online bulk order retail startup Boxed.com, with other major players including Costco, Target and German grocery chain Aldi in the mix as well.
Walmart’s incubator Store No. 8 has launched three startups thus far, with plans for two more in the next year or so, said the company’s head of corporate strategy who also oversees ventures at the National Retail Federation’s Big Show in New York.
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to take up a South Dakota case this term that could reset the balance between online and physical store sellers by requiring taxation of goods sold by out-of-state merchants. However the high court rules, it will have a dramatic effect on retail and ecommerce taxation for years to come.
What goes out must often come back, and this year is expected to set another record for returned goods after the holiday season, according to Optoro, a firm that specializes in reverse logistics. The company estimates $90 billion worth of holiday gifts will be returned.
Once again, the team at Multichannel Merchant is conducting the annual MCM Outlook survey to delve into key subjects and trends shaping the world of direct-to-customer commerce. Complete the survey and help drive our data! We’ll even throw in a $5 Starbucks card as our way of saying thanks!
To avoid uncertainty and lessen the risk of disappointing customers, 30% of retailers opted not to provide a guaranteed shipping date for orders to arrive before Christmas 2017, according to a study conducted by Kurt Salmon, a unit of Accenture.
President Trump has taken a break from favorite targets like Little Rocket Man to turn his Twitter fire and ire on the U.S. Postal Service, blasting the agency for not charging enough on parcel delivery, in particular singling out major client Amazon, as the USPS continues to hemorrhage cash.
In a move that would vault its logistics and shipping operations to a new level, Home Depot is reportedly interested in acquiring Greenwich, CT-based XPO Logistics, according to a report in Recode.
Holiday retail sales increased 4.9% between Nov. 1 and Dec. 24, setting a new record for dollars spent, according to data from MasterCard SpendingPulse, the largest boost since 2011 and an indication of consumer confidence as the economy grows.