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 has been busy once again in our roundup of recent ecommerce distribution center and fulfillment center activity – including one on the site of a shuttered mall just east of Cleveland. Other companies planning to open new facilities include Kohl’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, ASOS and Tractor Supply.
After finalizing the $13.7 billion acquisition of Whole Foods, Amazon is making major pricing and fulfillment changes as the company leverages its investment. The ecommerce giant is up to the challenges that lay ahead and will be a major disruptor to grocery, and especially grocery delivery, for years to come.
Following a successful pilot at six stores, Nordstrom said it was expanding its reserve online, try on in store program to 43 stores across the country as it continues its omnichannel push.
Walmart is jumping with both feet into voice-directed ordering through a partnership with Google that will let customers place voice orders through the Google Home system and have them fulfilled and delivered as part of the Google Express marketplace and delivery network. See what else the deal entails, and the one major way that Walmart has it all over Amazon’s Alexa.
Amazon is hosting several open houses this month to recruit last-mile carriers as it expands its logistics operations to help bulk up its rapid delivery services ahead of the busy holiday season.
For the third year in a row, the editorial team at Multichannel Merchant is putting together a valuable service for our readers: The MCM Top 3PLs, a listing of leading third-party logistics (3PL) providers in ecommerce and direct-to-customer operations. How does your organization measure up? If you’re a 3PL provider, you need to be part of this exclusive resource.
Online diamond bridal jewelry retailer JamesAllen.com, which has been seeing great success using video to market its products on social sites like Facebook and Instagram, said merchants need to adapt the content to the audience based on where they are consuming information and what they want to see. Find out what other recommendations the company has for successfully leveraging video content.
Looking to simplify operations for small- to medium-sized merchants and drive new business for itself, UPS this week launched Returns Manager, a tool that allows shippers without their own returns infrastructure to make the process smoother and easier for their customers.
Not to be outdone by Target’s attention-getting news of its pending Grand Junction acquisition to bolster its same-day delivery efforts, Amazon announced a new Instant Pickup program that lets customers grab “essential” items at locker facilities in five cities in two minutes or less.
In a move that will help it counter Amazon’s growing Prime Now footprint, Target announced plans to acquire transportation management software firm Grand Junction to expand its same-day delivery capabilities. And a former Amazon supply chain executive is helping Target get there.