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.
After pulling the plug on a vendor pilot program last year, Target is testing its own internal app for curbside pickup in Minneapolis, using associates to kick the tires on its performance before rolling it out to customers.
Faux holiday Prime Day 2017 was another huge win for Amazon as its biggest sales day ever, especially of its own devices, while it saw the biggest one-day gain in Prime membership, already at an estimated 85 million U.S. members.
Looking for another avenue to boost flat store sales, JC Penney is opening 500-square-foot toy shops in all of its brick-and-mortar locations, the company announced, pitting it against the likes of Toys R Us and Amazon as well as discount retailers like Walmart and Target in the $20 billion market.
As the engine revs up for Amazon’s Prime Day 2017, a few interesting wrinkles to bear in mind.
Are you an ecommerce or operations and fulfillment professional with a great, compelling story to tell that will educate and inform your industry peers? If so, we want to hear from you! Submit between now and Aug. 4 2017 as we’ve opened up our Operations Summit 2018 Call for Speakers.
In yet another mega merger in the retail sector, U.S.-based credit card processing firm Vantiv is acquiring UK-based payments technology firm Worldpay in a deal worth $9.94 billion, after J.P. Morgan withdrew its interest in Worldpay. The move give Vantiv greater access to the lucrative European ecommerce and digital payments market.
Nike confirmed it is selling select products directly through Amazon in a pilot program, greatly expanding its reach while also helping address counterfeiting. The news is a direct hit to retail partners like Finish Line and Foot Locker, who will undoubtedly lose sales. Nike will also start selling directly through a partnership with Instagram.
Retailers can increase revenue by offering more shipping choices for shoppers, according to a new report from Temando, which also revealed a wide gap between consumer expectations and what retailers deliver.
Amazon has announced that Prime Day 2018 will be held on July 11, with Amazon itself expected to once again be the big winner by selling its own devices and gift cards and bulking up Prime memberships.
As it looks to entice China’s burgeoning middle class with quality U.S. goods, the Alibaba Group is considering a distribution center in the Detroit area, company officials said at a recent event aimed at adding smaller manufacturers to its online marketplaces.