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.
Target’s continued investment and focus on ecommerce is paying off as the company reported a robust 22% increase in online sales for the first quarter, ahead of the industry average, even as revenue decreased 1.1% to $16 billion and store foot traffic and comp sales were also down.
The U.S. Postal Service, as it has for years, reported an overall loss in the second quarter due to declining mail volume and ongoing pension obligations, while its parcel delivery business continues to grow by double digits. See what else came out of the results, and how moves by major carriers may affect its parcel business.
As Blood Sweat and Tears sang in their 1960s hit “Spinning Wheel,” what goes up, must come down. In the ongoing battle over share of ecommerce wallets, Amazon and Target … Continue Reading →
A new report from the Boston Consulting Group found that Chinese ecommerce spending was $750 billion in 2016, more than the U.S. and the UK combined, while it’s growing at 20% per year, twice as fast as those markets. See what else the report found, including China’s booming mobile commerce use.
DHL Supply Chain will be starting a pilot program using warehouse robots from Locus Robotics in late July, at its Memphis facility servicing a medical device customer, with plans to expand into ecommerce fulfillment shortly thereafter should the test prove a success.
Welcome to the newly redesigned home of Multichannel Merchant, your one-stop destination for the latest trends, news, best practices and research covering ecommerce and direct-to-customer businesses. You’ll have easier access to resources like expert opinions, research, how-to content and vendor solutions.
In a move designed to capture network costs associated with retailers who fail to meet peak volume commitments, UPS plans to charge them for shortfalls this year. The charges would cover costs such as extra workers and surplus space on trucks or in distribution hubs based on retailers’ projections and volume commitments.
Meeting the increasingly high demands of ecommerce customers and helping shippers drive efficiency in their fulfillment operations were two of the main themes as UPS and Sealed Air jointly unveiled their packaging innovation center, located on the campus of UPS Supply Chain Solutions near its Worldport air hub in Louisville, KY.