UPS, Optoro Partner on Reverse Logistics Services
UPS has formed a strategic alliance with Optoro, providing a one-stop shop solution for retailers and manufacturers to optimize the transportation and disposition of returns and excess inventory.
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, FedEx Working Hard to Keep Up with Peak Shipping Volume
Given the massive increase in ecommerce orders this holiday season, peak shipping volume has UPS and FedEx scrambling to keep up, as UPS dipped slightly in on-time performance. See what the data showed for both carriers as well as the U.S. Postal Service.
Savvy Watch Boosts Holiday Conversions with Personalized Pricing
Savvy Watch, an online seller of timepiece brands, saw a doubling of its average order value over Cyber Weekend with a personalized pricing tool from PriceWaiter. See what other results the company was able to achieve by pushing out custom calls to action that let shoppers name their price.
Hudsons Bay Co. to Expand Robotic Fulfillment to U.S. in 2017
After a successful rollout of robotic fulfillment at its distribution center in Toronto recently, Hudson’s Bay Co. plans to expand the capability to a DC in Pottsville, PA sometime in 2017. See how the technology performed in Toronto, and how the company performed in terms of ecommerce growth during the third quarter.
Gaining Perspective on Your Operational Performance
Meeting the demands of today’s always-on shopper has never been more challenging. So how can you gain a window into how you’re doing compared to others in the industry as you set your investment priorities? Multichannel Merchant’s exclusive benchmarking project with F. Curtis Barry & Co. will help you gauge your operational performance across key functional areas.
Carriers Project Double-Digit Shipping Increases for Peak Season
All 3 major carriers – UPS, FedEx, USPS – are projecting double-digit growth for peak season. See what volumes they’re looking at this year and their holiday cutoffs schedules.
The Latest Trends in Ecommerce Packaging and Their Impacts
The packaging you use in ecommerce and direct-to-customer shipments acts as an ambassador of your brand. How it appears, how it protects the contents and even how the product is packed can reflect positively or negatively on your company. This special report from Multichannel Merchant examines how merchants are working to balance packaging costs and customer experience through innovation and use of new systems and processes.
Global Parcel Shipping Projected to Grow 20% by 2018
A new index from Pitney Bowes projects that global parcel shipping will increase 5%-7% per year, increasing 20% by 2018, driven largely by ecommerce growth. See what else the company discovered while surveying parcel shippers in 12 markets.
UPS Catches Up With FedEx on Dimensional Weight Change
Two months after a similar move by FedEx, UPS announced changes to its dimensional weight pricing schedule – with a twist. See what other changes UPS made, how they stack up against FedEx and what it means for merchant shippers.
UPS, FedEx Strike New Ecommerce Partnership Deals
UPS and FedEx both struck new ecommerce partnership deals, the former with packaging company Sealed Air and the latter with electronics retailer Newegg. See what the two partnerships mean and what benefits they bring to ecommerce customers.