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.
Are you an industry professional with a great merchant story to tell that will educate and inform your peers? Come share your insights at Operations Summit 2017, March 27-29 in in Pittsburgh – the only conference exclusively about direct-to-customer and omnichannel operations. Send us your proposed session topic and speakers by Sept. 30 for consideration.
Driven by ecommerce demand and competitive pressure, UPS is testing Saturday delivery this summer, reportedly in Atlanta, Philadelphia and Los Angeles. The volume of shipments will determine continuation and future expansion of the service.
Ecommerce growth is fueling a tight market for distribution and fulfillment center space, as merchant companies look to expand networks to meet the demand. See which markets are seeing the greatest demand, and
Levi Strauss won the 2016 award in brand communication in Multichannel Merchant’s Excellence in Customer Experience awards, held in conjunction with partner Radial and recognized at Operations Summit. See how the venerable jeans company creates a consistent voice and messaging that reflects who they are and what they stand for in the marketplace.
SMB online retailers are using multiple carriers to get better pricing and eliminate the risk of keeping all their eggs in one basket, according to a new study from Accenture. See what carrier capabilities are most critical to them, and what they’re looking for in terms of cross-border services.
Amazon had a massive Prime Day, reporting its biggest sales day ever, surpassing even its results on Black Friday or Cyber Monday as it overcame checkout glitches and social media grumbling. But some sellers said their results weren’t as off the charts as those of Amazon itself. See what else took place on Amazon’s much-promoted 21st anniversary.
Ecommerce in Denmark was a record-setting 100 billion kroner, or 13.44 billion euros, in 2015, representing 10% of the country’s retail market. But the flow of cross-border goods is mostly into the country, due to the high price of Danish goods and stiff overseas competition. See what else a national trade association discovered in a new report.
Caffe Ladro, a Seattle coffee institution since 1994, has increased its online orders, including subscriptions, with a new ecommerce platform from HighJump. See how the company was able to ease the ordering process to help grow its sales, including subscription services and holiday orders.
With expectations so high and pressure to consistently delight a daily reality, shipping and delivery is a huge component of the overall customer experience. So being atop the industry in this category is no small feat. Find out what Apple did to win the 2016 Excellence in Customer Experience award at Operations Summit for best shipping and delivery experience.
After the success of Prime Day 2015, merchant sellers on Amazon are getting over their initial apprehension and jumping in with both feet, according to an executive with a company that works with several hundred of them. Read about the challenges and opportunities associated with this now-major sales event.