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.
A new consumer survey from Coresight Research highlighted a number of concerns related to the worsening coronavirus outbreak, with job losses already being reported and fear of lost income gripping one-third of respondents.
The coronavirus outbreak is continuing to wreak havoc on retail, with the impact going beyond store shutdowns to online business being shuttered. Companies that closed their ecommerce operations in recent days include fashion brands Reformation, Marysia and The Frankie Shop, and retailers TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods.
Grocers may be ringing up major sales from the crush of store and online panic buying due to the growing coronavirus threat, but the market will be painful after the situation abates as demand falls and supplies are overstocked, a Barclays analyst said in a research note.
The National Retail Federation and the International Council of Shopping Centers are asking the Trump administration and the federal government for relief for members who are being hard hit by the coronavirus crisis, much as are other industries such as airlines and hospitality, as mall, store and restaurant closures grow.
Amazon’s decision to limit new inventory for Fulfillment By Amazon (FBA) to essential items through April 5 due to the coronavirus situation is severely impacting sellers heavily reliant on FBA, forcing some out of business while others scramble to move product or find fulfillment partners.
With the rapid escalation of the coronavirus situation in recent weeks, and in consideration of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most current recommendations, Ecommerce Operations Summit 2020 is being postponed until later this year at a date to be determined. Stay tuned for more details.
Amazon has temporarily suspended fulfillment of non-essential items through FBA through April 5, due to high coronavirus-related demand. Meanwhile, retail and DTC brands are closing their doors, while UPS assures customers their deliveries are safe, and major e-grocery delivery app downloads are setting records daily.
Ulta Beauty saw ecommerce sales increase 20% to 30% during fiscal 2019 ending Feb. 1, 2020, aided by a store pickup rollout chain-wide, while also taking steps in store to address the growing coronavirus threat. Ulta also reduced hours of operation, is temporary closing some stores and discontinuing hair services in stores.
Carol Tomé, who has been CFO of Home Depot for 18 years and helped manage its strong growth, will be the new CEO of UPS. She succeeds David Abney, who will stay on as executive chairman until retiring from the board in September and acting as a transitional consultant through the end of 2020.
Following the playbook of developing innovative tech then selling it, Amazon is offering retailers its cashierless checkout capability from Amazon Go stores. Amazon said Just Walk Out is already under contract to several retailers it wouldn’t name. OTG, with hundreds of CIBO stores at 10 major U.S. airports, will soon be using it.