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.
Walmart is launching an in-the-fridge e-grocery delivery service it announced this summer, starting in Pittsburgh, Vero Beach, FL and Kansas City, similar to Amazon’s own delivery service launched last year. Walmart customers can choose either kitchen or garage fridge delivery and pay $19.95 per month with a $30 minimum.
Keynote presentations from supply chain executives at REI and Neiman Marcus will headline Ecommerce Operations Summit 2020, which will be held April 14-16 at the Marriott Orlando World Center. The show will be packed with great sessions and thought leaders across a range of key topics and disciplines.
Online e-grocery ordering and delivery platform Mercato has announced a subscription offering that provides unlimited free same-day deliveries for members in 25 states, a direct shot at the AmazonFresh program and other competitors. The program comes in Neighborhood and City flavors and uses DoorDash as its delivery partner.
The U.S. Postal Service is calling for rate increases of up to 6.3% for its parcel shipping products in 2020, which are being reviewed by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). The USPS is hoping increased rates will partially offset volume declines as UPS, FedEx and Amazon are all diverting volume to their own networks to save costs.
With returns such a huge piece of the ecommerce experience, FedEx is making it easier by adding return services at thousands of Walgreens stores nationwide next month in a partnership expansion. FedEx’s returns technology, launched in 2018, allows returned items to be dropped off, inspected, packed and in some cases processed.
Osaro, a San Francisco startup that makes robotic arms for ecommerce picking as well as vision and control software that can be integrated with other robotic solutions, has raised $16 million in a series B round, according to various reports. Early investors include former Facebook president Sean Parker and PayPal founder Peter Thiel.
Deliverr, a startup that helps merchants fulfill two-day and same-day orders on platforms like Amazon, eBay and Shopify, has raised $23 million in new funding, bringing its total to $30 million as it looks to hire new staff and expand its network of third-party logistics partners.
eBay announced the resignation of President and CEO Devin Wenig, who said in departing after eight years at the helm that he’s been out of sync with the company’s new board, of which he was a member. He will be replaced on an interim basis by Scott Schenkel, eBay’s senior vice president and CFO.
Now in its fifth year, Multichannel Merchant’s MCM Top 3PLs is a listing of leading third-party logistics providers in ecommerce and direct-to-customer (D2C) operations and fulfillment. To create the 2020 listing, we’re looking for a few good 3PLs. How does your organization measure up? You have until Nov. 7 to complete a submission.
The UPU on Wednesday approved a compromise plan that will let countries set their own inbound postal rates, avoiding a threatened pullout by the U.S. that would have caused shipping chaos ahead of the peak holiday season. The U.S. can begin imposing self-declared rates next July, with others following in 2021.