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The Pros and Cons of Drop Shipping for Ecommerce

| Roberto Garvin

Drop shipping used to be a bit of a buzzword when it was first introduced in the ecommerce world. Today, it’s used by almost a quarter of online businesses as a primary order and fulfillment method. Here’s a look at the pros and cons of drop shipping to help you determine if it’s the right business model for your brand and business.

REI, Neiman Marcus to Keynote at Ecommerce Operations Summit 2020

| Mike O'Brien

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.

Mercato Subscription Program Offers Free Unlimited E-Grocery Deliveries

| Mike O'Brien

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.

USPS Proposes Rate Hikes of Up to 6.3% for Parcel Shipping in 2020

| Mike O'Brien

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.

FedEx Adds Returns Service at Walgreens Stores Nationwide

| Mike O'Brien

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.

Robotic Arm Startup Osaro Raises $16 Million in New Funding

| Mike O'Brien

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.

The Operational Impacts of Personalizing Subscription Ecommerce

| Nicole Lee

There’s no doubt that subscribers want to feel special. Subscription commerce companies can satisfy their desire by personalizing offerings in a few different ways. But these all add to the complexity of order fulfillment operations. Here are a few factors to consider when looking to personalize your subscription commerce offerings.

How to Negotiate an Ecommerce 3PL Contract in 9 Steps

| Brian Barry

Many multichannel companies have found 3PLs to be comparably priced to internal ecommerce fulfillment while providing quality services. But negotiating a contract to work with a 3PL partner takes time plus a combination of business sense and legal guidance. As you build an agreement, here are 9 key considerations to keep in mind.

Rent the Runway Back Up and Running After Logistics Snafu

| Daniela Forte

Rent the Runway is back up and running after a supply chain and inventory issue occurred the first week of October. The subscription company is once again accepting new subscribers a week ahead of the date it had originally planned. Here is a statement from Rent the Runway about how it handled everything.