Experts Provide Answers on Increased Order Returns, Warehouse Safety

| Mike O'Brien

We all can use some extra help sometimes, reaching out to our “bench” with tough questions, situations or challenges. In the latest edition of Multichannel Merchant’s “Ask the Experts,” we address reader questions about increased order returns and ways to maintain warehouse safety for workers during the COVID-19 crisis.

Ecommerce Operations Summit 2020 Now Set for Nashville in September

| Mike O'Brien

Multichannel Merchant is thrilled to announce that Ecommerce Operations Summit 2020 is rescheduled for Sept. 9-10 at the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, TN. In addition to our usual great content, we also plan to have lots of fun networking opportunities and functions taking full advantage of our location in the heart of Music City.

Calculating Your True Ecommerce Fulfillment Cost Per Order

| Brian Barry

Ecommerce fulfillment cost per order (CPO) is the sum of all the warehousing expenses involved in receiving, put away and storage of product, picking, packing and shipping and reverse logistics or returns processing from customers. But do you know your fully loaded CPO? This calculation process will help you generate a true number.

7 Steps to Analyze Your Peak Holiday Season Ecommerce Operations

| Brian Barry

Many ecommerce businesses realize 60% to 70% of their profits in the fourth quarter. For multichannel businesses and wholesalers, their peak season starts months earlier to supply retail and ecommerce. Take the time now to analyze your fulfillment successes and failures and develop an improvement plan for this Q4 using these 7 steps.

GlobalTranz Acquires Cerasis, 11th Acquisition in Three Years

| Mike O'Brien

3PL GlobalTranz Enterprises has acquired Cerasis, a provider of managed transportation and third-party multimodal logistics services, marking its 11th acquisition since January 2017. Cerasis has a managed transportation client base that uses its 3PL/4PL service offerings and technology solutions, including TMS.

ecommerce returns

New Industry Group Seeks to Tackle Growing Issue of Product Returns

| Mike O'Brien

To combat the growing problem of returns, which continue to eat away at profit margins, the Retail Value Chain Federation and returns prevention software provider Newmine have created the Product Returns Council to work on solutions. Both will take part in a returns workshop at Ecommerce Operations Summit, April 14-16 in Orlando.

MCM CommerceChat podcast

How a Supply Chain Makeover Will Help Le Tote Integrate Lord & Taylor

| Mike O'Brien

Le Tote plans to modernize Lord & Taylor’s assets, including integration with Le Tote’s rental business to drive upselling. Retail industry veteran Robert Escobar has signed on to help Le Tote create a roadmap for a supply chain makeover to meet its business objectives. Find out more in this MCM CommerceChat podcast interview.

Greening Up Your Ecommerce Operations During the Holiday Sprint

| Ann Starodaj

In 2019, over half of shoppers say they’re conscious of the environmental practices of retailers they shop with. At the same time, they love overnight shipping and free returns, which impact the environment. Retailers, striving to please consumers and be sustainable, are caught in the middle. Here are some ways to address the dilemma.

UPS Says National Returns Day Will Be 26% Higher Than 2019

| Mike O'Brien

UPS is projecting a 26% increase on “national returns day” on Jan. 2, when 1.9 million inbound packages are expected to hit its network as Q4 ecommerce continues to balloon. Another somewhat smaller returns peak of 1.6 million packages/day will hit the week of Dec. 16; the daily average that month will be 1 million, UPS said.