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Happy Returns Network Expands to 2,600+ Locations in FedEx Deal

| Mike O'Brien

After parting ways with Amazon last year, FedEx is now jumping deeper into ecommerce returns, much as Amazon did with Kohl’s, by adding Happy Returns bars to 2,000+ FedEx locations, including 300 inside Walmart stores. Unboxed returns will be accepted from 150 different retailers when the program launches at the end of October.

cross-border ecommmerce globe and boxes

Amazon Parcel Shipping CAGR Outpaces Growth in 13 Major Markets

| Mike O'Brien

Three out of every five parcels shipped in 13 major world markets is originating from China, and Amazon shipped more than 1.9 billion parcels in the U.S. alone in 2019, a 155% increase contributing to a five-year CAGR of 30%, according to Pitney Bowes’ annual parcel shipping index.

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Feds, 11 States Accuse Google in Massive Antitrust Case

| Mike O'Brien

The U.S. Department of Justice, joined by attorneys general from 11 states, has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google alleging it used its market power to thwart competition in search and advertising, setting up a battle on the level of the 1990s federal action against Microsoft.

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Prime Day Hits $10B in Sales; Party Continues with New Holiday Dash

| Mike O'Brien

Another Prime Day is in the books, with Amazon reporting that third-party sellers rang up $3.5 billion in sales over the two days, up 60% from $2.2 billion in 2019, and once again Amazon devices were big winners. eMarketer pegged the worldwide total for Prime Day at a shade under $10 billion, up a hefty 43% from $6.93 billion in 2019.

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ShipBob Raises $68 Million in Funding, Plans to Double Its Network

| Mike O'Brien

ShipBob, a provider of third-party logistics with facilities in the U.S., Canada and Europe, has raised $68 million to fuel growth, expand its platform and more than double its global network, a signal of the significant venture capital flowing into logistics to support the ecommerce explosion. This brings the total raised to $130.5 million.

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3 Strategies to Help Retailers Avoid Super Peak Holiday Issues

| Erik Morton

This holiday season retailers will not only have to contend with decreased carrier capacity due to the pandemic but also the anticipated influx of mail-in election ballots – all of which could result in a “super peak” holiday nightmare for retailers. Now is the time to implement strategies to ensure they can keep up with demand.

Walmart Flytrex drone

Walmart Launches Second U.S. Drone Delivery Pilot in North Carolina

| Mike O'Brien

Walmart on Sept. 9 launched a second pilot drone delivery program, this time in Fayetteville, NC, using a control system from Israeli firm Flytrex, zipping grocery and household items to nearby customers. This is in addition to a program drone program Walmart launched in April in Grand Forks, ND, again with Flytrex.

Amazon FBA logo

Amazon FBA Sellers Facing Suspension Over Late Carrier Deliveries

| Mike O'Brien

Amazon is warning ecommerce shippers using Fulfillment By Amazon (FBA) that late shipments to an FBA facility on the part of their carrier could result in suspension of their FBA shipping privileges, even if the shippers themselves aren’t responsible for the delays. The new policy went into effect on Aug. 25, 2020.