Continuing its push into physical stores, Amazon plans to open boutiques within 10 Kohl’s stores in Los Angeles and Chicago in October, where Amazon associates will sell its smart devices and offer its smart home services.
Amazon Prime members in Vancouver and Toronto will soon be able to receive orders in one to two hours, according to several media reports, creating a strong incentive sure to drive growth of the lucrative subscription program north of the border.
Amazon has been busy once again in our roundup of recent ecommerce distribution center and fulfillment center activity – including one on the site of a shuttered mall just east of Cleveland. Other companies planning to open new facilities include Kohl’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, ASOS and Tractor Supply.
After finalizing the $13.7 billion acquisition of Whole Foods, Amazon is making major pricing and fulfillment changes as the company leverages its investment. The ecommerce giant is up to the challenges that lay ahead and will be a major disruptor to grocery, and especially grocery delivery, for years to come.
Voice assistants appear to be poised to be the next big thing. After all, outside of emojis, speech is the most natural way to communicate. See what voice ordering means when it comes to browsing for items today.
Amazon is hosting several open houses this month to recruit last-mile carriers as it expands its logistics operations to help bulk up its rapid delivery services ahead of the busy holiday season.
Not to be outdone by Target’s attention-getting news of its pending Grand Junction acquisition to bolster its same-day delivery efforts, Amazon announced a new Instant Pickup program that lets customers grab “essential” items at locker facilities in five cities in two minutes or less.
In a move that will help it counter Amazon’s growing Prime Now footprint, Target announced plans to acquire transportation management software firm Grand Junction to expand its same-day delivery capabilities. And a former Amazon supply chain executive is helping Target get there.
As Amazon continues to encroach on the office supply market and offers speedy service in a growing number of urban markets, Office Depot is launching same-day delivery on Aug. 28 in Atlanta and Los Angeles, followed by Miami/Fort Lauderdale on Sept. 6. It has some catching up to do with rival and would-be merger partner Staples.
Boxed.com, an ecommerce seller of bulk items at discount – think an online Costco – has created one AI-based tool that alerts customers when items are running low so they can reorder, and another that automatically sends them when it senses they’re nearly depleted.