Pop… Pop… Pop Pop… Pop…
Well, that’s a series of sounds we may not hear anymore, shortly after a co-worker or a family member opens a package. That’s because Sealed Air’s “unpoppable” Bubble Wrap protective packaging solution is now commercially available worldwide.
While this news is, without a doubt, devastating for the Bubble Wrap popping addict in all of us, this is great news for ecommerce shippers. Sealed Air said in a statement that Bubble Wrap IB uses specially designed air channels that transfer shock away from products and provide superior cushioning protection.
By inflating at the point of use, Sealed Air says Bubble Wrap IB can reduce the number of trucks required to supply a customer’s operation by nearly 97%. In fact, one truck-load of uninflated Bubble Wrap IB, requiring two man hours, is the equivalent of 36 truckloads of standard bubble cushioning and 72 man hours.
But fear not, Bubble Wrap popping addicts. Poppable Bubble Wrap will still be available for your Bubble Wrap-popping needs.
Intro by Multichannel Merchant Managing Editor Tim Parry.
Here’s a look at this weeks’ news, commentary and events that shaped the direct-to-customer world… and more.
Marketing
Is YouTube a more important platform than SnapChat for luxury brands? See how these brands are using these platforms for its marketing strategies…
Instagram tests new algorithm- driven feed to put the the images in a user’s feeds, rather than with a clock…
American Apparel is rebuilding its brand with more sizes new styles and fresh marketing…
Amazon wants patent for Pay-by-Selfie, that would allow shoppers to make a purchase by taking a photo and/or video of themselves rather than keying in their account password…
Bloomingdales is helping customers express themselves through custom emojis. The brand’s Bloomoticon’s app, lets users create messages using graphics that is reflective of the store’s voice…
Lane Bryant slammed TV networks by refusing to air “ThisBody” ad. The brand tweeted that NBC and ABC refused to air its positive-body image commercial…
Ecommerce
New York and Co., is connecting with its customers through its mobile app, by partnering with Alliance Data Systems, the app provides offers, promotions from the retailer to its best customers whenever they are near the store…
Google Shopping is testing a carousel on its desktop version, similar to its mobile version…
Shutterfly has named Christopher North President and CEO…
Newgistics’ Tactic Knowledge has joined the Google Cloud Platform Partner Program…
Cloud commerce platform Mozu has updated its ecommerce platform that empower brands to deliver a unified customer experience across all channels…
Operations
eBay sellers in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles can now use Shyp’s mobile app to hail a courier to pick up an item they sold within 20 minutes…
A partnership among DHL, Finnish postal operator Posti and Bring, part of Norwegian postal operator Posten Norge will deliver across Scandinavia, Finland and the Baltic states, creating the largest postal network in northern Europe…
Target is hiring 450 people as it expands a distribution center in DeKalb, IL…
Amazon is leasing a new 117,000-square-foot distribution center at the South Florida Logistics Center, its second in Miami-Dade County…
… And more
Staples has renamed its business-to-business division Staples Business Advantage.
Nordstrom has laid off 120 technology staffers at its Seattle headquarters, in the midst of a tough retail environment…
Jet.com, on the other hand, is hiring 200 at its Hoboken, NJ headquarters, as it doubles its space there…
Target is looking to hire 20 engineers and product managers in Silicon Valley to join a mysterious technology-based start-up called “Goldfish,” based at its Sunnyvale, CA tech center…
Party City announced the acquisition of Festival SA, a manufacturer of costumers and accessories…
ChannelAdvisor has appointed Marc Huffman to Board of Directors
True Religion Brand Jeans provided its associates with Apple Watches, allowing for an inside look on everything that the label’s VIP shoppers want in jeans.