Virtual inventories get real

| Karen Kroll

About 10 years ago, when the Internet frenzy was taking off, many in the industry predicted the rise of virtual fulfillment and, possibly the end of inhouse

The goods on product development

| MCM staff

Most marketers understand that their merchandise is what sets them apart from the competition. But as finding new product becomes increasingly challenging,

Ready, willing, and label

| Kate Vitasek

You might not think that adding something as simple as a barcode label to a carton or a pallet would make a huge difference in your operations. But applying

Study: RFID Adoption Moving At Modest Pace

| MCM staff

Radio frequency identification (RFID) was supposed to revolutionize operations, only it never materialized. In fact, according to a survey compiled by NCR Corp. and Retail Systems Alert Group, the adoption rate of RFID is still modest primarily because technical and cultural roadblocks continue to impede RFID’s growth.

Improving Inventory Management

| MCM staff

Inventory management is a pendulum that is constantly swinging from calm to chaos. When product demand increases, availability decreases. The immediate reaction is to over compensate and substantially increase purchase orders. Demand then declines leaving extensive overstocks. It is a cycle that repeats itself with each new product.

Standard Mailers Could See 9% Postal Rate Hike

| John Fischer

Better prepare to pay more in postage: The U.S. Postal Service on May 3 filed a proposal with the Postal Rate Commission (PRC) seeking an average overall rate hike of about 8.5%, with a 9% increase for standard mail. Priority Mail is proposed to increase by 13.8%; Express Mail by 12.5%; package services by 13.4%; and periodicals by 11.7%. The proposed price increases would take affect in mid-2007.

[Your name here]

| Tim Parry

On the front end, personalizing products is a great idea that can give you a distinctive edge over your competitors. On the back end, however, offering