Third-party logistics companies or 3PL providers can help ecommerce and direct-to-customer merchants expand internal fulfillment operations without large outlays. In the past five years some large companies have entered the market with extremely competitive services and costs.To help in the decision process, here are 10 ways that 3PLs have helped companies do just that.
For a growing number of merchant companies, automated systems have become a way to address the issues of increasing throughput and order accuracy while decreasing returns. In addition to accuracy, often the biggest driver of automation decisions, the ability to achieve higher throughput per headcount, increasing efficiency while keeping down labor costs, is also paramount.
Between posting 98% growth in Q4 direct sales, plans for Canadian and European expansion and a new analytics-driven catalog, Wayfair had a pretty good week. The company also announced plans to open its fourth customer service center in Bryan, TX. See what other news and events transpired this week in the world of direct-to-customer retail and ecommerce.
What does it mean to have CSRs act not just as problem-solvers but as “shopkeepers”of your brand’s unique style? Kara Soulia, director of operations, and Melissa Lackney, operations training and development coordinator for Vermont Country Store, explain the concept, and how they train their agents to extend the down-home feel of the company’s trademark stores to every channel and interaction, while being alert for “cues and clues” that can lead to cross-selling and upselling opportunities.
Feedback can go a long way in order to connect a brand to its customers. That is why it is so imperative to create that connection in order to have a long-lasting relationship with your customer. Here is how several brands are connecting with the customer.
As you grow your digital offerings, you must accurately gauge when and how to expand ecommerce operations while keeping what works in view. While moving toward your 2016 goals, consider investing in the right tools and partners in order to foster growth, but never forget your brand’s beginnings.
J.C. Penney posted strong Q4 and 2015 numbers, citing omnichannel tactics as a big part of its continuing turnaround, in a period when competitors stumbled. The return of popular private-label brands and the recent addition of appliances by customer demand are evidence that the company has been responsive to what shoppers want. Learn more about the retailer’s recent performance.
Target hit on a winning combination of free shipping and omnichannel operations to grow its digital sales a healthy 34% in Q4, while same-store sales grew just 1.9%. In addition, 30% of its digital sales were either from buy online, pickup in store or ship-from-store transactions. See how Target got it done in 2015, especially during the critical holiday season.
This year, retailers are putting a stake in the ground by creating continuous shopping experiences, whether the checkout lane is a couch or store aisle. Here are four trends retailers should look out for in 2016.
What are the best practices in brand communications, especially in the critical area of transmitting a customer’s order information? Learn how SmartHub from eBay Enterprise + Innotrac analyzes its data to determine the winners and losers. And come to the Operations Summit, April 12-14 in Cincinnati, to find out the winners of the 2016 Excellence in Customer Experience Awards.