Amazon Wins Patent for Flying FC, Blows Out Holidays

| Mike O'Brien

It’s never a dull moment with Amazon, which won a patent for an airborne FC, sold 1 billion items the last two months and created another shopping holiday. Find out more about these latest developments from the ecommerce behemoth.

Amazon Limiting FBA to Existing Merchants Ahead of Holiday Season

| Mike O'Brien

Amazon has taken the unusual step of limiting Fulfillment by Amazon warehouses and services to existing sellers until Dec. 19, to deal with capacity issues. See what an industry analyst has to say about the significance of the move and its impact.

Prime Day Huge For Amazon, But Rising Tide Didn’t Lift All Boats

| Mike O'Brien

Amazon had a massive Prime Day, reporting its biggest sales day ever, surpassing even its results on Black Friday or Cyber Monday as it overcame checkout glitches and social media grumbling. But some sellers said their results weren’t as off the charts as those of Amazon itself. See what else took place on Amazon’s much-promoted 21st anniversary.

More Merchants Jumping In as Prime Day Opportunities Grow

| Mike O'Brien

After the success of Prime Day 2015, merchant sellers on Amazon are getting over their initial apprehension and jumping in with both feet, according to an executive with a company that works with several hundred of them. Read about the challenges and opportunities associated with this now-major sales event.

13 Questions to Consider When Weighing a New Distribution Center

| Curt Barry

To do battle with Amazon, many DTC companies are looking to expand their distribution center network. But how do you weight the variables in terms of location, facility costs, inventory, transportation and shipping time, local labor and more? Here are 13 key points to consider in your decision process.

8 Steps to Improving Inventory Management and the Bottom Line

| Gary C. Smith

Even the most efficient multichannel merchant often struggles with managing excess inventory. Common practices such as discounting or liquidation devalue products and undermine sales. And ecommerce makes it easier for shoppers to find cut-rate products. Here are 8 steps to help you avoid the biggest inventory management mistakes and come out on top.

Is an E-marketplace Consistent with your Cross-Border Brand Strategy?

| Scott Lindsay

There are many compelling reasons to use an ecommerce marketplace platform to boost your cross-border business. However, if your objective is to stake a claim on the mind and loyalties of the international consumer, you need to be aware of the pitfalls too.

eBay Shuts Down Same-Day Delivery Pilots

| Mike O'Brien

eBay has shut down its eBay Now same-day delivery service, as well as a pilot local delivery service in Brooklyn, NY, as expected growth never materialized.