Multichannel Merchant Sector Spotlights

Dedicated Content Focused on the Hottest Topics Impacting Ecommerce Operations

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Sustainable Packaging: Why It Matters and How to Source It

Sustainability is more than just good for the planet; it’s good PR for your company. That’s why you should consider adding sustainable packaging to your repertoire. It helps your company meet sustainability goals while giving eco-conscious consumers a better choice. Here’s how to go about sourcing sustainable packaging.

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Boox Launches Reusable Bags Alongside Boxes

Boox, a company providing returns service with reusable boxes being trialed by companies like Sephora, Revolve and lululemon, is rolling out a line of reusable bags as it expands into apparel and other categories and looks to grow its footprint beyond the U.S. and the UK. The Boox Baag, as it’s called, is made from recycled polyester.

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5 Ways to Boost Sustainable Shipping

For shippers worried about the pressure to green up their shipping operations, and the associated costs and resources required, there’s good news. It’s not only the right thing to do for the earth but can be good for your business as well. Here actions you can take now to improve your sustainable shipping.

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The Supply Chain and the Future of Work

Companies are challenged to rethink skills, redesign new roles and responsibilities and to reorganise their structures and workplaces. But are you ready to jump the gap? The future of work concept is sweeping across sectors and industries, and supply chain managers need to put it as the top of their agendas.

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Sustainability Info Key Purchase Driver, Survey Finds

Underscoring the growing importance of sustainability and an environmental focus among values-conscious consumers when choosing brands, a new survey of shoppers in the U.S., the UK, Germany and France showed just how much these issues matter during the purchase decision process. Photo credit: Charles Etoroma on Unsplash

Eco-Friendly Shipping: Do Shoppers Care?

It’s no surprise consumers are becoming more environmentally conscious, and they’re expecting the same behavior from brands. And eco-friendly shipping is no exception. How much do consumers consider a company’s eco-friendly practices when buying online? What will they pay? How long will they wait? Here are the results.

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How Packaging Can Save Your Brand By Not Shipping Air

When starting an online store, ecommerce entrepreneurs have so much to consider, including how to drive more sales and setting up shipping, among other topics. For many, packaging is towards the middle or end of their list of things to prioritize, but efficient packaging can be a cost saver and set you apart in the market.

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Walmart, Target Stepping Up Last-Mile Fulfillment

Walmart and Target both announced plans Thursday to improve last-mile fulfillment and delivery from their stores, taking alternate routes via an investment in self-driving car project Cruise, and a new sortation facility powered by acquired technologies from Grand Junction and Deliv, respectively.

Retail: Stickiness of Digital Shift Resets Priorities

A new report from the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and McKinsey & Co. highlights how sticky the digital shift has become over the past year, and how important personalization, supply chain optimization, omnichannel and sustainability have become to ensure survival in the new landscape.

Sustainability Efforts in Shipping Logistics

Shipping logistics affect all of our lives in ways we tend not to think about. Transportation of goods across the world shapes what we buy, wear and use. Shipping influences the cost of goods, world trade and especially companies’ environmental impact. Here are some key aspects of sustainability efforts in shipping logistics.

11 Ways to Get More from WMS Vendor Demonstrations

Vendor demos are at the heart of selecting the right warehouse management system (WMS) for your business. Being well prepared in advance makes all the difference in selecting the right WMS. Attention to detail upfront will save time for your users and the vendors. These 11 steps will help ensure a smooth demo process.

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12 Ways to Prepare for Peak Holiday Season Ecommerce Returns

Your planning for this year’s peak holiday season is well underway. One area that often gets less attention is ecommerce returns processing. If it’s inefficient it will hurt both profitability and the customer experience. Here are 12 ways to get your returns operations ready for the upcoming peak period in November and December.

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Getting Out from Under All Those Ecommerce Returns

While shoppers love free ecommmerce returns, they can be a logistical and financial nightmare for retailers, forcing them to rethink processes to offset pre- and post-return losses. This is causing more companies to seek technology solutions for reverse logistics as well as auction marketplaces for disposition of goods.

Amazon Shutting Out Some Shoppers for Making Multiple Returns

Amazon, vaunted for its free two-day shipping with Prime membership and free returns, has apparently been shutting out some shoppers based on how often they return purchases, according media reports. See what the reaction was and what Amazon said in response.

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3 Things Successful Retailers Have in Common

While there is no one single way for companies to succeed in driving ecommerce growth, there are some fundamental ecommerce and supply chain strategies that many successful companies follow. Here are the best practices to ensure success for your ecommerce business.

Don’t Run an Anti-Customer Service Strategy in Ecommerce

Making it harder for customers to make returns or get in touch with you is a poor customer service strategy. So is slavish devotion to KPIs and this quarter’s results, while missing the bigger picture of the customer experience you’re creating. See what pitfalls this approach creates for your business, and how to avoid them.

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4 Ways to Take Advantage of the Booming Ecommerce Market

Online retail is expected to grow 8-12% this year (3x higher than the wider industry growth) with sales predicted to be between $427 and $443 billion, according to the National Retail Federation. This means that online retailers need to be on their A game now more than ever, especially focusing on seamless branding, efficient automation and stellar customer service. Here are four strategies to keep in mind when examining the marketing and shipping aspects of your business.

How to Finally Tame the Ecommerce Fulfillment Beast

Just as the lion tamer must teach huge, hot-tempered animals to respond to commands without becoming their lunch, so must ecommerce fulfillment must get customers’ goods delivered on time and intact — all while preventing costs from skyrocketing. Here are some tips to help you get there.

Ecommerce Returns Help Shape the Customer Experience

Ecommerce returns are increasing, and merchants need to find new ways to deal with the constant influx. Learn how some top brands are getting ahead of the situation, including making the reverse logistics process more efficient, increasing the speed of customer credit and using friction-free returns as a way to increase customer lifetime value.

L.L. Bean Looks to Update Free Shipping, Returns Policies

In an effort to remain competitive and cut costs, iconic brand L.L. Bean is considering changes to its famous free shipping and returns. This follows policy changes instituted last year by Nordstrom, another brand famous for its generous returns policy.