Micro-fulfillment companies adapt to a changing industry

Takeoff Technologies announced a new warehouse model and $25 million in Series C funding, while CommonSense Robotics rebranded as Fabric.

By Jeff Wells • Sept. 16, 2019

Walmart is going national with unlimited grocery delivery plan

After a well-received pilot this summer, the retailer will bring its Delivery Unlimited program to 1,400 stores in 200 additional markets this fall. 

By Jessica Dumont • Sept. 12, 2019

My first Loop: Early days in the circular shopping platform

Dozens (if not hundreds) of consumers have placed orders for common household items from Loop, an e-commerce site launched in May that attempts to eliminate single-use packaging and filler that comes with shopping. Here's one consumer's experience.

By Emma Cosgrove • Sept. 11, 2019

H.H. Gregg returns to brick and mortar with NJ store

Owner Valor Group said that, while physical retail is essential, there won't be the kind of over-expansion that led to the retailer's bankruptcy two years ago.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 11, 2019

Target plans to double seasonal hires dedicated to store fulfillment

In total, the retailer said it will hire more than 130,000 employees for this peak season, up from 125,000 last year. 

By Shefali Kapadia • Sept. 11, 2019

How Cimpress leveraged analytics to cut procurement costs by 11%

The Vistaprint parent company deployed a digital platform across its subsidiaries to centralize bulk contracts while giving brands room to manage specialized orders independently.

By Morgan Forde • Sept. 5, 2019

Discount stores largely mitigate tariffs but still test price hikes

Dollar General, Dollar Tree and Five Below tested multiple price increase strategies in the second quarter as new tariffs are likely to hit consumer-facing product categories in the back half of the year. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Aug. 30, 2019

Williams-Sonoma pulling forward 'as much inventory as possible' ahead of list 4 tariffs

The retailer on Wednesday raised its full-year net revenue forecast for the second time this year, even after factoring in the tariff increases the Trump administration announced last week.

By Emma Cosgrove • Aug. 29, 2019

Lowe's looks to improve in-stock status with more efficient supply chain

Improving in-stock status in stores has been CEO Marvin Ellison's number one goal since he took the helm at the home improvement retailer in June 2018. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Aug. 22, 2019

Target's same-day fulfillment growing at twice the rate of last year

Target's varied fulfillment services, which include in-store pickup, drive-up and Shipt same-day delivery, accounted for 1.5% of the retailer's sales growth in the second quarter.

By Shefali Kapadia • Aug. 22, 2019

Kohl's 12-quarter inventory reduction streak ends

As new tariffs encourage inventory pull-forward and fulfillment commitments for e-commerce orders speed up, retailers have had to rethink where to store inventory and what healthy stock levels look like. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Aug. 21, 2019

Happy Returns launches cardboard-free returns program

The brand announced it will aggregate and ship consumer returns in reusable totes, eliminating cardboard waste and reducing the environmental impact of individual return shipments.

By Morgan Forde • Aug. 20, 2019

Nestlé cuts 360 workers — 4,000 layoffs expected in logistics shift

Nestlé is on a mission to streamline its operations, and changing how it distributes frozen foods is one way it's looking to simplify and save.

By Emma Cosgrove • Aug. 20, 2019

Kroger expands Express store pilot with Walgreens

The grocer will put mini stores inside 35 Walgreens in Knoxville, Tennessee while the drug retailer’s health and beauty brands will hit select Kroger locations in the same market.

By Jeff Wells • Aug. 19, 2019

Asos intervenes when supplier cuts off wages, water, food to workers

Working with a local labor union and the Mauritian government, Asos facilitated wage payouts after the factory stopped paying workers months before liquidation.

By Emma Cosgrove • Aug. 19, 2019

AAFA: 77% of apparel, footwear imports to face tariffs Sept. 1

Although tariffs on some clothing and footwear are delayed until Dec. 15, the majority will still face duties at the beginning of next month. 

By Shefali Kapadia • Aug. 16, 2019

Walmart's omnichannel investments pay off in Q2

The quarter vindicated Walmart's investments in omnichannel capabilities and digital sales as U.S. comps rose 2.8% during a trying period for other retailers.

By Ben Unglesbee • Aug. 15, 2019

Advance Auto Parts mitigates tariff impact through supplier collaboration, price hikes

The auto parts retailer's CFO highlighted how, even though gross profit margin declined in Q2, advanced preparation and reliance of in-house inventory will help it weather the storm. 

By Andy Burt • Aug. 14, 2019

Is Walmart doing enough to protect workers in its supply chain?

The retailer has been auditing, investigating and reporting on its supply chain to clean up labor abuses, but experts say many of the current best practices fall short.

By Ben Unglesbee • Aug. 12, 2019

S&P: 10% list 4 tariffs more damaging than previous 3

Technology firms are particularly at risk, as funds directed to moving global supply chains lead to less money available to invest in R&D.

By Morgan Forde • Aug. 8, 2019

Blackstone in talks to purchase 11 warehouses near JFK airport

The news comes after another recent logistics real estate acquisitions on the part of the investment firm, which has been looking to increasing e-commerce demand as a growth opportunity for its portfolio.

By Morgan Forde • Aug. 6, 2019

Choosing the right fulfillment option is about weighing cost and speed

Target is fulfilling a majority of online orders from its stores, but that strategy may not be the ideal choice for every retailer.

By Matt Leonard • Aug. 6, 2019

For a fast supply chain, Target is betting on in-store fulfillment

Retailers are putting physical stores at the center of e-commerce fulfillment and delivery, but the strategy requires a careful balance.

By Craig Guillot • Aug. 6, 2019

Tariff whiplash is already taking a toll on retail

Retailers and brands have been scrambling to source elsewhere besides China, but it's not easy, quick or even possible for everyone.

By Ben Unglesbee • Aug. 5, 2019

Shopify to invest $1B in fulfillment network after shipper interest exceeds expectations

COO Harvey Finkelstein said the fulfillment network, combined with other services Shopify offers like small business loans, are intended to create a "global retail operating system."

By Emma Cosgrove • Aug. 2, 2019