The introduction of Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) shipping complicates the traditional fulfillment model. Instead of sending full pallets directly to the retailer, distributors now must ship to var... View More
All of us make decisions about what tasks we are willing to do ourselves and what tasks we would rather hire someone else to do for us. Should we mow our own lawns, clean our own houses, change the oi
Our industry is seeing innovations that will change the way we operate the complete supply chain. Blockchain will improve transparency, reliability, and efficiency. Mobile robots are gaining t... View More
Mountain Rose Herbs, based in Eugene, OR, was founded in 1987 and today sells herbs, essential oils, and teas directly to the home consumer. On average, over 1,000 shipments a day leave their... View More
This past fall, the US unemployment rate fell to near-historic lows of 3.5%. While that’s great news for the economy and for workers, it’s bad news for organizations who find themselves paying... View More
The 2019 PARCEL Forum conference just concluded, and once again, I was impressed by the quality and diversity of the distribution center tours offered. First up was Saddle Creek Corporation, a... View More
Last year, US shoppers spent a record $126 billion holiday shopping online — a 19.1% increase over 2017. The rise in e-commerce during the holidays stretches distribution centers and their employees
The most common complaint that I hear as I travel to different distribution centers is, “We just can’t find good people.” Oftentimes, the complaint is warranted, but many times, it’s... View More
New studies project that the worldwide retail e-commerce sales will reach a new high of $4.9 trillion by 2021. That is a 265% growth rate, and there are no signs of the growth lettin... View More
The rise in parcel and direct-to-consumer shipping has disrupted warehouse operations, increasing labor costs and value-added services. The continued growth in e-commerce sales, which totaled $5... View More
Raise your hand if you’ve watched a recent episode of Netflix’s Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. Launched earlier this year, it chronicles the de-cluttering journey of several families who have... View More
Do you feel as though your workday is consumed by always putting out fires? Some people thrive on this kind of environment (and more power to them), but most of us will eventually get tired of t... View More
Warehouse optimization is all about making your operation as efficient, productive, and profitable as possible — in other words, doing more with less to increase your bottom line... View More
The first of the year is an excellent time to take stock of your operation and evaluate some changes that need to be made or identify some improvements that can enhance your throughput. Many tak... View More
E-commerce sales in North America will continue to climb over the next five years, with some projections showing an average growth rate of nearly 15% annually on the way to $821 billion by 2021... View More
Whether you are several months into your peak season or you are looking ahead to a busy time, it’s important to check your list. Hopefully, many of you had the foresight to take stock of the �... View More
In a hyper-competitive, evolving digital supply chain, brands are required to deliver a positive experience. The faster the shipping, the better — and free shipping is essential. According to... View More
Almost every e-commerce brand experiences seasonal peaks. But without proper fulfillment management, what could be a period of increased sales can easily overwhelm emerging businesses. More specifical
The parcel shipping world is growing dramatically, and it will only continue to grow as consumers get hooked on the ease of ordering their needs from the living room couch. How do you take advan... View More
We live in a world that demands instant gratification. What this means to companies – retailers, distributors, and suppliers – is that the pressure has never been greater to provide ever-fas
