Shipping

Retail Container Traffic Drops, Expected to See Gains as Holidays Approach
August 10, 2011

Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports will remain below last year’s levels for the remainder of the summer before seeing year-over-year gains again this fall as retailers begin to stock up for the holiday season, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

China, FedEx Change Luxury Market With New Concept
August 5, 2011

When China's online luxury shoppers click to spend on fashion website thecorner.com.cn, they'll have an option the company doesn't make available to any other customers around the world. FedEx delivery men will wait on the doorsteps of Chinese consumers while they inspect their purchases, try them on for size and decide if the products are worthy of keeping or sending back.

Iowa Governor Asks to Delay Post Office Closings
August 3, 2011

Gov. Terry Branstad is calling for a moratorium on post office closings until the United States Postal Service can better explain the criteria it will use to shut down some 3,700 post offices nationwide.

Postal Service Could Close 1 in 10 Retail Outlets
July 26, 2011

The Postal Service announced today that it will study more than 3,600 local offices, branches and stations for possible closing. Currently the post office operates more than 31,000 retail outlets across the country, down from 38,000 a decade ago, but in recent years business has declined sharply as first-class mail moved to the internet. In addition, the recession resulted in a decline in advertising mail, and the agency lost $8 billion last year.

Parcel Shippers’ Court Battle Continues to Take Shape
July 6, 2011

AFMS, a parcel consulting firm, filed an amended complaint against defendants UPS and FedEx, stating violations of Sherman Acts 1 and 2. AFMS claims that UPS and FedEx have violated federal antitrust laws. Furthermore, it alleges the parcel carriers are engaged in monopolistic and collusive actions. The lawsuit is the result of UPS and FedEx’s 2010 policies to not participate in bids or rate negotiations that involve third-party negotiators (3PNs) like AFMS.

Postal Reform Act of 2011 Introduced
June 28, 2011

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) has introduced the Postal Reform Act of 2011. The USPS is looking forward to working with Issa as the bill makes its way through the legislative process.

Retail Container Traffic Nearly Flat Through July
June 20, 2011

A report released by the National Retail Federation said that import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to remain at about the same levels as last year through July before starting to resume increases later this summer.

Williams-Sonoma Launches International Shipping
June 13, 2011

Williams-Sonoma, a specialty retailer of high-quality products for the home, announced today that Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, West Elm and Williams-Sonoma will offer international shipping, joining PBteen in its partnership with FiftyOne Global Ecommerce, a provider of international e-commerce services and infrastructure to U.S. retailers. Customers in more than 75 countries will now be able to shop online for Williams-Sonoma products.