Supply Chain

The word loophole often conjures a slightly negative image of closed-door lobbying efforts and provisions slipped into law a few years ago to favor a special interest. This is far from the case when it comes to de minimis, at least until recently. The de minimis law promotes trade and lowers barriers to global commerce…

With the holiday season behind us, retailers have refocused their efforts on addressing the flood of service requests that typically follow. You can count on a surge of returns and exchanges to process, as well as items that arrived damaged or defective. Purchasers and gift recipients will have questions about policies, receipt requirements, and return…

China announced it was levying tariffs on select imported U.S. goods Tuesday in response to President Donald Trump's imposed 10 percent tariffs on China, which went into effect Tuesday. The Associated Press reported that China would implement a 15 percent tariff on coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG) products as well as a 10 percent…

In fulfillment, a consolidator is a third-party logistics company (3PL) that ships multiple brands to a single retailer. Instead of a brand shipping one purchase order to the retailer, a consolidator aggregates multiple brands into one full container load, a much more cost-effective way to transport goods. Working with a 3PL that is a consolidator…

While at the 2025 National Retail Federation Big Show in New York City from Jan. 12-14, Total Retail's Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan had the opportunity to interview Julian Van Erlach, senior vice president of global supply chain at FabFitFun, a lifestyle membership best known for its FabFitFun Box flagship product. In this video interview, Van Erlach…

In this episode of Retail Right Now, Total Retail's Joe Keenan and Kristina Stidham discuss trends and insights from the 2025 National Retail Federation Big Show, held in New York City from Jan. 12-14. Keenan shares the key themes discussed during the event; the growing implementation of artificial intelligence in retail; concerns over potential new…

In a move meant to create an integrated, automated supply chain, Walmart has struck a deal with artificial intelligence-enabled robotics technology company Symbotic. Walmart said in a press release it would invest $520 million in Symbotic's AI-powered robotics platform, which will accelerate online pickup and delivery options and develop new pickup and delivery fulfillment systems.…

A union representing thousands of Costco employees voted to authorize a strike, paving the way for a work stoppage if the labor group and retailer do not reach an agreement, reports CNBC. Costco Teamsters, the union with 18,000 employees for the retailer nationwide, said 85 percent of members voted to approve the action. The current…

One effect of the global pandemic was the elevation of supply chain management from a back-office business function to a C-level strategic priority. As we begin 2025, all indicators suggest that for most industries, including retail, optimizing the supply chain to meet the needs of a post-pandemic world is more than ever a priority. To…

While the unprecedented supply chain disruptions of the past few years have slowed, several pressure points continue to impact industry leaders, including heightened inflationary costs, increased sustainability expectations, and emerging technologies that require strategic investments to remain competitive. But what do these influences look like across the supply chain? Here’s a breakdown of these challenges…