Supply Chain

On Tuesday, Brian Cornell, CEO of Target, testified against what has been dubbed the border adjustment tax (BAT) to the House tax-writing committee, as many large retailers are leery of a tax on the thousands of products they import from foreign markets. The proposed 20 percent tax on imported goods has been touted as a…

Car service? Check. Dinner? Check. Beer and wine? Check. In today’s on-demand economy, consumers can order virtually anything with the simple touch of a finger and have it at their doorstep in a matter of hours, if not sooner. Not only do consumers want this, they expect it. And they don’t want to pay exorbitant,…

In episode 90 of Total Retail Talks, MC Halfpenny, director of operations at Uncommon Goods, an online retailer of unique gifts and creative home decor, talks about how proactive customer support is helping the company to improve the order delivery process. Halfpenny shares details about the support process at Uncommon Goods, the business benefits it…

Almost every week it seems as though another retailer announces brick-and-mortar store closures, or there are new bankruptcy filings making headlines. With more and more people turning to technology in their everyday lives — often to the detriment of in-person shopping — capturing sales via e-commerce has never been more important for retailers. E-commerce transactions…

For the first time in American Apparel’s 28-year history, its items are being made outside the U.S. The company, which prided itself on being the largest domestic apparel maker, is now producing shirts in Honduras and Nicaragua, a person familiar with the matter said. Gildan Activewear, which bought American Apparel out of Chapter 11 earlier this year,…

Retail supply chains infused with multimodal visibility have a competitive advantage. Ninety percent of retail executives believe mastering logistics is key to thriving in today’s on-demand economy. They’re right. Supply chain visibility can no longer be considered just a bonus — it's essential to effectively serve today’s connected consumer. Yet, supply chain visibility is still largely…

Dick's Sporting Goods will dump about 20 percent of its vendors and stock more of its own brands as it looks to fortify itself against the market forces that killed its defunct rivals like The Sports Authority. The abandoned brands will be made up of minor labels rather than its 10 best-selling brands like Nike and…

It seems as though every day there's another retailer closing stores, declaring bankruptcy or laying off employees. Most recently, J.C. Penney announced it will be closing 140 stores; HHGregg has filed for bankruptcy; and JackThreads laid off most of its staff. However, one company is flourishing at a time when others are failing. Xcel Brands,…

In episode 82 of Total Retail Talks, Scott Hansen, general manager, supply chain and logistics at Nebraska Furniture Mart, the largest home furnishing store in North America, discusses how the company has benefited from implementing an integrated supply chain for its online and brick-and-mortar operations.

Chief executives of some of the country's largest retailers, including Target, Gap, Best Buy and Autozone, are headed to Washington, D.C. this week to make their case that a controversial tax on imports would raise consumer prices and hurt their businesses, according to people familiar with the plan. The group of eight retail bosses will meet on Wednesday with…